Thankful

Happy Turkey Day folks or what we call in my house “Happy Anything but Turkey Day”! Of all the holidays we humans celebrate, Thanksgiving is my favourite. For 2 reasons: the colour orange is everywhere and I am in charge of the kitchen. That means I wake up around 7am to bake fresh pies, and then begin prepping the feast for the day. This usually includes cooking with drinking an entire bottle of wine and listening to some good tunes. I am in my zone. I am in my happy place. But it takes a lot to get there — I plan out my menu a few days in advance and I grocery shop the day before (I want the freshest meat and veggies I can buy… at least from my local grocery store). And I plan my cooking day. 7am – 9am: Pies (and I’m talking from scratch… crust included – see my recipe for it in the desserts tab!). 9am onwards: everything else. See, obviously very, very organized!

But, I think one other main reason I love thanksgiving so much is because there’s no pressure. It’s genuinely everyone coming together to be grateful and enjoy each other’s company, without the added stress of gifts or any other holiday-like expectation. You can show up in jeans and a t-shirt or wear your apron you’ve been cooking in all day (which has evidence of the bottle of wine you were drinking on it) AND you’re still accepted and loved.

And that’s what it’s all about – being accepted and loved. Being grateful and appreciative for those in your life that shed love and light and joy and positivity (99% of the time). This year has been weird. I know I personally have been faced with a tonne of rejection in all aspects of my life – love, friendship, work. But it’s those people that stick around that make the bad days good, and the good days better (ok, ok sue me for using such a cheesy line). But really, it’s those people that you can turn to on your worst days and vent and cry. Those people that look at you and say “hey, I see you and I love and accept you for everything you are and everything you have to offer”. By the way, those people are rare. So, when you do find someone that’s willing to acknowledge, accept and want to grow with you and your struggles and imperfections and insecurities and all the other wonderful things that make you so authentically you, hold on to them. Tell them you are grateful for them. Tell them you appreciate them. I hope I do it enough to the ones closest to me.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things for everyone and no doubt this thanksgiving will be different. Maybe it’s the first year you’re celebrating it single, or maybe it’s the first time you’re meeting your better half’s family, or maybe it’s the first year you won’t get to see all of your family. Regardless of your situation, take a second to think about all the beauty in your life and those that contribute to that beauty. If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s that life can change in the blink of an eye whether we’re ready to accept it or not, so be grateful for today. Say sorry if you need to say sorry. Give an explanation where one is owed. Eat all the caramels on the park bench. Take it day by day and be thankful.

Cheers!
xx Vassilia