1. Be Thankful
This seems like a no-brainer, right? But it’s not. At least, not for me.
When you’ve got time off from work, your family is in town, and you’re in a good mood, it can be easy to feel thankful. Which is awesome. So why not express that? Say it out loud.
Tell your family how awesome they are. Tell your spouse and kids how thankful you are for your family and this season of life.
2. Ask Your Spouse What is Most Important For Them This Week
I think we all know that a few days with a ton of food and a ton of family isn’t always a recipe for joy. Sometimes the holiday vacation is actually more work than regular life.
So, try this before you and your family head in to an action-packed holiday. Ask your spouse what it is that’s important for them this week. Then, no matter how busy or crazy the holiday may be, you and your spouse can fight for each other to make sure you each get to experience something that’s most important to you.
3. Use This Pumpkin Pie recipe
And, don’t tell anyone, but if you don’t want to use actual pumpkin glop from the pumpkin, canned pumpkin will usually do just fine.
4. Do Whatever Meathead Says
Want to make the most incredible turkey you’ve ever made? Just to go amazingribs.com and do what Meathead says.
5. Read a Fiction Book
You know what else makes for a good holiday? A good book. Most days I’m reading non-fiction, but when I’m on vacation I read fiction.
I’m totally a fan of Tom Clancy and other good spy-thriller types of novels. (What?) Over the weekend I began reading Transfer of Power, by Vince Flynn.
I’m not yet sure if I like it. The book’s opening paragraph felt a bit overwritten to me (a fine line to walk with books like this where details and nuance not only set the scene but can play a huge role in plot development.) However, by the end of the first chapter I already felt connected with two of the main characters.
A few other favorite reads:
- The Once and Future King
- Without Remorse
- Rainbow Six
- The Martian
- Creativity, Inc. (Not a fiction novel, but it’s such a darn great book and a fun read that it deserves a mention.)
6. Get Your Christmas Jams From Pandora
If you think it’s too early for christmas music, you’re weird.
For the best stream of Christmas music that doesn’t suck, start a new Pandora radio station built on the classic 1965 album, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Where Vince Guaraldi and his trio do some great Christmas songs. From there Pandora does the rest, and you get hours and hours of instrumental, jazzy Christmas tunes.
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P.S. Thank You, Dear Reader
As I look ahead to the remaining weeks of 2015 and on in to the next year, I feel extremely excited. For one, the free class we’re doing next month is going to be fantastic, and my gut tells me that 2016 is going to be a lot of fun.
I’ve been at this full-time blogging racket for almost five years now. And that is thanks entirely to you, dear reader.
So, please allow me to take my own advice (see #1 above), and say out loud what it is that I’m thankful for: You.
And I mean it!
I am incredibly thankful that you would show up and read my dorky articles and my half-formed ideas. Some of you have been reading this site for years. Amazing! And not only that, you are generous enough to support my work so I can keep on writing dorky articles — something I do not take lightly.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving!
— Shawn