November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving – traditionally a harvest holiday -- where we give thanks for all the good things we have in our lives. As important as this is, we should also take time to be even more thankful for the “who’s” we have in our lives.

So often we focus our attention on how we wish our friends and family members were different or more perfect. This year, make a concerted effort to think about what aspects of these people you truly enjoy and benefit from. Does your penny-pinching father-in-law actually save you money? Does your hyper-critical sister teach you the value of patience? The people in your life have only the impact you let them have.

This Thanksgiving – for kicks – put the names of all the people who will surround your table in a paper bag and ask each guest to randomly choose a name as they arrive. (This ensures no one gets left out & no one gets to take the easy road!) Before the main course, have each person at the table give a compliment to the person whose name they have drawn and explain the attribute(s) of this person for which they are most grateful. If they don’t know the person they’ve drawn – they have an ice-breaker before dinner!

I think you’ll be surprised and delighted by what gets shared and echoed around the table. Let me know what you learn & don’t be afraid to do this more than once a year!

Great idea! I'll share this with my friends and family in New England for next year, as I just discoverd this forum the day After T-day.
My husband and I are the only two humans at the table (the dogs and cats remain on the floor, as we lack the extra chairs,) on Thanksgiving day, living as we do 600 miles from the nearest relative. But, we have done something similar between ourselves. Example: my mate apologized for his depression. I said, learning to live with your depression has also made me a more patient woman. Fifteen years ago, I woulda just killed ya.

Post edited by: Joydancer, at: 2006/12/01 13:55

We try to do things around our dinner table each year as well. This year I put different quotes about appreciation, gratitude, and life using iron on transfers on each napkin. We went around the table and read our quote and asked people to relate it to themselves. It was so nice and next year I will add something else to the napkins. Any ideas? I love this web site.

Isn't it glorious fun sharing wise, funny and upflifting quotes? It was such a turn-on for me that I even created a product called "Wise-Cracks!" when we lived in CA...it was a cleaned and (appropriately) painted egg shell filled with a pinch of confetti and a quote rolled up into a tiny scroll. People loved them. I gave away thousands. Customers liked to set them out as party favors and we sold many custom made to match the occassion or party theme. Guests took turns opening and reading their quote(s) and it was a great ice-breaker. Only a few people over several years cooperated and enjoyed the egg shell smashing aspect. But, the Wisdom and Food For Thought were never ignored. It's been twelve years since I produced my last Wise-Crack and still people mention the egg I gave them and what it meant to them. I believe that any time we make time to appreciate and uplift another is magical. And bears repeating.

Missed November's with a large group. I will do this with my immediate family tomorrow and extend to others over the holiday season. I plan to decorate a box to put the names in and call it "The Priceless Gift Box". Gratitude is good year round.

aarnold57 wrote:
Missed November's with a large group. I will do this with my immediate family tomorrow and extend to others over the holiday season. I plan to decorate a box to put the names in and call it "The Priceless Gift Box". Gratitude is good year round.

Ohhh, that gave me an idea! Priceless Gift Box = Unburied Treasure Chest! Time to get out the glue, macaroni and gold paint.