I have been wanting to share with you how my Thanksgiving went. It went well. I even had help decorating my office for Thanksgiving and again for Christmas. Of course, I had to have help.
Thanksgiving went great. I paired up with friends who eat the similar diet that I do. We discussed the menu ahead of time and agreed on keeping out or keeping in certain items. For the most part, it ended up being a Paleo Thanksgiving. It couldn’t have been better.
I didn’t feel tempted to eat things I couldn’t and I had no adverse reactions to anything.
So, here are a few tips that I followed to make my Thanksgiving and my upcoming Christmas a success….
- Schedule only one thing a day to do in addition to your regular work schedule. i.e. Making a pie. Or going to work and then a doctor’s visit.
- Let your family and friends know ahead of time of your dietary restrictions.
- Bring a dish to the event that you know you can eat.
- If you are unsure about an event, eat before hand or just don’t go. “No” is an answer and an option. If those concerned for you don’t understand. Move on.
- Watch all the holiday scents. People get candle and scent crazy this time of the year. If a scent bothers you, you might have to leave. I know I avoid certain places during this time (actually all time) like Bed Bath and Beyond and Bath & Body Works, Christmas Palace and malls in general.
- Don’t be ashamed to ask people that are close to you to go cologne free around you. Living in a hispanic community, cheek kisses are exchanged at greetings and good-byes. This exchange with a heavy cologne can make me sick for hours. If they have cologne, offer your hand or express that you really can’t handle their cologne/perfume. If you can smell it 3′ away from them, don’t hug or kiss them.
- Make the most of each holiday. I have decided to enjoy each holiday with new eyes. Be a child. Allow the wonder to flow over you. But, stay in budget.
- If eating out, look up restaurant menus online. Most places offer GF menu options or allergy menus if you know how to find it. If not, don’t go to that restaurant. I have found a few that I like and I have let the corporate office know I appreciate it for that location. These few establishments now know me because they got rewarded from Corporate for serving my special needs.
- Do what you can. This year I put up the Christmas tree and a few decorations. I didn’t have help (like I did at my office), so only half went up. I was pleased. Here is picture.
- Here is a video of my office. It took two other people to help me. It isn’t much, but I feel more festive with these few decorations.
- If you don’t feel in the mood to do decorations, it is okay. I didn’t last year. I meant to, I just didn’t have the energy or even the desire.
- Allow every day to be a gift. I know we all have work, meals to prepare and family’s to tend to. Please take a few minutes for yourself and to just enjoy. This is your choice. You can allow yourself to be “down” or choose to make each day enjoyable.
Okay, I am done preaching and I feel like I am repeating myself.
Embrace each morning with a short devotional and meditate on the word “gratitude” for 3-5 minutes. It changes your perception. Each day is a blessing to me. I was supposed to be on disability and permant oxygen at this point in my illness. I still work, volunteer and visit friends independently. So I can’t put up decorations by myself anymore. More excuses to have people involved in my life for me to be grateful for them.
Remember that Christ is reason for this season.