How Thanksgiving Cured my Hatred of Holidays
I hated most holidays as a kid.
Christmas was always a rush to wake up, open gifts, put away your gifts, get dressed to go the next house. This was normally repeated 4-5 times each Christmas because my parents were divorced so we had to separate events with mom, dad, grandparents on mom's side, grandparents on dad's side, and usually a random aunt or uncle to wrap it all up. It was exhausting and as a child all I wanted to do was play with my new toys and enjoy my time off school. As a young adult full of angst, I found myself actively avoiding these events, volunteering to work on Christmas day simply to avoid the chaos.
Halloween was a similar experience. Instead of gorging myself on whatever candy I collected in my pillowcase (was it only us poor kids who used pillowcases?), we had to go visit an unending line of relatives so they could try and guess what we dressed up as that year.
Thanksgiving was different
My stepdad worked road construction so his only weekend off was Thanksgiving. As an avid hunter (still is at 86!), he would go deer hunting which left my mom, my brother, and myself to fend for ourselves. Because it was only the three of us, we decided to enjoy our Thanksgiving feast at a local restaurant and then go see a movie. No rushing around, screaming relatives, or scrambling to make sure all the food was still warm when the turkey took 2 hours longer than it was supposed to. It was my idea of holiday heaven. It was peaceful.
As an adult, I love to cook so I stay at home and feed whoever happens to stop by. It's a casual affair, with a small group of friends or family. No one has to bring anything. The Detroit Lions are always on, there's lots of food to pick at, with no formality to it. Show up in your sweatpants if you like! This allows us some time to enjoy a little peace, each other's company, and to just be thankful.
Giving thanks
Remember that the holidays can be a rough time for some people, as we all grew up in different circumstances. While some people may need a warm embrace, others may just require a bit of peace and quiet.
We are fortunate to live in a land of peace, abundance, and opportunity. Embrace the spirit of giving thanks by slowing down to appreciate the simple joys, honoring those who came before us, and looking forward to what the future holds. Happy Thanksgiving!
What's on your dinner table this year?
I have found that the older I get, the more traditional my Thanksgiving meals have become.
On the menu this year:
Qualtrics Government Healthcare Provider Markets Leader
10 小时前Happy thanksgiving Bil - enjoy your holidays!