"How we doing, fam? Ready for candied yams and Joe Burrow's return? Or are you mostly looking forward to a turkey-induced nap that excuses you from washing dishes and listening to your mom's brother drone on about, well, drones? I'm lying. I don't have one of those uncles. The role of "that" guy is usually played by my cousin's husband. They're (finally) getting a divorce, though. So, this year my Turkey Day doze will be borne out of pure indulgence, rather than avoidance."
"The plan was to open this week's column discussing gratitude. I combed the internet searching for inspirational quotes. Honestly, though, everything was so cheesy. If you read my work regularly then you know I have no issue with earnestness. (I built an entire article around a pesky house finch just three weeks ago.) But the holidays ramp up the schmaltz to such a seemingly disingenuous level that it makes me want to act out."
"Don't let the sun go down without saying thank you to someone, and without admitting to yourself that absolutely no one gets this far alone."
Holiday anticipation mixes football, candied yams, and a turkey-induced nap as a reprieve from chores and family small talk. A fabricated anecdote describes awkward relatives and the choice to embrace indulgence rather than avoidance. Online inspirational quotes feel cheesy and overly schmaltzy during the holidays. Appreciation should be sincere and rooted in genuine acknowledgment. A Stephen King admonition urges saying thank you daily and admitting that no one reaches success alone. Recognizing teachers and mentors who offer opportunities or lessons explains how individuals advance and level up. Gratitude requires honest, specific acknowledgment rather than performative sentiment.
Read at ESPN.com
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