happy thanksgiving

Hello ~ Happy Thanksgiving! I thought I would share some Thanksgiving themed articles (and other fun stuff) I love.

I think you’ll love them, too.

Also, I realize that Thanksgiving can be a particularly triggering and upsetting holiday for some of you. Maybe you don’t feel like celebrating or doing anything today. Maybe you’re trying to get into the spirit but you don’t have family or friends around you to celebrate with. Whatever your circumstances are, I’m sorry you’re suffering and I wanted to write to you in hopes that you’ll feel a little less alone. <3

Despite the fact that most people gloss over Thanksgiving and skip right into Christmas, I truly enjoy the holiday. What foodie doesn’t? I get especially giddy over leftovers and different ways to recreate them post holiday coma. I may be full, but I’m a fighter and that food will not go to waste. 

I’ll also share some media/ tv shows/ books you might like for the holiday.

Bon Appetit. 

-The Empty Seat At Our Thanksgiving Table: 

Grieving parents like the author experience intensified pain during special occasions and holidays, as these events highlight the absence of a lost child. The author, mourning the death of her 14-year-old daughter Orli from liver cancer, finds daily life filled with reminders of loss, from adjusting family routines to confronting the emptiness at gatherings. She reflects on how bereavement reshapes her family and their approach to life, emphasizing the universal and unending nature of grief, especially poignant during holidays like Thanksgiving, where the focus on family and gratitude brings both joy and a profound sense of loss.

-Magical Dinners

During a Thanksgiving celebration in 1972 at Harbor House apartments in New Rochelle, New York, a family of Korean immigrants, amidst neighbors of diverse backgrounds, gathers around a cramped dining table. The young narrator observes the adults' animated discussions about life back in Seoul and their current situation, while excitedly anticipating their first turkey, prepared amidst a mix of Korean dishes. The family, adjusting to American life, navigates cultural differences and the complexities of immigrant life, marked by the mother's struggle with unfamiliar food and the narrator's curious, sensory exploration of their surroundings.

-Our Brains Explain the Season’s Sadness

The melancholy sadness felt during the pandemic is more complex than the loneliness experienced during the initial lockdown. This sadness is intensified by the compounded crises of health, social, natural, and political challenges. Studies show a significant increase in mental health issues among Americans, with the pandemic exacerbating feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, and fear. The ongoing crises and restrictions have led to emotional exhaustion and a strain on psychological well-being, highlighting the importance of understanding the brain's coping mechanisms and seeking ways to alleviate the cognitive load, such as getting enough sleep, exercise, and possibly early holiday decorations.

-Friendsgiving Will Set You Free

Friendsgiving, a holiday celebrated with friends rather than family, offers a relaxed and diverse culinary experience, differing from the traditional Thanksgiving. The author reflects on personal experiences of Friendsgiving, which involved a mix of cultural dishes from Jamaican chicken to Filipino pancit, creating a festive atmosphere distinct from Thanksgiving's usual fare. Friendsgiving is characterized by its flexibility and lack of strict traditions, allowing for a variety of foods and a stress-free environment. It has become a space for diverse communities, including queer folks and those away from family, to celebrate in a way that feels authentic and enjoyable. The author emphasizes that Friendsgiving is about the people you choose to be with, making it a highly personal and adaptable celebration.

-How to Respond to Relatives Who Feel the Need to Comment on Your Food and Body

The holiday season, particularly around the dinner table, can be joyful yet challenging due to delicious food that may cause anxiety about overeating and potentially triggering comments from family members on various personal topics. To help navigate these situations, especially regarding food and body shaming, a dietitian specializing in disordered eating suggests several responses. These include asserting a focus on body neutrality, normalizing body changes, rejecting calorie-focused comments, setting boundaries around food talk, and reframing the idea of 'earning' food through exercise. Each response is tailored to assert personal comfort and shift the conversation away from potentially harmful topics.

-It’s Thanksgiving. Will Ozempic Make It Better Or Worse?

Gabie Caballero, facing a Thanksgiving invitation, felt overwhelmed due to her use of Mounjaro, a diabetes drug like Ozempic, for weight loss. These drugs, known for reducing appetite and sometimes causing gastrointestinal side effects, pose a challenge during food-centric holidays like Thanksgiving. The holiday, known for gratitude and indulgence, can become complicated for those on such medications, leading to family scrutiny and the dilemma of whether to skip doses for the sake of enjoying traditional festive meals.

See, I thought Thanksgiving was about family, friends, gathering together to celebrate and express gratitude. But what do I know? 

-The Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving:

I posted this article in a recent newsletter, but in case you missed it, here’s some inspiration for last minute recipe ideas. 

-A Thanksgiving Snapshot: Readers Share Their Holiday Stories

Readers shared diverse and personal Thanksgiving experiences, ranging from humorous to heartfelt. One story recounted a mother who brought home Marines to share Thanksgiving dinner, while another told of a homeless person's struggle to cook a donated turkey without an oven. A comical tale involved a possum eating a pumpkin pie left outside, and another described a family's unexpected Thanksgiving meal at a truck stop after failing to secure a restaurant reservation. One individual recounted coming out as a lesbian to their evangelical parents, another shared a chaotic experience with an oversized turkey catching fire, and a final story highlighted a college student's improvised Thanksgiving meal far from home. These varied stories collectively illustrate the unique and varied meanings of Thanksgiving for different people.

I also wanted to share some Thanksgiving media you might enjoy as we head into the holiday week.

There’s an abundance of websites out there that have listed out the best Thanksgiving TV episodes and I’m lazy, so here’s an article I found that had some good ones. I’m a bit of a sucker for old Gossip Girl episodes. And Friends. New Girl is great, too.

But for me, nothing brings me comfort like a Nora Ephron autumn movie: When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, etc. 

But in addition to this list, they left out the best one of all: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. 

For books: La Bonne Table by Ludwid Bemelmens: This is not a Thanksgiving book per se. But it’s a book that celebrates the love and joy of eating and dining. It has an old New York, feel-good, nostalgia type of vibe. 

In addition, I also enjoy reading short form and long form  essays online, news articles, etc.

Also, if you’re scrambling and need to whip up something last minute, here’s a link to some easy recipes you can make in a jiffy. 

Okay, that’s all for now. I hope you enjoy the holiday and eat lots of delicious food. See you Friday.

Bye <3