Thanksgiving is a holiday that is often overlooked. We seem to rush from Halloween straight into Christmas. If you miss the years when Thanksgiving was something to be enjoyed and treasured, there are things you can do to recapture that feeling. Let’s look at 4 ways to make Thanksgiving special.
Bring the Family and/or Friends Together
Remember the Thanksgiving Days when you were younger? Chances are your family was gathered around the table and you have wonderful memories. Wouldn’t you love to recreate those memories for your kids? Even if you don’t have family nearby, you can do a Friendsgiving and invite all your close friends to dinner. If you have family and friends in the area, consider doing both. The important thing is to surround your table with those that you love.
We used to spend Thanksgiving with my husband's family every year when we lived in Michigan. However, our first year in Texas one of our neighbors invited us to join them for Thanksgiving, and we've made it a tradition almost every year since (except when we have family in town). While we love to spend time with our immediate family, it's especially fun to hang out with an extended group of good friends.
Invite Those That Are Without
Whether you have an elderly neighbor whose family no longer comes to visit or a neighbor that doesn’t have a lot, consider inviting him or her to your dinner. Seeing someone appreciate the food and/or the company is a wonderful feeling. You will be amazed at how special that day can be when you invite others into your home.
Volunteer
Spending a few hours at a soup kitchen will certainly remind your family of everything they are blessed to have. It’s also wonderful to be able to help those in need. Whether you help out in the kitchen with cooking or help serve the meals, it’s a special way to spend Thanksgiving.
You could even work at your local food pantry before the holiday putting together Thanksgiving meal kits for families in need. You don't need to work on the actual holiday to incorporate giving into your Thanksgiving.
Start New Traditions
Big meals aren’t for everyone. And, you don’t have to do a big meal. Start your own traditions. For example, if your family loves football, make party food and gather around the TV for a day of football. The important thing is that you’re spending the day with those that you love. You might also start a tradition to go out for a late evening dinner somewhere and sleep throughout the day so you can go shopping that night. Don’t try to shoehorn your family into something that isn’t for them.
Several years ago, our neighbors started the tradition of a flag football game sometime after dinner. It's a great way to run off some of the Thanksgiving food and lots of fun with all the boys in our families.
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be overlooked. You can make the day special. The important thing to remember is that you spend the day with those that you love. It doesn’t matter if you make a big dinner or watch football all day. Make the day special doing things you enjoy. Also, don’t forget how special it can be to bring others into your home during the holidays or to look for ways to help your community.
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