Ways to Include Neighbors who are alone in your Thanksgiving Celebrations
Most of us know the people that live in our own neighborhoods and who has family and who doesn't. Some people may have family, but for one reason or another both parties might not be able to travel. Some of these reasons might include: health problems, financial struggles with the troubling economy, and maybe employment obligations, just to name a few. Some people might also suffer from things like social disorders where they are not comfortable being around people. Sadly, this may not be limited to just strangers, this could even include members of their own family for one reason or another.If you know of someone who might bealonefor Thanksgiving, you might give them an invitation to join you and your family for your Thanksgiving meal, or you might even offer to provide them with an already cooked Thanksgiving meal of their own if they do not already have plans, so that the work will already be done for them and they will still get to enjoy the meal that you have prepared for them. This way even if they choose to be alone, you can be left with a happy heart knowing that you at least attempted to contribute to them having been part of your Thanksgiving celebration by letting them partake in your meal with you even if they do it in the privacy of their own home.Some neighbors might feel blessed and honored that you thought of them during your planning for yourThanksgiving celebrationand be open to the idea of joining you and your family to celebrate and be thankful that they did open their door and their lives to you. That is part of what the Thanksgiving holiday is all about, being thankful for the things that you do have instead of dwelling on the things that you do not have. Instead of being embarrassed or upset that you do not have your own family to celebrate with, or can't be with them for one reason or another, you can be thankful that your neighbors thought enough of you to include you at their family table to be with them instead of being alone.If you know ahead of time, that someone is going to be alone and you have invited them with enough notice to join you and your family to celebrate the day, you might even ask them what their favorite Thanksgiving dishes are, or if they have a recipe that they would like to include for your meal and even if you, the host or hostess, purchase the ingredients for the meal, the guest might even be interested in the idea of coming over early enough to help you to prepare it. This way, it will look to them like they have provided to the meal that you so graciously invited them to join you in.You might even try either before or after eating the meal, asking everyone what they are thankful for and chances are that the guest that you have included will acknowledge the loving neighbors and friends that he or she has that have been thoughtful enough to think of them and include them in your celebration.
