Surviving Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon us in America. This day often fills us with thoughts of delicious food, family and friends. From the Macy's parade to football to the tradition of overindulgence. That's the kind of empty nostalgia best left to Hallmark cards.

The reality of Thanksgiving is much different. Thanksgiving Day is ripe for drama and dysfunction. You've got your mother drinking too much and "getting honest" with everyone and Grandpa telling his racist jokes as a holiday treat from yesteryear that no one asked for. There's that needy aunt that needs to know everything about your life... I mean everything.

We've all got that uncle that sees conspiracy theories as an opportunities to broaden his horizons. Don't worry, he'll fill you in on all his 'research' from the past year. Then, there's that one stinking kid. You know the little idiot wiping his snot everywhere and you just know you'll be sick by Monday. He's such a treasure.

Ask yourself this. Why else do people flock to Black Friday sales? You thought it was about great deals and savings, right? It's really just an excuse for jailbreak and an escape the family dysfunction that is Thanksgiving Day in America.

You've got your dysfunctional tribe and I've got mine, so today, obviously, we'll talk about the dangers of living in echo chambers and toxic tribalism. How does this relate to Thanksgiving? This holiday is an opportunity to see a diverse cross-section of needs, ideas, insecurities, and personalities. It's also a time for you to begin to look at others in different ways, and it's an opportunity for us to look deeper into our own issues and biases.

With a country that continues to become more fractured and polarized, we must move towards change. It's easy to call the other side to change, but the real work begins when we start to change ourselves. Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for that.

If all else fails, we'll also talk through key strategies for surviving Thanksgiving. One way or the other, Snarky Faith has you covered.