What Are You Thankful For?

This is just a quick post about a fun activity I did last year with my family when we hosted Thanksgiving for the first time.

Like most hosts, I was obsessed with making the perfect table-scape, which consisted of muted colors and white pumpkins.  I had little mini white pumpkins with name tags for our guests (and let me tell you, white pumpkins are not always easy to come by).  

As I was scouring through Pinterest looking for more ideas, I came across this one...

Get a pumpkin, and write what are you thankful for in black sharpie at the top.  I left the pumpkin in the middle of the table so while we were eating appetizers, or even during dinner, our guests were able to write down something that they were thankful for.

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You don't have to sign your name...some were funny, some were heartfelt, some were repetitive.  Overall it created not only a conversation piece, but also got my guests involved in an activity that was easy and fun!  I grabbed the pumpkin during dessert and started to read out loud what everyone wrote.  It brought us closer together, as we laughed at what others wrote, and made us realize that a lot of us were thankful for each other.

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What I loved most about the thankful pumpkin, is that it reminded us why were really there in the first place:  to be thankful and grateful for all the year has brought us, and to celebrate all the good that has come our way.  Each day might not be the perfect day from start to finish, and sometimes we can get caught up in the negative.  It can be a downward spiral that makes us depressed and anxious.  But if you have ever read "The Secret", you would remember that a good activity to do is to write down a few things each morning that you are thankful for.  I actually did this for a while, and it was amazing how focusing on a  few positive things can change your whole outlook on the day.

I have kept this thankful pumpkin in our kitchen, and everyday I glance at it.  Sometimes I take a few minutes to read all that has been written on it.  The most crazy part of this whole thing, is that I bought handfuls of mini pumpkins and gourds last year.  All of them had become rotten over time, and I had to throw them out.  But the thankful pumpkin is still perfectly intact.  I guess it just wants to be a constant reminder that we have a lot to be grateful for!

So my suggestion to you, is if you have an extra pumpkin laying around, grab a marker and ask your guests, "What are you thankful for?"  You may be surprised with what they come up with!

<3 P.S.

I used a white pumpkin, but like I mentioned they may be hard to find. You can use an orange pumpkin, or any color you prefer.  But if you want white and can't find it, you can grab a can of spray paint and make it white, OR you can buy a fake white one at your local craft store.  Get creative! There is no wrong or right here.  The most important thing is getting people involved and thinking about what they are thankful for!