A FABulous Thanksgiving

I’m not sure if you’re like me. You probably aren’t. I’m kind of weird. But just in case there are a few of you out there who can relate…

Holidays stress me out.

Maybe because of my recovering perfectionist personality, or my desire to have everyone in my world be happy and at peace. But holidays can be a recipe for disaster in my world. I dream of the perfect Thanksgiving, great food, happy family, followed by a horse drawn carriage ride at Kierland Commons, while caroling with the children.

I’ve yet to have one of those picture perfect Thanksgivings. I’ve had a lot of MOSTLY great Thanksgivings, but none have lived up to my visions of perfection. So this year, I’m taking a new approach. It’s not that I’m lowering my standards, but I’m learning to love the mess.

Because let’s face it, having kids is messy. Marriage is messy. Life is messy.

My mantra for the holidays this year is making it FABulous. What does this mean, you ask?

I’m learning there are only three things in this world that I can control.

1. My Feelings
2. My Attitude
3. My Behavior

When I focus on taking responsibility for these things in my life, it’s amazing how my world gets better. The pressure to please my husband, my in-laws, my kids, my friends…it lessens, and the peace, that I so desire, increases. And a funny thing has happened as I’ve focused on having a FABulous Thanksgiving and holiday season rather than a perfect one, I’m feeling a lot more THANKFUL. Crazy how that happens.

Like, I said, it might just be me…but, I have a feeling it’s not.
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Noelle Larson is a mom still searching to find the “balance” between her spiritual journey, family, ambition, inner peace, world peace…all while trying not to blink so she doesn’t miss one minute of her beautiful, messy life.  Noelle writes at metromom.org where she journals her crazy days chasing after her kids and husband, deep thoughts, and captures her latest adventures.