When we think of Thanksgiving we tend to conjure up images of cornucopias overflowing with food and eating for hours on end while football games play in the background. To limit Thanksgiving to merely turkey, stuffing, pie, and all of the other traditional foods would be shortsighted. Thanksgiving offers opportunities to bond, reconnect, and even exercise. This year may look a bit different with the coronavirus and the amount of restrictions on travel and social gatherings. We're not saying that Thanksgiving is a time to shun food, we're saying that the main objective shouldn't be to consume food past the point of enjoyment. Eat, laugh, and enjoy the foods of the holiday, but there doesn't need to be an expectation of eating past the point of being full. Let's take the opportunity to highlight what's great about Thanksgiving outside of the food. Thanksgiving can bring families together to reconnect after extend periods apart. These social opportunities are a great way to learn about family anecdotes, traditions, and how your mom or dad got that unique nickname. The socialization doesn't have to stop at the first dish, socialization while consuming the food is a great way to pace your consumption. While this year we may have to utilize some modern tools (zoom, skype, google hangouts) to make these social interactions happen, they are still quite possible. These family gatherings don't have to just center around the table. A great way to kick off Thanksgiving day and get the family moving. While most events have been cancelled this year, that just means the family needs to put together the event by themselves. The family could do a run together, play an outdoor game, or just go for a nice casual walk as a family unit. Starting the day with some physical activity is a great way to add some movement to a day that is traditionally defined by sedentary activities. The physical traditions of thanksgiving may not exist in your town or family, but there's no better time to start than now. Play a round of golf, hit the park of some basketball, or if you're in an area with cooperating whether, go to the beach for a family swim. Given the current conditions just be sure to participate in these activities with only your immediate family and not outsiders. At camp we see meals as a precious time to fuel our bodies and connect with our fellow campers, Thanksgiving dinner should be no different. Enjoy each bite and savor the flavor, while also savoring the conversations with your relatives and loved ones. A happy thanksgiving to all of you from the Camp New Heights' family.
