Too Much On Your Plate? Thanksgiving, here we come!

Thanksgiving is a time that people get together to celebrate, but ironically one of the biggest issues that people have on Thanksgiving is connecting with each other. It seems easier to connect with a piece of pie instead of with friends and family. Or we get so excited to see our family that it becomes a reason to really indulge. Either anxiety or excitement can cause overeating on the day we give thanks.

At the dinner table take a pause, a breath, and check in with yourself. Are you upset? Are you excited about seeing everybody? Do you need to communicate something? Holiday closeness can create different kinds of emotions. It depends on how we got hurt at the dinner table as children. Were you happy or uncomfortable sitting at the dinner table during holiday events? Were you excited because it was the only time you got attention as a child? These are big things to look at when you sit down this year at Thanksgiving. Its called a "Frozen Need" - you had to freeze certain needs as a child (loving attention, a smile from Dad, sweets instead of hugs) and they will came back out and surprise you when you sit down for the Thanksgiving meal.

My "stuffing" recommendations are:
1. Check in with yourself emotionally -don't use the stuffing to stuff your emotions down.

2. If the room is becoming "stuffy" - take a walk.

3. Take a breath after every bite before you stuff another one down.

4. Create closeness for yourself - hug the stuffing out of your loved ones!
(staying connected physically with your family and friends helps to stay connected with yourself.)

5. Avoid stuffy (sensitive) table topics.
Politics, religion, money, and why is this turkey so gosh darn dry?

The most important thing that you need to do:

Give thanks for what you have accomplished in your life!
Give thanks for what you have!
Give thanks for the people that surround you on that day!

My thanks this year is going out to my wonderful husband, my wonderful parents and friends in Germany, my business partner Pam, a great support team Kim, Chandler, Tamara, Tanja, and last but not least my wonderful clients and friends.