Thanksgiving-A Holiday of Contentment and Melancholy

For me, Thanksgiving gives me mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am content with the different rhythms of the day, spending time with family, eating good food that I only eat once a year, and ushering in Christmas by decorating the house and tree. It is proven that twinkling lights brighten our moods!

Licensed therapist and interior designer Anita Yokota, author of the book Home Therapy, discusses the concept of glimmer.

"Have you heard about this concept called glimmer?" she asks. “It's a positive spin on a trigger. We're supposed to be feeling glimmers. They're tiny moments that induce dopamine levels of relaxation and safety for a small moment of joy. Christmas lights can be our glimmers."

On the other hand, I miss my family who lives in Buffalo and beyond and mourn those loved ones who are no longer in my life, either by their passing or by choice. So, as I embrace my feelings, one moment I could be laughing and the next crying, I recognize that these feelings are a good and natural process of life.

I didn’t always feel that way, though, and would stuff my melancholy feelings deep because I thought I was doing a disservice to the holiday and the people around me. Not anymore. I have learned to share my feelings first with God and then with my family so if the tears come, they are not startled, and second, they can give me a much-needed hug. I journal more around the holidays and practice more self-care. I share this because I want you to know that you are not alone and to give you a gentle reminder to be kind to your hearts and bodies during the holiday season.