Travelers – Stay Connected at Thanksgiving
Staying connected with friends and family during Thanksgiving can look different for everyone, especially if you are a traveler away from home. The key is finding meaningful ways to share the spirit of the holiday, whether you’re physically together or apart. Here are some ideas for finding happiness while you are apart:
- Virtual Dinner Parties– If you’re unable to be together in person, consider setting up a virtual dinner or any meal. You can use Facetime, Teams, Zoom, Skype, or any video calling platform to “sit down” together and share your meal. Some families even schedule a specific time for everyone to eat, so it feels like a communal event.
- Sharing Gratitude-Whether in-person or virtually, take some time during your meal to share what you’re thankful for. This can be done through a group call, or even by writing down things you’re grateful for and sharing them afterward. It’s a great way to reflect together, even if you’re in different locations.
- Group Cooking Session-If you’re not able to be in the same kitchen, you can still cook together by having a shared cooking session over video call. You can cook the same recipe at the same time or exchange cooking tips. Another fun twist is having everyone bring one dish to share, and then comparing how each one turns out!
- Family Traditions-Many families have unique traditions—whether it’s playing a specific game, watching a certain movie, or telling family stories. You can still maintain these traditions via virtual meetings or by setting up live-streams, so everyone can participate from a distance.
- Create a Thanksgiving Playlist-Music is another way to create a sense of togetherness. You and your loved ones can compile a playlist of favorite songs or Thanksgiving-themed tracks and share it with everyone to listen to during the day. It’ll be like everyone is in the same room, enjoying the same tunes!
- Personal Gratitude Journals or Letters– Take some time to connect with your personal feelings. Write what you are thankful for in a journal, explore accomplishments, good fortune, relationships. Consider writing a letter to yourself, remembering what is important and deserves thanks.
- Watch a Movie or Sports Together– Many families enjoy watching parades, football games, or holiday movies together. This can be extended to virtual connections by using platforms like Netflix Party (for movies) or sharing live-streams of sports games. Watching and reacting together can mimic the experience of being in the same room.
- Send Thanksgiving Care Packages-A thoughtful way to stay connected is by sending care packages with goodies, handwritten notes, or even recipes. It’s a physical way to show you care, even if you can’t be there in person.
- Record Memories for Future Thanksgivings– If you can’t be together in person, ask everyone to record a short video message about what they’re thankful for this year, or share a family memory. Collecting these recordings can create lasting memories to watch together at future holidays.
- Start New Traditions-Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on old traditions and create new ones. Whether it’s adding a new virtual activity or exploring different ways to connect, it’s all about creating memories together, even if you’re not in the same place.
