Tomorrow is Turkey Day! The holidays are definitely upon us. It is a happy and Joyful time of year. At least it is supposed to be. But for many people including me it is a tough time. The holidays have so many wonderful attributes including a spirit of giving and togetherness which is good. However it often comes with expectations and a desire for things to be a certain way. With the realization that things cannot be the way we want or the way we expected comes a sense of disappointment. Some of you Joy Chasers are going through your first holiday season after the loss of a loved one and that is really hard.
So, Repeat after me: the holiday season is not always happy. Sometimes it is hard. Great now that we’ve been honest about that let’s not fall into a pity party. I was talking to a co-worker recently about my own reservations about the holidays and what I would have like to have happen vs. what was really going to happen. She was going through the same thing. My advice to her and now my challenge to all of you and to myself is to go into Thanksgiving, and the rest of the holidays with one goal. To figure out what you can do to have the best day possible. Then do that. Don’t compare it to what you really wanted to have happen or even to what happened last year or the year before that. Simply say for me to have an OK day I need to do this.
For me that means on Turkey Day I will sleep late, text all my friends Happy Turkey Day, I will cook and enjoy the unhealthy holiday food that I don’t have regularly and I will enjoy it without feeling guilty. I will enjoy spending time with my mom and feeding my dog table scraps. I will cook a chicken because I really don’t love turkey. I will have ice cream with my sweet potato pie because It will remind me of how my dad liked to do that. I will go to Target and see how many people are waiting in line the doors to open for Black Friday, and if it does not look to crazy I will likely join them. These are the things that will help me bring some Joy back to my Turkey Day.
It won’t be my ideal day and I will be missing my dad, but the day does not have to suck or be horrible.
What are your plans for Turkey Day? If your day will be less than ideal what do you need to do to have it be an OK day?
Hey there!! I made a roaster as well…I don't like turkey (unless its a sandwich) I think its great to do all you can not to fall into a pity party. We are Chasing Joy and one can't if one desires to stay down.
Great post!!
This was a good article. I like the idea of making what is the best it can be. We can't make every day what we want, but we can make every day the best it can be and enjoy what is.
So glad to read this post, Arlett. There are many people for whom the day is more stress than anything else. I feel for them. Personally, I'm taking it very easy tomorrow. It's going to be a day of rest for me, and although I will eat turkey, I won't be doing the eat-a-thon that I've done in years past. I'm just very grateful for the time away from work and to just focus on the many blessings in my life!
sounds like a great way to spend the holiday 🙂
Good for you! We don't always have turkey either. It's a lot of hard work and if most of the family is working full time it because even more difficult. Our family has gotten smaller with several moving away. Times change and we have to change with them. As long as we have many things we are thankful for, that's what it's all about. Have a wonderful day Arett!