Thanksgiving is Looking a Bit Different This Year

Thanksgiving is definitely going to be different this year! For me, it will be the first Thanksgiving in 10 years that I haven’t hosted.

I honestly have mixed feelings!

Some relief that I’m not going to spend the week shopping, prepping, cleaning, hosting, cleaning, dodging family dynamics, cleaning, cooking, and cleaning some more.

And, I’m sad that 2020 has looked the way it has, leading us to this point. The burnout, the collective exhale of grief, and the ever cyclical question... wtf is actually happening?!

I’ll add my sadness that I personally won’t be gathering with my family like we typically do. I’ll miss the chaos, the laughs, some of the dynamics, the traditions we’ve built over the years, and the fullness that comes from cramming far too many people into my little house.

How are you feeling about the fast-approaching holiday season?

I’ve heard from lots of folks that something they won’t miss this year is calorie talk, body comments, pressure to show up a certain way and even act a certain way.

And, I’ve heard from other folks that they’re still gathering, and with that, they’re still dreading all of the things I mentioned above.

If you’re flying solo this Thanksgiving, I hope you can create space for yourself to be treated (and to treat yourself!) the way that in years past, you may have been longing for.

No calorie talk.

No starving yourself in preparation for the meal.

No shared guilt or commiseration over carbs and sugar.

No vows to weigh in and get back on track tomorrow.

No punishment or compensation following the meal.

With permission to wear comfortable clothes. Permission to eat what you enjoy. Permission to eat to fullness or over fullness. Permission to feel the groundedness and perhaps heaviness that over fullness can provide instead of villainizing it. Permission to do you, unapologetically.

If you’re gathering, I wonder what boundaries you can consider setting that will help you care for yourself, maintain a feeling of safety in your mind and your body, and continue on your path to recovering from body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

Maybe it’s external boundaries with the people you will be with:

No calorie talk.

No starving yourself in preparation for the meal.

No shared guilt or commiseration over carbs and sugar.

No vows to weigh in and get back on track tomorrow.

No punishment or compensation following the meal.

Maybe it’s internal boundaries with yourself, echoing the same. Or, permission to wear comfortable clothes. Permission to eat what you enjoy. Permission to eat to fullness or over fullness. Permission to feel the groundedness and perhaps heaviness that over fullness can provide instead of villainizing it. Permission to do you, unapologetically.

I want to remind you that you deserve to feel safe and supported in your recovery. You deserve to listen to and honor your cravings, hunger, fullness and yes, overfullness. You deserve to relentlessly turn toward yourself with care and compassion. You deserve to see yourself as your own #1.

However Thanksgiving 2020 looks for you, I hope you get, or bring curiosity to what you really want or need. 

You deserve it.

🧡,

Sarah

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See ya 👋🏼 2020! And my hope for you in 2021.

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Understanding the Dieting Mentality