Talking with different friends about their Thanksgiving plans, it occurred to me how many ways there are to celebrate. I heard about a couple going on a family trip out of the country, and another friend having a potluck and then another is hosting a full-blown turkey dinner. The key factor is gathering with family and friends.
This quote reminded me of the most important part of the holiday,
"Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy." Jefferson Bethke *
It reminded me of one Thanksgiving years ago when we had a big crowd of teenagers, friends and neighbors. I had everyone write down what they were thankful for on construction paper and taped them to the fireplace, windows and cupboards to enjoy all day.
Try This: Give Thanks Together
Having an activity when you gather this holiday gets the energy and joy flowing. So, here are a few simple ideas to entertain and enjoy being together:
- Gratitude Jar - Have guests write notes on paper slips about things they are grateful for and place them in the jar. Then after dinner, each person can pull one from the jar and read it to the group.
- Thankful Tree - A decorative tree with "leaves" that have your gratitude notes written on them. Arrange twigs in a vase or jar to resemble a tree and cut paper leaf shapes to write things you’re thankful for and tape or glue to the tree.
- Gratitude Stone - Find smooth stones that can serve as a tangible reminder of gratitude. Use markers to write a key message or word on the stone of thanks for guests to take home.
Think I will pull out the construction paper and markers once again this holiday!
* https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7318998-thankfulness-is-the-quickest-path-to-joy