3. Try - Something new. Anything is fair game, as long you haven't
tried it before. Never had Aunt Janet's turkey nachos? Dig in. Always eschewed
the scrabble table in favor of football? Mosey on over, claim a seat at the
table and start spellin, er, speeling, uhm... well, just enjoy yourself.
4. Telephone - Local or long distance, here or there, anywhere a touch
has been lost will do quite nicely. Holidays are fabulous opportunities to
reconnect with old friends and acquaintances with whom you have lost touch. At
Thanksgiving all is quickly forgiven and the joy of rekindled relationships
costs no more than pennies per minute - it's a good investment.
5. Tempt - Sometimes temptation is a good thing. Now that you've
resolved to reach out and touch hearts, reconnect with the long lost and venture
boldly forth into unknown territories of experience, invite some others to join
you. Tempt them. Nudge them, cajole them, take them by the hand and drag them.
Yes, fine - if you drag them you will get credit for both touching and tempting.
6. Tenderize - Sure, start with the turkey and the trimmings, but then
turn to the real matter at heart. Exactly - the heart. Tenderize your heart this
holiday season. The area that needs attention? That's both personal and
intuitive. You know whether there's a friend against whom you've held a grudge,
or a relative by whom you've felt offended. No grand gestures are needed. Not
sure how to start? Start on the inside, with a simple decision to forgive and to
mend fences. That's the hard part. The rest will come easily.
7. Tell - OK, you learned how to talk about more than field goals and
first downs in step one. Now, in honor of Emeril Lagasse, it's time to "kick it
up a notch!" Find someone you really care about and tell them. Yes, tell them
you care. You love them - they mean a lot to you - they're special - you admire
them - you like their hair... Something. Don't let your feelings hibernate in
obscurity for another year.
8. Traipse - Through the snow, or the rain, or simply through the
barriers that separate you from your fellow man. Are you thankful this season?
If so, count yourself among the truly blessed. Many have little for which to
give thanks at this time of the year or, in reality, much of the remainder of
the year. Give of your bounty. Write a check, donate some canned goods or ladle
up some gravy at a soup kitchen. They say walking is good for the heart -
traipsing is good for the soul.
9. Travail - No trail of tears or depths of despair. This is travail
in the sense of toil, "to labor hard." The task at hand? Ah, excellent question
but, again, both personal and intuitive. Do your kids always want you to do...
well, something you never want to do and especially not at Thanksgiving? Does
your spouse need an extra dose of doting for some seemingly trivial reason? Does
Relative X have a story, repeated verbatim over the past eight years, that
simply must be heard again? Is it hard work? Do you feel the strain of "laboring
hard?" Excellent - travail on.
10. Transform - Change the world for the better, no wait - make it the
universe and all the realms of... OK - settle down, take a deep breath and look
about. Imagine you're holding out both arms and spinning in a circle or, if
you're feeling theatrical, actually perform your spin for the delighted
onlookers. Now, that's the space. The breadth of your transformative power
extends only to the sphere you have outlined, mentally or physically, with the
simple twirl of your arms. And what to transform? Resolve to transform, by
simple acts of kindness, the lives that enter your sphere. A smile, a kind word,
a simple touch of the hand. You'll be amazed at the power you wield within the
sphere of your transformative kingdom.
Ah... Thanksgiving is off and counting. If the list seems daunting, choose a
single item and give it your full attention. Think about it. Ponder it as you
stroll through the park on your morning walk. Let it meander through your mind
as you serenade the soapsuds in the shower. Let it settle deeply within as you
prepare for the onslaught of Thanksgiving madness, content in knowing you have
set your sights on more lofty things than drumsticks, cranberry sauce and sweet
potato pie. Then...
Relax.
You've prepared well and, when the day arrives, you'll enjoy a Thanksgiving
that suits you, and your loved ones, to a "T."
About the Author
Tim Anderson is a freelance writer who has a special interest in medical
topics. Visit his blog at
http://medicalmigrant.blogspot.com/
