COVID Thanksgiving ---Show some gratitude!

Instead of chestnuts and cranberries, anger, loneliness, disappointment, anxiety, and feelings of depression will stuff millions of Americans this Thanksgiving Day, all because COVID is in the air. At a time when we feel hardwired to be with loved ones, we’re told to stay home, keep your family gathering to a minimum; but is that really so terrible? Maybe the glass is fuller than you think. Consider:

1.    No four -hour drives in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I love my mother but do I really want to spend 4 hours driving from CT to New Jersey? And driving back is worse –always an accident before GW Bridge that ads another hour. Can any family be in a car for four hours without arguing??

2.    No expensive airline tickets.   Every parent knows that it’s a steep price bringing your kids home for Thanksgiving. If it’s coast to coast, a small fortune.  Plus, who pays when they go out with their friends? Be thankful that you can save a few bucks and Venmo them some cash if you feel guilty.

3.    You don’t have to answer to Aunts and Uncles. “Have you met anyone yet?” “ Are you are still in the dead end job,” Be appreciative you won’t have to bite your lip to curb your anger to toward these turkeys.

4.    Don’t have to see cousins you can’t stand. Yes they are family but so what? That doesn’t mean you have to enjoy being wit them, they are not your friends nor do you share common interests, just genes. You really want to sit next to them for more than a few minutes?  

5.    You won’t hear, “you’ve gained a few pounds or “You don’t work-out?”  Or “ Just because it’s Thanksgiving, you don’t have to overdo it.” Most likely, this is the mother or father of the cousins you can’t stand.  Not being subjected to their insults —how is that not something to be thankful for?

6.    You don’t have to get dressed. I agree that its important to have a well dressed Turkey but I find it tastier to eat it in my most familiar clothes, jeans or shorts and a tea shirt that won’t be offended by a few drops of gravy. Be happy you don’t have to search your closet for something to wear or remember what you wore to the last family gathering for fear of repeating yourself. Your TV doesn’t care.

7.    Less food waste. If you were planning to cook big, be grateful that you can get a smaller Turkey and fewer pies. That translates into less food waste, something we can all be grateful for. Remember, turkey sandwiches and heating up stuffing and a slice of pie sound good for a day or two, then its trash  If you were planning to be a guest of a less than stellar cook, be thankful that  you don’t have to be offensive by refusing to take a turkey bag.

8.    You don’t have to think of an excuse to leave.  It seems it’s an unwritten rule that you have to stay at a family Thanksgiving for at least a half hour after you eat. After that, its up to each person to figure out how to make a graceful exit as leaving too early can be offensive. Typical excuses of, “I have to get up early to go to work, “ or “drive kids to airport,” or “let the dog out,” may not be effective so show some gratitude that you don’t have to be clever.

9.    You can relax. You probably won’t admit it, but for all the aforementioned reasons, most people find the most relaxing time on Thanksgiving is when it’s over.   Well, this Thanksgiving you can relax all day. You can watch the Parade, football if you’re a fan, Netflix if not, and eat on your own terms.  If need be, you can Zoom others and what can they say when you tell them, “Video is not working,” so your hello can be short and sweet.  In my book, that’s a good Thanksgiving, Christmas too!

Now if you don’t have it in you to be thankful for a COVID Thanksgiving, then at least learn from the experience:

1.    Don’t wait for Holidays to express love. If you’re moping about because you can’t be with your loved ones, than remember you don’t need Thanksgiving to be wit loved ones. Face time, zoom, text, or call. Let this be a reminder to do it more frequently.

2.    Make everyday Thanksgiving Day by practicing gratitude and compassion. Be grateful you and your loves are safe and take time to have compassionate thoughts whose loved ones aren’t.

3.    You don’t need Thanksgiving to eat Turkey –only to eat gravy and mashed potatoes.