What Are We Bringing to the Table?
Every November, we start thinking about Thanksgiving. Who is coming? What are we cooking? And who has the recipe for that dish everyone expects but nobody remembers how to make?
There is something comforting about familiar foods and gathering around a table. But along with the potatoes and pumpkin pie, we each bring something that never appears on the menu.
We bring our mood, our expectations, our memories, and sometimes a disagreement that has been simmering longer than the gravy.
Before we walk through the door—or open ours to company—it might help to pause and ask, “What am I bringing to the table this year?”
Could it be patience for someone who tells the same story again? A little understanding for the person who seems quieter than usual? The willingness to put down our phones and give someone our full attention?
Gratitude can begin with noticing. Someone made the coffee. Someone drove a long way. Someone is doing their best through a difficult season, even if they haven’t said a word about it.
We can also notice ourselves. Perhaps this year has asked more of you than anyone knows. You are allowed to enjoy the gathering without making everything perfect. Let someone bring a dish. Leave a few things undone. Sit down while the food is still warm.
And if your Thanksgiving looks different this year, make room for that, too. An empty chair can hold a great deal of love. A smaller gathering can still offer warmth. A quiet meal can become a gentle occasion for remembering, resting, or calling someone you miss.
Before eating, take one easy breath and name something you appreciate. It can be as simple as a warm room, a kind voice, or the good smell coming from the kitchen.
Then carry a little of that attention into the days ahead. Thank someone specifically. Share what you can. Listen long enough to hear the answer when you ask how someone is doing.
Whatever is on your menu this November, may there be room at your table for kindness—and a comfortable place for you to receive it, too.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pauline*
Owner, Michigan Psychic Fair www.mipsychicfair.com
