Among Friends

[qualitygal]

Don't feel bad, you have no idea of the thousands who preceeded you and made that very same decision.  The torch is passed, so to speak.  Happy holidays.

[Imaoldhippie]

I totally agree, "duties" can suck you dry, make you depressed and have a bad attitude and cause physical illness.

A lot of family is expectant and grateful.

I wish you all the best.

[hckynut]

@I am stillkeeper of the

Have used this phrase often and also lived most of my adult life by it:

* "Man was born to live, not to prepare for life". I also have never had any concerns what anyone thinks of me when I tell them NO! I live MY life the way I want to live it, not not the way others think I should live it, especially family! Have most of my adult life and have no plan to change it in the fewer years I have left.

* Woman

hckynut(john)

[WaJa61]

I try to live each day in a state of gratitude... as trying as that can sometimes be! Usually, it's not so hard to find a multitude of blessings to give daily thanks for. I have always taken most joy in the simple pleasures and having our basic needs met. There are too many suffering without even those in this world. Could be us next, as it is for those survivors of the CA fires, or the recent devastating flooding from hurricanes.

I like this quote: 

Become a vessel of grace...

As to the official holiday deemed Thanksgiving; we are all blessedly free to recognize and celebrate that in the way that means most to us and our loved ones. With no guilt or shame! There's no mandate on traditions and we can change them from year to year. Some years my husband and I volunteer to serve from our church's food pantry and just take a plate home to enjoy that evening while watching football on TV. Other times we travel to be with distant kin we don’t see so often. 

This year, I'm grateful to be able to host our growing immediate and some extended family and friends here in our home. I'll thankfully accept plenty of help with it, too! Especially the clean-up. 😉 

Enjoy the season in whatever way truly makes you most grateful! That's the bigger point of it, AFAIC.