Happy Thanksgiving to all the yankee yogadorks! On this day of gratitude and, let’s face it, stuffing our pie holes, a cornucopia of yummies isn’t all we’re stuffed with. Families are fab, but what happens when personalities and ideals collide? It’s family isn’t it?
You’re a veg and everyone else love turkey. You’re single and mom and pop keep nagging about nuptials. Not to fear! Well+Good NYC has to come to our rescue with a survival guide to Thanksgiving! (and every family gathering if you ask us). What did they do? They asked a Buddhist/yoga teacher how to survive the family clashdown for the holidays.
Carl Sheusi, a NYC holistic coach, yoga teacher, and teacher of Big Mind, a form of Buddhism that combines Zen Master Genpo Roshi’s teachings and western psychology, knows just why our parents are so good at pushing our buttons. “They installed them,” he says. “But we might see these family triggers and traditions as an opportunity to wake up to ourselves,” he says.
YOU SUDDENLY FEEL 16 YEARS OLD AGAIN. AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
It may be unavoidable that you go home for the holidays and you revert.
But you can prevent suffering by not hating yourself for it. Get over your attachment to the thought, “This ought not to be happening. I am a grownup. This ought not to be happening.” It’s not a great mantra—well, not of any good host or guest.YOU’RE A VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, OR RAW FOODIE. AND, GUESS WHAT, THERE’S A GIANT ROASTED BIRD ON THE TABLE.
This is where I might employ a philosophy called “I’m eatin’ what your cookin’.” I don’t remember the circumstance, but the Buddha, a vegetarian, went to a dinner in his honor and the centerpiece was a giant piece of dead flesh. He accepted it and ate it. The attendants were aghast. “You broke your vows,” they said. “It was a gift given with kindness of the heart,” he answered. In other words, are you secure enough in your dietary decisions and values not to suffer for them? Or are you still trying to get your family to understand you and change for you?
Head over to Well+Good for the rest of the tips. Remember it’s about gratitude, so make like the president and pardon the turkeys — that’d be your family 😉
Have a safe and happy holiday!
