Ideas for This Year’s Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and this year is decidedly different. If you are not taking part in a traditional gathering, there are still so many wonderful ways to celebrate. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because, unlike Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas, it has not been fully commercialized. The day is all about being grateful. There is always, always something to be grateful for! So brew up some pumpkin spice chai and read on for some ideas on what to do this Thanksgiving Day.

Get Movin’

Take a simple walk around your neighborhood and enjoy the Autumn air and colors. Find a great hike—the trails won’t be crowded today! Walk or bike one of the Seattle’s areas 15 best city trails—how lucky are we to live in such a gorgeous part of the world! If you really want to break a sweat, do a Thanksgiving race. There are several races that have implemented COVID-safety precautions. Seattle has a Turkey Trot with waved starts, Woodinville has a Virtual Turkey Trot, and Issaquah is offering neighborhood-focused Turkey Trots.

Reconnect

Use this day to get in touch with family or friends you haven’t heard from in awhile. Give them a call; who doesn’t love to see their phone light up with a familiar name instead of “Scam Likely”? Write or type out letters/emails if that suits your communication style better—put the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (virtual this year) on the telly to get you into the spirit.

Virtual Games

If you can’t be with friends and family for Thanksgiving but you’re weary of the usual video conference, then maybe it’s time you kicked it up a notch. There are a ton of super fun games for Zoom! If trivia is your thing, TriviaMaker is an easy way to create and host trivia games on Zoom. We’ve played on several of them and it’s a blast! One new thing we’re going to try is Seattle’s Puzzle Break—who can resist a Virtual Escape Room experience with intriguing titles like “Hackfiltration” and “The Grimm Escape”?

You Still Gotta Eat, Right?

Just because it’s not the usual Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean you need to make do with leftover pizza or a microwaved meal. Enjoy the freedom of a delicious Thanksgiving feast that a great restaurant can provide. Seattle Met and Seattle Times both have comprehensive lists of restaurants in the greater Seattle area that offer Thanksgiving meals, dine-in as well as takeout. Leave this year’s cooking to the pros for a change!

Volunteer

Give back on Thanksgiving and volunteer at a local soup kitchen or meal delivery service like Meals on Wheels. Extend your gratitude to making a difference and helping others in your community. It’s been a particularly tough year for many families and businesses, and volunteering is a wonderful way to give back.

Family Fun Day at Home

Sure, we’ve all been mostly home for many months, but if you plan some activities it could get you out of your “togetherness” rut. One of our best Thanksgivings was when we spent the day at home, where the only rule was to put all our phones away (the only exception was to take photos). We cooked and baked some of our favorites together, watched movies, and played board games. We even looked at old family photos and videos! So much fun with my favorite people.

 

Whatever you do on Thanksgiving, we hope it’s a special day filled with spontaneous dancing, peals of laughter, wonderful food, and plenty of warm hugs!

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings,
turn routine jobs into joy,
and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
—William Arthur Ward

 

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