Setting a Space for Gratitude at Your Thanksgiving Table
Sometimes it seems like Thanksgiving is just a speed bump on the road to Black Friday and all the Christmas hustle and bustle.
The first half of the day, you spend in anticipation of the big meal, but once the post-turkey nap concludes, the Christmas tidings commence with a slew of jingling commercials and 99-percent-off deals.
And yet, this season is such a meaningful time to gather because it encompasses so many valuable things unique to our human experience.
For instance, we set aside time to spend with our biological and intentional family we collect in the communities we build. We nourish our hearts and minds when we pause and reflect on all we have to be thankful for in our lives. And, we feed our bodies with delicious food emanating the aroma of tradition and memory.
As you approach your Thanksgiving table this year, are you setting a space for gratitude?
Beyond decorating a beautiful tablescape, gracing the table with a gleaming turkey, and customizing place settings for dearly loved guests - are you intentionally bringing gratitude to the table?
Many of us may find it challenging to arrive at the table with a grateful heart this year, but it's important to first focus on what gratitude is - a practice.
What is the practice of gratitude?
Thankfully, gratitude is more than a fuzzy feeling we can only invoke minutes before sinking our fork into a pile of turkey. It's a practice that shifts our focus to things that ground us like peace, love, beauty, and hope.
Gratitude is an actual practice, which means we can wield and strengthen it regularly until it becomes a reflex built on muscle-memory (or heart-memory).
We can break the practice of gratitude into these intentional steps:
Awareness
First, begin by observing, looking around ourselves and within our situation to notice what we have to be grateful for. The key to awareness is welcoming the thought that goodness exists around us - even through uncertain and troubling times.
Affirmation
Affirm that, yes, goodness exists around you in tangible and intangible ways. Love, warmth, family. Food, a home, finances. Recognize and name (either out loud or on paper) what you are thankful for, and you may find that once you begin, it's hard to stop!
Presence
Be present in each moment you can. You'll find that once you focus on what you're grateful for, worries begin to slip away. Let these stressors go for the time being and be present in your current joy!
It can be challenging to embrace gratitude when there are uncertain or troubling things happening in our lives, but this does not mean we are naive or ignorant.
Gratitude has lasting social, psychological, and physical benefits that help us move through these life stressors more easily and happily. This is what Thanksgiving is all about - giving us that renewed boost of gratitude and serving as a reminder to carry the practice with us all year round!
Now that we know how to practice gratitude, what are some ways we can weave it into our daily lives, even once the holiday season has waned?
Here are five ways to practice gratitude all year long:
While things changed through the throes of 2020, one thing remains constant - gratefulness grounds and nourishes us as humans. Here are some ways you can practice gratitude today and every day, not just on Thanksgiving!
Keep a gratitude journal: Purchase a small journal specifically for this purpose, and choose a cover you love! With each entry, note the date and a short list of the day's gratitudes.
Call an old friend to say hello: Remember who is special to you, who has played a role in your life, and who you'd like to bless that day. Give them a call (don't text, call!), and you'll be surprised how happy they'll be to hear your voice.
Say thank you to someone: Wherever you may be - the grocery store or a coffee shop - take note of who is hard at work around you and say, 'Thank You!' Be sure to share why you are thankful as well!
Express gratitude to yourself: Note what you are thankful for about yourself. What strengths are you glad you have? What about your personality do you enjoy? Add what you discover here to your gratitude journal!
Ask a family member what they are thankful for: And be sure to listen. When we hear the gratitudes of friends and family, we learn a little more about who they are and what matters to them. What a gift!
Remember, gratitude is a practice, and Thanksgiving is a special day to give thanks alongside loved ones. When the sun sets on Thanksgiving night and Black Friday coupons begin circulating, stay rooted in the attitude of gratitude that you stirred anew and carry it with you all year long.
We feel gratitude for all of you who have allowed us to be a part of your family's lives and tables. Thanks for the opportunity you’ve give us to provide you with personal chef services that meet your family's needs and preferences.