The Power of P.A.U.S.E. – A Thanksgiving message

Every holiday brings a flurry of excitement, activity, and family connection.  Thanksgiving, in fact, tops as the number 1 ranked holiday to celebrate in America amongst the top 16. It’s simply tradition.  If there’s one thing the world knows America for, it’s eating. And on no day do we overeat with less shame than Thanksgiving, where we inexplicably eat “dinner” at 3 pm and go into a food coma while watching football for the rest of the afternoon. It’s also the one holiday where people open their homes to folks they barely know, showing that even though we’re overworked, stressed-out, and only get like six days off a year, we’re motivated to go the extra mile. 

This Thanksgiving will clearly be different. The medical restrictions of covid -19 have put a real damper on our precious holiday, to say the least. Feelings of isolation, losses of all kinds, especially those who have passed away, profound sadness, and family longing, are omnipresent. Our homes typically bristling with laughter, and that flurry of activity simply won’t exist or be the same this year. 

We are being asked to restrict. To hit the pause button and stay safe. To wait until there are better times ahead. Easy to say. Hard to do. 

Enter the power of P.A.U.S.E. 

This year I want to invite you to embrace this power of P.A.U.S.E. rather than resist it. See what new magic may arise as a result of restricting. Of adapting to new ways to celebrate. 

Join me this Thanksgiving in experimenting with your own unique version of the power of P.A.U.S.E., whether celebrating quiet Thanksgiving alone or in a small gathering. 

Here’s what my new favorite acronym stands for. Postpone action until serenity emerges! 

Let me repeat it, POSTPONE ACTION UNTIL SERENITY EMERGES. 

I’ll end with my confession and the delight I’m anticipating in the power of P.A.U.S.E.

I’ve never roasted a turkey in my life! I’m always afraid I’ll mess it up. Apparently, it’s genetic. I just found out yesterday my mother and sister never cooked a turkey either. Who knew?  I can make all the sides just fine yet, have feared the big butterball. This year will be different.  I’m only having the holiday with my immediate family of 4 – my husband Bruce, and two sons, Chad and Jared, so I decided to take the plunge and go all out.  4 is the perfect number to experiment with. In my P.A.U.S.E. experiment, I am home alone today, preparing and cooking everything from scratch, a first.  Fortunately, I decided to drop my pride and ask my brother-in-law, Mark, who cooks the best turkey ever, for his secret recipe. Not only did he happily share it just yesterday, but he also ran out to William Sonoma and sent me overnight express, a big jar of the special brine he uses. Talk about magic and blessings.  I decided to relish in the power of P.A.U.S.E. and am committed to finding new blessings to be grateful for – mostly cultivating GRATITUDE in some of the silver linings, big and small; I have chosen to see in this pandemic, including my new jar of brine.  

I continue to be grateful to be a part of your life and your journey and wish you and your loved ones a blessed, safe, and healthy holiday. I send my powerful prayers and compassion for those of you who may have lost a loved one or are sick. 

Please email me and let me know the results should you choose to join me in the power of P.A.U.S.E. I’m eager to collect stories of MAGIC and promise to share them with you in December!