I Googled "mindful Thanksgiving" and got plenty of advice - everything from "watch water boil" to "don't skip breakfast." Some of it was pretty good.
For example, Karen Maezen Miller suggested that you know where food comes from ("Kroger" doesn't count) and make a traditional family recipe. Alexis Conason, Psy.D., called Thanksgiving "socially sanctioned binge eating" and suggested we savor every bite.
I choose to make Thanksgiving about gratitude, and that makes it a great holiday for me, no matter how anyone else acts. Here are 10 thoughts:
- Give money to the homeless shelter, and be thankful you're not living there.
- Write out a list of your blessings.
- Send Thanksgiving cards to the people who have been a blessing to you this year. (And it doesn't have to be people you know. If a blogger or writer or musician has kept you going, send a card!)
- Write out a list of reasons that you love your family members.
- Accept reality about Thanksgiving gatherings, and try to be amused, rather than disgusted (as Elvis Costello would say), about the goings-on.
- Spend time in nature unless nature is being brutal.
- Give your full attention to preparing food and infuse it with gratitude.
- Go to a church and thank God for your life.
- Adopt a World Vision child who needs your love and support.
- Take breaks to breathe, pray and check in with yourself.
