Lessons Learned from Family Gatherings

For the past ten years or so, I’ve hosted a Thanksgiving family reunion every other year, bringing together 40 to 50 extended family members for three or more days of celebration.

As my children will tell you, I am not the laid-back, go-with-the-flow type. And yet, one of these recent family events was surprisingly relaxed, wonderful, and flowed effortlessly!

It went so smoothly, in fact, that instead of feeling drained and questioning whether I’d want to host again in two years, I found myself already looking forward to the next one—and thinking about what I could do differently next time.

Improvements for Next Time

• Skip gathering everyone for breakfast; people have different wake-up times.
• Buy more plastic forks—you’ll use more than you think.
• Place containers under the turkeys and hams thawing in the fridge. Cleanup would be much easier for my son.
• Tie long hair up high when playing games involving tape. It might save your daughter’s hair from the scissors.

Notice that these suggestions for improvement are pretty minor. What a blessing it is to not have any major regrets!

Previous Reunions

It wasn’t always this way, though.

In the past, hosting family reunions often left me feeling stressed and anxious about every little detail. I would strive to make everything just right and would feel responsible when things didn’t go as planned—never truly able to relax and enjoy the people I was with.

What Made the Difference?

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that made all the difference in mine—and others’—ability to truly enjoy the event:

• Accepting both my strengths and weaknesses.
• Accepting others for who they are.
• Realizing that trying to force things to go a certain way only blocks love.
• Understanding that when I honor my own needs, I’m better able to love and support others’ needs as well.

You may read these lessons and quickly agree with them, but I encourage you to pause and consider how well you’ve applied them in your own life. If you haven’t, think about what changes might occur if you did.

I invite you to experience a different kind of holiday season this year—one where you love and accept yourself and others exactly as you are, and discover the love that flows freely in that acceptance.

Much love,