We’re not far off now, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It’s time to think of all the standard preparations and trimmings. It’s time to think apple cider, buttered rum, ham, eggnog, fruit cake, and fudge. And of course the turkey and stuffing. It’s also the time for traveling, figuring out if you’re hosting (and might have some extra people sleeping over) or have to get to your side of the family of your partner’s.
The fight on what’s on the television, if it’s on at all. There is plenty about Thanksgiving that feels formulaic and immense, it leaves little room for a little bit of own imagination. Here are some examples of how you can break through the tried and tested and do something new.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
Get Out There!
Why not try to get out of the house? Of course, Thanksgiving is all about eating food and then falling asleep on the couch, but you do have a morning in which you can build up an appetite. Either seeing a Thanksgiving parade or visiting the local farm or market is a great way to get some fresh air. An added bonus is that you’ll get out of the way of the cooks that are diligently making all the yummy food. They will appreciate it, as long as they have enough helpers around to run last-minute errands.
Old Classics, New Twist
Why not start a new Thanksgiving tradition, one of your own making? Think of a modern take on the Mayflower storytelling, giving it a modern twist by introducing some popular culture? It will make it more fun for the kids, and it will keep them entertained (and busy) prepping for a play and perform it in front of parents and the wider family! Alternatively, you could get Thanksgiving T-shirts that will really create a sense of connection. It’s a great excuse to wear something you can spill some gravy on, and it also makes a great souvenir to remember the annual Thanksgiving celebrations.
Post-Dinner Competition
And what about the post-dinner walk? The walk is great to ensure everyone can digest all the food they have consumed and will ensure that not everyone will drop into a food coma. Why not split the assembly into 2 groups and make it into a treasure hunt? Loser has to do the dishes. That will be a great motivator to get those puzzles solved double time.
Resist Black Friday
And what about those Black Friday sales? It does seem a bit taking away from the Thanksgiving spirit to splurge on what can be considered a strange (and extreme) excess of consumerism. How about having your own tradition counter to Black Friday where you give each other something you no longer need or found at a yard sale somewhere. Instead of new, upcycle things and give it a new home.
This could be that coffee table you no longer use, sanded down and given another nice layer of stain and lacquer that now can find a new home with a family member. Sharing things where plenty of thought and effort has gone into fits the Thanksgiving spirit much more than crowded stores with always disappointing sales that will leave you feeling empty afterwards regardless.
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