Whether visiting with family, eating out, or staying home, here are 5 ways that you can make Thanksgiving Merry and Bright…oh wait…that’s Christmas. Never mind, here goes…
1. GIVE THOSE FACE MUSCLES A WORKOUT. Smile people. Nobody cares if you burned your hand on the curling iron or if your kids kicked over the green beans in the car. Slap a band-aid on the burn, scoop up what you can from the floor board and turn that frown upside down. Remember, smiling boosts your immune system. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY, wants to catch whatever Aunt Kim is sneezing all over that turkey.
2. SHARE THE LOVE AND THE BOUNTY. Ask Cousin Betty how she’s doing…even if you don’t care. Make small talk with strange relatives. Talk about the weather but stay clear of politics. As for food, don’t reach for the last piece of white meat, even if you starved yourself for weeks in preparation. Save that last slice of little layer chocolate cake so Uncle Ralph can take it home to his wife who has double pneumonia and broke her leg coming out of the house on her way today. Their kids have already told you that she’s home putting up the tree…just play along! Remember…there is still plenty of that dreaded pumpkin pie left.
3. PLEAD THE 5TH! When the conversation turns to something that you know is going to make you want to set your hair on fire, play dumb and change the subject. When someone asks what you did last Friday night, don’t tell them that you got a little too rowdy and the next thing you knew you woke up behind some metal bars in a pretty orange jumpsuit. PLAY DUMB and CHANGE THE SUBJECT. Say, “Wow…last Friday was forever ago. On second thought, I think I will have a piece of that delicious pumpkin pie?” See how easy that was. Get up and walk away. DONE. SAVED. YOUR SECRET IS SAFE WITH ME.
4. TAKE A WALK. If you can’t play dumb (and I don’t see why you can’t), get up and go for a walk. We all know that someone is going to show up that you just don’t like. It happens. It’s family. Instead of sitting in the corner rolling your eyes and mumbling crazy rantings under your breath, go outside. Fresh air can do a body good. Your grandma is not prepared to see that rowdy side of you that caused you problems last Friday night. Remember? Pumpkin pie anyone?
5. DON’T NAP ON THE COUCH. If turkey makes you tired, stay off the sofa. Rest assured, the last thing the person who has been slaving away in the hot kitchen for two days wants is some slug curled up under her warm blanking sleeping off an overdose of turkey and dressing. If anyone wants to be confined to the couch for a day, it would be the cook. Don’t wear out your welcome…GO HOME.
Seriously folks, Thanksgiving can be stressful in a wonderful kind of way. Someone, or maybe a lot of someones, have worked really hard to pull off this feast. Take time to thank them for all of their hard work. Offer to help with the dishes or take out the trash. If its ok with the host, bring a guest…someone that otherwise might have spent the holiday alone. Monitor your mouth and don’t say things that could cause tensions to mount. Be respectful of everyone and have fun. Family and friends don’t spend enough time during the year together, so make these moments count. Regardless of your situation, you have plenty to be thankful for. And if all else fails, remember, you can be sure of the fact that Thanksgiving only comes once a year!!!
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