I know I’m not the first to say it, but I love Thanksgiving.  It’s hard not to love food followed by an eating coma.


But I also love it because Thanksgiving is like the “anti-Christmas”.  There’s no lighting and decorating frenzy.  There’s no shopping, wrapping and acting. There’s no listening to the same 12 songs, on repeat…for a month.


There’s just food.  And napping.  And maybe football.  My happiness endorphins just went up thinking about it.


And I’m no theologian, but I think when Jesus came over on the Mayflower, that’s just what he had in mind.  He got the disciples off the boat and they met the Indians.  They had a big celebration. Jesus gave thanks and turned the water into wine, but it turned out the Indians were fundamentalists and didn’t drink. So Jesus added tryptophan to the turkey - which had the same effect and everyone was happy…and took a nap.


I also love it because Thanksgiving is like our second Independence Day…just without the heat and mosquitoes and exposed skin.  Other countries may celebrate a thanksgiving, but ours is uniquely linked to the start of “a new world.”  For whatever triumphs and mistakes that followed, our first celebration was one of unity and gratitude and hope.  In fact, historic records indicate that the only discord was over stuffing verses dressing. Denominational differences again.


Like so many Americans our family is spread out now across multiple cities and states.  That means Thanksgiving for us becomes an interstate marathon with grazing stops along the way. Typically, it begins with breakfast and the Macy’s Parade on TV in the morning.  Then we head south for the second course: A Thanksgiving lunch in Tulsa.  Then when we are sufficiently hopped up on tryptophan, stuffed full of pie and can barely move, we jump in the car and head further south to Edmond for another feast where we will rinse and repeat.


This leg of the journey is a pretty lonely one.  I’m usually the only holiday survivor, trying desperately to stay awake; against a rushing tide of snores and open-mouth-breathing in the other seats.  Over the years I have developed some techniques for survival.  The first is to turn the air-conditioner down to “Permafrost.”  Then, I put multiple pieces of gum in my mouth at one time.  (This is actually a hold over from college.  I found I couldn’t fall asleep in class if my mouth was moving.  So far so good.)  Then I lean way forward in my seat like I’m incredibly nearsighted.  I find the searing pain it causes in my lower back helps prevent REM sleep.  Finally, if all else fails I begin hitting my head on the window and letting out random yelps like a Tourette’s victim.  Aside from concerned looks from other highway drivers, the system is pretty failsafe.


Obviously, there are some challenges with Thanksgiving.  They usually come in the form of humans…like the ones you’re related too. There’s a reason why we don’t see some of these people more than once a year. 


We all have those people in our family that drive us crazy.  People we’d like to vote off our familial island.  I’m sure your fam-enemy is coming to mind even as you’re reading this.  If you can’t think of the person that drives everyone nuts…well, they may be closer than you think.


Even with that stumbling block however, Thanksgiving does provide an amazing opportunity.  I was reading something recently about someone who had a life changing experience of sorts.  They made a decision to start each day by listing ten things they were thankful for.  Not only that, but also listing why they were thankful for them.  For example: “I’m thankful today that I get to live in America, because in another country I could be jailed for my opinions or views.  And to be honest, I’m just too pretty to go to prison right now.”


I’ve started adopting this practice each morning and it really is refreshing.  Sure there are days when it’s easier than others.  There are days when pain or to-do lists or national tragedies make it hard to focus.  But the most amazing thing is that “Thanks begets Thanks.”  I find that once I start to list what I’m grateful for, suddenly my mind is flooded with a list of the good that is in my life.  It becomes a faucet that’s hard to shut off.  And research shows that more than any other thing…happiness is tied to gratitude.


It’s also contagious.  When you begin to mention what you’re happy about in a day, others begin to respond in the same way.  You literally have the power to redirect the flow of any conversation.


Based on that strategy, we have adopted a new plan - “Killing them with Kindness.”  It works like this, find the person who annoys/irritates/intimidates you and actively and aggressively act in kindness toward them.  I personally suck at it.  But I like trying it.  And I have noticed how incredibly disarming it is.  It’s like a Jedi mind trick.


Think of it like a party game at your next family get together.  It’s entertaining if nothing else.


Plus, like Jesus said on the very first Thanksgiving: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be invited back and people will want them to stay on the island.”  Words to live by, friends.  Happy Thanksgiving.

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK

“Thanks for Thanksgiving”

By Jay Webster

Jay Webster is a

film/video director for the creative team at

PioneerDream. When not busy producing independent films, music videos or “actual bill-paying work” for real clients, Jay entertains himself by making “witty” observations about life in the beloved Ville.