Thanksgiving. It’s not just about the food we eat, or the way our table is set. It’s about those we gather with. It’s about our intention and the time we dedicate to those we care about. It’s about the opportunities we create for connection. Maybe you have a few family traditions you honor each Thanksgiving… or perhaps you are looking for a few new ideas for activities or opportunities that might become traditions for you and your family and friends.
Traditions can be ones that start when your own children are young, or they can be passed down through generations. Or, they can begin this year when you try something new with your crew. Traditions can be the threads that weave together memories that carry us through the year, and even those times we are apart from the ones we love. In many ways, they create a fabric, a tapestry that reflects the colorful threads of our shared experiences.
Thanksgiving means different things to each of us. Even if you do not recognize the holiday, you probably feel the pull to slow down, rest and reflect. Maybe you look forward to preparing and eating nourishing food and spending time with those you care about. As fall begins to turn to winter, Thanksgiving, for many, marks the beginning of the holiday season.
These days many feel overwhelmed with the pace of everyday life. If you are feeling added stress to prepare and present the perfect meal for Thanksgiving, take a deep breath. What are your favorite memories of Thanksgiving days gone by? From the food you prepare to the dishes you use, to the things you do before, during and after your Thanksgiving meal, traditions exist for us all. Traditions can offer comfort and connection, and they do not have to be complicated or complex.
This year, why not try something new? Opportunities are endless. From eating your Thanksgiving meal in holiday pj’s, to a movie marathon after your meal, to watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, to hosting a pie baking contest or Christmas ornament exchange. Traditions are the simple act of celebrating the time we are given to gather with those we love.
We at Bend Lifestyle wish for you and yours a beautiful, bountiful, and blessed Thanksgiving. Give yourself and your family the gift of time. The gift of connection. Creating memories and finding the meaning in even the small things can serve as a reminder that the most important thing at Thanksgiving is those gathered around you.
Write (or Draw) What You Are Thankful For
With the frenzy of daily life, it’s easy to overlook how much we have to be thankful for. Everyone around the table this year can participate in this simple, yet powerful, activity. At each place setting provide a piece of paper or card and a few pens or markers. The act of physically writing down what you are thankful for creates a pathway for recognizing the multitude of blessings that surround us. Before you begin eating, go around your table and let everyone share what they are thankful for.
Start a Family Recipe Book
For many families, Thanksgiving is about the dishes and recipes that we enjoy year after year. It’s easy to lose some of those favorite recipes as our kids get older, as our parents get older. Why not begin to gather those recipes to create your own Family Recipe Book? Send out an email to everyone in your crew to invite them to share favorite Thanksgiving (and beyond) recipes, stories and photos. With a little help from some tech savvy family members, create a shared google file folder where everyone can upload their contributions. But, you can also get these contributions the old-fashioned way. With no shortage of online programs for creating books, you can begin to collect and preserve your traditional family favorites into a treasured collection for years to come.
Host a Thanksgiving Potluck
There’s no need to prepare the entire Thanksgiving meal alone! Allow everyone in on the fun of meal preparation by allowing them to bring along their favorite holiday dish. For those living in the same household, create time and space for them to join in meal preparation by letting them prepare their favorite side dish or dessert. Each dish will have meaning, maybe something passed down through the generations or borrowed from a friend. Encourage each person to share what makes the dish special to them before the meal begins. This is a meaningful way to lighten the load and share the joy of preparing the Thanksgiving feast that just might become a new favorite family tradition.
Take a Post-Thanksgiving Feast Nature Walk
With the gorgeous Central Oregon landscape in our backyard, no matter the weather, there is always an opportunity to take a stroll after your Thanksgiving meal. Whether you choose a short stroll or a longer, more moderate hike, spending time out in nature is a great way to catch up, connect and converse… or just stave off the turkey coma. Depending on your holiday guests, make a list of a few local walks to choose from and let everyone weigh in on choices. Then, bundle up and venture out. This might just become a new, beloved Thanksgiving tradition for you and yours.