This Thursday is Thanksgiving, so before we get too involved in getting ready for Thanksgiving Day, let me wish you a joyful holiday. One I hope will be celebrated with family and friends… and, of course, food and football.

Let’s face it, if you are going through a divorce, you may not feel very thankful this Thursday. In fact, you may feel as though you don’t have anything to celebrate. Families get separated. Extended family and other relatives pull away. Friends get forgotten. I know the first Thanksgiving after my ex-husband left, being grateful was the furthest thing from my mind.

Don’t let your situation put a damper on Thanksgiving Day… still be thankful. You may need to dig a little deeper this year to find things you are thankful for, since your view on what means most to you may not exactly be clear, so let me help you.

Here are just a few things I am thankful for:

• Family (immediate and extended)
• Friends (and their families, too)
• Riku, Bomber & Kaz (the cats!)
• My health – even though I have some issues, I’m better off than many
• A wonderful home
• A job where I am treated fairly and do well
• Financial peace
• My writing and books
• Hockey & football
• ETC…….

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

Think about everything you are grateful to have in your life, and I mean really think about it. Make a list if you need to. Everything on that list will keep you moving forward as you navigate divorce – and even for some time after the divorce is final. The people on that list are especially important. They are your team. With their help, you will make it through even the darkest of times. Your team will be there to lift you up and celebrate with you.

Since we know Thanksgiving kicks off The Holiday Season, use this day to think of new traditions for upcoming events that previously would have been spent with your spouse. Yes, things will be much different going forward. But different isn’t terrible. The first year holds the biggest adjustment. Lean on your team to come up with new and fun things to do to keep you in the spirit and celebrate joy.

And keep reading here. I’ll give you ideas for the season and show you what I’ve done post-divorce to make sure I didn’t lose my jolly!

Remember, celebrate and reflect. You have so much to be thankful for.

I know I do. I add to my Thankful For list every day.  Even though it might not feel like it now, you will too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now get ready for some football and a couple extra pieces of pie.