Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ve heard so many people lately say that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday because it comes with less of the stress and intensity of Christmas and Hanukkah. There’s less materialism, fewer days of feasting, less pressure to be with family at every turn.
I’m sure I will revisit this theme in some way over the course of the next few weeks. I’m already behind when it comes to shopping for gifts and working on holiday cards. But I’m also grateful for the conversations I’ve had with my friend Niro Feliciano—both on the podcast and one-on-one and in conversation with a group of other women about her latest book, All is Calm-ish.
Niro’s words are giving me permission to live in the reality of my life and my family this holiday season. To let presence matter more than perfection. To let taking care of myself be an important part of taking care of others. To ask what it looks like to show up in love (rather than fear or worry or a need to perform).
I hope you too can enter into this holiday season with permission to live within the limits of your real life rather than some idealized version of it. I hope we all can let go of striving and receive the gift of these days with wonder, joy, and gratitude. And lots of grace for ourselves even when that isn’t exactly how it goes!
Thanksgiving Table Questions
Here are a few questions we will be asking around our table this Thanksgiving:
- Who is someone not at this table you’re thankful for?
- Why are you thankful for people at the table?
- What is one organization (school, church, non-profit, restaurant, etc.) you’re thankful for?
- What is one media source (podcast, author, show, album) you’re thankful for?
- What is one additional moment, person, or thing you’re thankful for right now?
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