Coping With Thanksgiving Stress and QotD from Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanksgiving week is upon us. We are busy getting the house perfect for the family that is coming to visit, stressing if the in-laws won't scoff at the turkey or the linens, running around every store in town for that elusive ingredient, or preparing how to passive aggressively tell Aunt Jane to stop asking when you will find the right one. Sometimes in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we forget the true meaning of the day. It is not to quarrel with family or show off your gourmet skills, but hold hands and express why we are happy to have the ability to gather around the table.
For the host:
Family might be a bit overbearing, but they care. Your in-laws just love their child so much that they want their partner to be perfect. Your food will be fine. Just cook it to the right temperature to avoid food borne illness (trust me, you will never live that down) and provide plenty of salt and gravy if you feel it might help. Have wine on hand. Ask everyone to take turns stating what they are thankful for (that will kill some time with positivity). Just remember, you have food and shelter, you have family or friends. You are healthy or at least live in a time and place where you receive health care and will be set to see another day. Times are tough, let us maintain our hope and sanity by taking the time to give THANKS.
For the guests:
Same applies to you. Aunt Jane doesn't want to just see you take a new name, she wants to see you love and be loved. People just care. Trust me, if they didn't, they would not have you at their table. Smile, say what you are thankful for, salt the food, drink the wine. Then go home and feel even more thankful that you survived!
ProTip: Never arrive empty-handed.
Love Apron: A perfect hostess gift!
In the words of the great Ralph Waldo Emerson:
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
For the host:
Family might be a bit overbearing, but they care. Your in-laws just love their child so much that they want their partner to be perfect. Your food will be fine. Just cook it to the right temperature to avoid food borne illness (trust me, you will never live that down) and provide plenty of salt and gravy if you feel it might help. Have wine on hand. Ask everyone to take turns stating what they are thankful for (that will kill some time with positivity). Just remember, you have food and shelter, you have family or friends. You are healthy or at least live in a time and place where you receive health care and will be set to see another day. Times are tough, let us maintain our hope and sanity by taking the time to give THANKS.
For the guests:
Same applies to you. Aunt Jane doesn't want to just see you take a new name, she wants to see you love and be loved. People just care. Trust me, if they didn't, they would not have you at their table. Smile, say what you are thankful for, salt the food, drink the wine. Then go home and feel even more thankful that you survived!
ProTip: Never arrive empty-handed.
Love Apron: A perfect hostess gift!
Comments
Post a Comment