It is a sadness which is heavy on my heart when people I know say about Thanksgiving – “Yes our families all gather at one of our homes. It is one day of negative people, who all really dislike each other, trying to act like they don’t but all know that when they say see you next year as they finish the day they really hope it is not sooner.”
Wouldn’t it be really special if our gatherings of friends and families on Thanksgiving were all held with conversations?
Real meaningful conversations.
“We are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under heaven. Every person among us reads, and is so easy in their circumstances as to have leisure for conversations of improvement and for acquiring information.” Benjamin Franklin
So after the Turkey Trots or the volunteering at the town or city food bank or shelter and we join our family gathering… why not engage in real conversations?
Air out a few of the differences in a normal tone.
Recognize how fortunate we are to live in the country we live in. Why can’t a family get along? How can any of us wonder why there is so much conflict in the world when some of us cannot even make peace within our own family members?
Let’s say it is not possible. There is some deep wound that will never allow this to happen. Okay then have a few topics on a list that everyone contributes to one each. Then select a time for each topic, ten minutes and divide up the number of people and everyone has an amount of time to share their opinion or thought on the topic. You can even set ground rules like no political topics for example if that will be problematic for your group.
Here are a few things that may come from trying this out.
First is people present may enjoy hearing the variety of views others have. Second is the participants under thirty may learn something and even find out they enjoy speaking to each other and listening to others without the use of a smartphone.
“My music comes from many, many places. My emotions, my feelings, my thoughts, and conversations I have with people I know who influence me.” Alicia Keys
This year on Thanksgiving why not try to have some real conversations? If this is too difficult test the method described here and have fun with it. Let us all know how it goes.
Happy Thanksgiving ?
Mitch Tublin is the CEO and Founder of Wenkroy International LLC a boutique consulting company with a main focus on Strategic Business Consulting, Training and Business Coaching. Speaking available for events, retreats workshops and more. Our passion is to take people to the next level in their life and in their business.
