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Health & Fitness

My Strategy this Thanksgiving: Count My Blessings

I'm taking a new approach to the holiday hosting game.

"Sudden death!," my friend Scott emphatically declared when the score was tallied and a three-way tie emerged. (Games get slightly competitive in my household.) 

We'd invited two other couples over for lasagna and cards on Saturday night and then proceeded to get rowdy as the lead changed hands several times.

Three more rounds were dealt until I'd eliminated both my husband Cliff and Scott in turn, and finally emerged the clear victor.

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"Winner, winner, chicken dinner!," I sang, jumping up from my chair in a little move I like to call the Victory Dance. At which point, Cliff proceeded to lodge a complaint. (He's a poor loser.) 

We've all been playing cards together for a very long time. The particular game we were playing Saturday requires a good amount of strategy (not to mention some lucky hands). While practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, it certainly improves one's odds—that's a life lesson I try to remember, but often forget, especially when the holidays approach.

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With 22 guests arriving for Thanksgiving dinner next week, I have caught myself falling back into panic mode.

"You're really good at this," my sister reminded me on the phone, "and everyone will bring something. Don't worry." 

I know she's right. Moreover, most of my family members live close enough to return to their homes after the meal, so I'll have few overnight guests to tend to. 

After more than 20-odd years of overseeing family functions, pulling out the china, dusting off the silver, basting the turkey and arranging the place cards, you'd think I'd be more relaxed about my role as chief hostess—a role I assumed voluntarily. You'd think that practice would make perfect. But when it comes to family holidays it simply does not.

Instead, I build a good head of steam, compile endless lists, bark orders at my husband and children, and set unrealistic expectations. Hmmm, looking at that game plan, maybe it's not such a good strategy after all.

What if I ordered the turkey from Whole Foods, ignored the silver altogether, let others bake the pies, and worried less about setting unrealistic expectations?

What if I eliminated the pumpkin soup from the menu or didn't make corn stuffing from scratch? What if the meal wasn't worthy of Martha Stewart? She wasn't perfect off-camera anyway.

What if the house wasn't spotless and the leaves weren't raked? What if I worried less about a picture-perfect setting and enjoyed my family more?

What if I sent the boys off to play football or to run the Turkey Trot here in Piedmont?

What if I counted blessings instead of inconveniences?

What if I took a walk on Thanksgiving morning, looked at the sky and just remembered to give thanks for all that I've been given?

Now how would that look? 

Winner, winner, turkey dinner!

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