Thanksgiving with The Menagerie

Nov 26

What's Hounding You This Thanksgiving Holiday?

Hello My Friend.

The following letter is, in part, a repeat of last Thanksgiving. Why? Well, first off, the dogs are adorable. And second, along with the joy I hope you experience, stress and anxiety are likely to be at an all-time high this Holiday season. So many unfortunate changes and unanswered concerns have been created in and around life in the US - financial, familial, environmental, social, and legal. Many of us are truly overwhelmed, and the craziness is real. Let’s each do our part to calm the chaos as we gather with family, friends, and neighbors.

Last Thanksgiving, Hubby and I had three canine guests who reminded me that personalities come in all shapes, sizes, and species. Despite their differences, the hounds were united in their distaste for the garbage truck.

On the right: The Dainty Diva. “Eeek! That’s so loud. I don’t like noisy surprises.”

Center: The Snarkasaurus. “Who’s making all that racket? Get out of my space.”

On the left: The Comic Relief. “Wait. What? Is Santa early? I asked for a new Squeaky!”

Do these adorable pups remind you of family, friends, or neighbors with whom you’ll spend the Thanksgiving Holiday?

Holidays.

Some of us love them.

Some of us, not so much.

And many of us look forward to them each year in the hope that things will go smoothly.

That there will be love and respect.

That no one will be angry, rude, or resentful. And that the turkey won’t be dry!

But as we approach this year’s Holiday season, many folks are increasingly stressed and anxious, and concern for the welfare of folks who fear for themselves and their neighbors under the destructive regime have skyrocketed.

So, what to do if Uncle Fester throws political bait into the mashed potatoes to see who’ll bite?

You can avoid being the target of any family member’s or guest’s manipulation by following a few easy steps. And it’s possible to raise the positive vibration in everyone.

Here are your Anxiety Avenger’s Holiday Hound Tips:

Set a time frame. For example, “We’ll have dinner at 4pm and close up by 8pm, so our family can get a good night’s rest”, or “because we have an early morning on Friday.” Setting no time boundaries for your gathering opens it to those who may linger late into the evening and try to gain more attention.

To avoid questions you know are designed to trap you in an argument, try, “Hmmm. I need to think about that question. Can I get back to you about it later?” This leaves an antagonist nowhere to go with their argument. And it buys you time to “forget” about it. And in the meantime, you might then ask a question about a safe subject, giving that person a chance to talk about themself.

Create a “safe subjects list” you can agree upon together and make copies of for the table. This can help everyone to leave politics and religion at the door. For instance, you might limit your list to favorite hobbies, travel, cooking ideas, pet stories, personal skills, bucket list items, etc. - whatever you all feel positive about. And the list can be updated as new ideas surface.

Consider serving non-alcoholic drink options OR limiting your gathering to alcohol-free libations only. If you know some guests are likely to struggle to maintain their manners if they indulge, you can avoid that by clarifying that yours will be an alcohol-free Holiday home. It’s your right. And don’t forget to hydrate with clear water - staying hydrated helps the brain and body to relax.

Move your body to relieve tension. If there’s some downtime while the turkey is cooking, or between dinner and dessert, ask your guests to join you on a walk or in getting up from the table to do some stretches and breathing exercises together. Even if there are no takers, give yourself a few private moments for movement. It dissipates stress and allows for a reset.

I know you can help each guest feel welcome, supported, and safe, knowing there are boundaries and limitations that respect everyone’s comfort!

Please message me on the Contact Page, and let me know how your Holidays unfold. I’d love to hear how you made the experience happier and more comfortable for yourself and others! You’ve GOT this!

Let me know on the Contact Page how your Holidays unfold. I’d love to hear how you made the experience happier and more comfortable for yourself and others!