Thanksgiving is a time to not simply “give thanks”. It is not as simple as giving a meal to friends, family, those less fortunate, or to even create new memories. For a lot of Americans that celebrate this holiday, the unfortunate reminders of broken relationships, promises, disagreements over a variety of stances, and even those that are missing around the table can conjure a whole set of other feelings, emotions, and other ideas of this celebratory holiday.
Trying to grapple with these types of situations each have their own separate consequences (or for some, benefits), but the prospect of tackling them alone can be scary in this season of gratitude. Trying to find space to process this means considering what is truly important (and not important). Healthy dialogue with others, especially with challenging what our thought process is about the examples provided, can help to not only expedite the process of emotional connection to it to create new opportunities and adventures in new subject areas, but can also find new perspectives that you would otherwise not find anywhere else on your own. One of the basic tenants Your Speaking Voice teaches in life coaching is to actively listen, feeling acknowledged of the thoughts/problems/circumstances that we are going through are being listened to, but also are connected to what the bigger solution is. Talking to someone, even at Thanksgiving, can be a productive opportunity to process what you may be enduring, regardless of its severity.
Being able to be bold in this time of giving, to challenge yourself to open up, means to express yourself in ways that allow growth, but more importantly, gain new relationships, demonstrated confidence, and to be determined to gain a new appreciation. As you contemplate the various challenges that face you and make you feel uncertain as how to best move forward, know that there is always room to be bold and not afraid. Regardless of what you may face as concerns this Thanksgiving holiday, you deserve to have a voice around the table that gives thanks to your perspectives, allows you to express them freely, but more importantly, be appreciated for who you are.
Open up your doors to new ideas and debates about ideas that have not been discussed before. Try a new food that you have never tried previously. Engage with conversation with someone new and/or has not been approached in a long time. In this season, it is about the memories that we can start again on, or explore the wilderness of the unknown. More than anything else, avoid doing it alone this season, and enjoy the experiences that await you. Regardless of the past, you are entitled to have a seat at the table of the future.
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