This year’s holiday season will be unconventional with many families still in lockdown or with limited gatherings, even for families.
There has been so much loss this year: school, jobs, family members.
Even with all the loss, I believe we must still adopt a grateful attitude. but we’re going to have to be intentional about it.
Listen to the full episode here
In last week’s chat about Christmas music, Karen Young talked about a student of hers who enjoys improvising. I thought I would take her improvisation advice to him and adapt it to the upcoming holiday.
"Make a plan" (that includes flexibility)
Without a plan or some sort of itinerary, everyone will have different expectations but they won’t be synced together. This leaves room for disappointment.
"You can do whatever you want to do"
You can choose to be angry during the holidays. You can choose to make the life of those around you miserable.
I’m asking you to consider making a decision right now to be grateful.
Look for those things that could easily be overlooked and forgotten.
"Know how you're going to end it"
This was my favorite part of Karen’s advice to her student. When piano kids are noodling at the piano, they can go on and on. They’re having fun, which is good, but the audience, if they are performing before one, can get lost. We have to take them on a musical journey and planning the end of the journey is just as important as the beginning and the middle.
When all is said and done this holiday season, what will it look like? Will the dinner table look perfect with every setting in just the right place but with a grimace on everyone’s face? Will you be left with a kitchen full of dishes to wash but memories of laughter with your family gathered around the den?
Give yourself a moment to grieve the loss of 2020
I invite you to visit the comments section below. Post the things you’ve lost this year, give yourself a moment to grieve that loss.
Then post how you are DECIDING to be grateful, in spite of that loss.
Sharing things like this on social media can be a little scary because total strangers are not shy about telling you what they think – and they can be very bold and crass behind a computer screen. The nice thing about sharing a comment on my website is that there is no conversation feature. You post your comment without the risk of harsh feedback.
When my mother was in hospice, we had some difficult and dark conversations. My hope is that letting her tell me her thoughts would get them off her mind and give her peace.
My hope for you is the same.
Resources mentioned in today's show
1863 Presidential proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving moves from the last Thursday of November to the fourth Thursday.
What to do with those overlooked and oven tossed giblets.
Luke 10: 38-42 Try to be more like Mary, but give grace to Martha too.
What were we talking about in previous Thanksgiving episodes?
2019 PPP170: TLC for your piano in Winter
2018 PPP119: Buckle up, Baste, and Breathe
2017 PPP070: Ten Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Piano Teacher
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I will definitely miss meeting with extended family this year and the loss of life as it was before Covid is real however I will use the advice in this episode to plan with my husband and girls to make wonderful memories this Thanksgiving. Thank you!