photo by DH Creative on Pixabay
by Elizabeth Meyer, RD, LRD
How is it mid-November? The days have seemed to drag on, and with the time change I’m ready to go to bed for the night at approximately 4:37 p.m. So how is the month flying by??
People are asking me about Thanksgiving plans meanwhile, I can’t even remember to put deodorant on most days (working from home has taken a toll).
Can we have Turkey Day celebrations? Is that even a thing this year? I had COVID, so am I actually safe for 3 months? My mom hasn’t had it. I don’t want her to get it. My daughter hasn’t, and my 3 step-kids-to-be haven’t had it either. My future in-laws are still in the clear too. Does this mean we throw caution to the wind and invite everyone? Or play it safe, do our own thing at home and have dinner over Zoom or FaceTime?
What if this is the last Thanksgiving for someone? I can’t seem to get that thought out of my head. Is any of this social distancing going to matter if that happens? I can’t imagine I’ll look back and think, “Gosh, I’m glad we stayed home and did nothing instead of making memories, and spending time together.”
The holidays will likely look different for all of us, and different from the norm for many of us. Some will stay home and try to stay safe. Some will still have gatherings as usual. Some might go off the rails and do something completely different to provide some sense of normalcy and/or excitement in a world that feels unsteady, uncertain and completely upside down.
This year more than ever, its going to be important to focus on the things we’re thankful for. Even if you have to dig deep to find those things. The holidays are supposed to be about food, family and togetherness. What if you don’t have all of those things? Is it just another day?
Absolutely not.
No matter what your circumstances are, feel free to change it up. If a turkey dinner doesn’t feel fitting, go rogue. Make enchiladas. Fondue. Order Chinese. Do something different. You might love it, you might hate it; either way, it will keep your brain busy.
Make a new tradition. Family game day. Have a competition. Decorate for Christmas. These things are still allowed. Social distancing won’t change that. Take a nap. Make a family Tik Tok (your teens will LOVE this suggestion 😊). Plan a vacation. Try the Pinterest project.
The world is different. Different doesn’t have to be bad, but it doesn’t always feel how we want it to, either. The fact is, we can’t change that right now. We have to keep going, even when we don’t want to. Holidays are still going on, and though they might be different than the traditions we’re used to, that doesn’t mean they’ll be terrible. You might find you love eating enchiladas on Thanksgiving and you’ll never go back.
If you are celebrating alone this year, find something NEW for YOU. Try to focus on something you want to do and can do. We still have things to be thankful for, even if they feel small. Even if it's hard to think of something, there will always be something. You just need to dig and maybe appreciate the smaller things. Even if it’s remembering to put deodorant on whether you leave the house or not.
Elizabeth Meyer is a licensed registered dietitian. Her posts appear monthly on OYT.
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