Thankfully I'm Not a Turkey
- flyhcoaches
- Nov 9, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 9, 2022
Dayenu
By Debbie
Yes, I am so grateful that I am not a turkey…. so grateful that my family has decided not to have turkey this year. It is not my favorite food.
And at this season of the year, it is a time to reflect upon the many reasons we have to be grateful. That is one of mine, no turkey for Thanksgiving.
I am reminded of the Hebrew song 'Dayenu'…. It is a Passover song over 1000 years old.
'Dayenu' means "It would have been enough"
As we think of the many things we are thankful for, we can say 'dayenu' for each one… it would have been enough.
As we awake each day we are blessed with the gift of life…. dayenu.
As we open our eyes and see the world we live in, we can again say dayenu.
As we arise from bed, be it warm or cold on our feet, we feel…. dayenu.
I am grateful.
I am thankful.
And as we go through the minutes of our day there are so many reasons to be grateful. I can smell the bacon; I can taste the bacon. As I drive to work, I can see the gorgeous colors of fall. As I sit on my porch, I can hear the chipmunks and squirrels scurrying around to collect their winter portions… dayenu.
Our lives are blessed with moments of wonder. We just need to stop and pay attention.
Moments every single day, every minute of every day, when we can say dayenu.
I am grateful.
I am alive.
I need to remember when I groan at the ache in my back or the twinge of my knees, that I can still be thankful that I can still hear the laughter of a child, the singing of the birds. I can still see the sunlight through the trees.
Take time today and every day to be grateful, to be thankful, to say DAYENU for what you have received.
With Love & Gratitude!
Debbie
“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour,
some heavenly blessings.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
Filling Your Plate with Appreciation
By Denna
Breaking free from emotional eating was a huge weight that was lifted off my shoulders. Once I felt free, I began to walk through life a bit easier. Things felt calmer. My conscious felt lighter.
As the holidays approached during that first year of my freedom, I often wondered “how will the holidays be different for me now?”
Before, I had tunnel vision: What food will be there? When do we start eating? What’s for dessert?
Now: A whole new world lay before me. A world of curiosity about my family and friends, a desire for conversation, and a newfound sense of appreciation.
🧡 I did not worry about eating too much --> I had confidence that I could listen to my body and stop when I am full.
🧡 I was not dewy-eyed or compelled by the dinner spread --> I barely paid attention to it as my focus was now elsewhere.
🧡 I was not thinking about the pumpkin pie while shoving appetizers in my face --> I no longer felt tempted by the call of the food.
There I was. The new me…
As we all settled in around the table, I grabbed my plate as the food was passed around.
As each dish was handed to me, I took a little food and added it to my plate. As I did so, I took a moment of inner reflection and considered what each of these foods represented to me.
Here comes the Roasted Turkey – I think about all those times with my sister as we pulled apart the wish bone when we were kids.
Please pass the Mashed Potatoes – I know I’m in for a treat when my dad makes these. Somehow they always taste the best when he’s the cook.
Oh boy the Gravy – The thing that ties it all together. What Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without it! I loved watching how excited others would get as they received the coveted gravy boat and began to drizzle this liquid gold over everything on their plate.
Grab a bit of Cranberry Sauce – I’ll never forget that first time I had made-from-scratch cranberry sauce (not out of a can). Wow did that pack a flavor punch! Who knew I actually liked this…
And don’t forget about the Green Bean Casserole – My mom would add almonds at Thanksgiving, unlike the rest of the year. I remember the first time trying this as a young kid and feeling all fancy.
Once my plate was full, I paused for a moment to admire my bounty.
My plate now represented all the people in my life and the memories I’ve built with them.
Gone are the days of my food-focused mindset.
My focus is now on life and love.
*******
This Thanksgiving, as you build your plate, I encourage you to do it with memories and appreciation.
This is a practice that is calming and stress reducing. It quiets the mind and eases the emotional eating.
It allows us to slow down. Reconnect with ourselves. Pay attention to our bodies. And gives us space to appreciate the eating experience.
Fill your heart first. Then fill your stomach.
What stories will fill your plate this Thanksgiving?
Leave a comment below and share your stories with us. We’d love to hear them!
Much Love & Happy Thanksgiving!
Denna
“I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful
I became, the more my bounty increased.” ~Oprah Winfrey
Live Life Like a Turkey
By Ellen
I could honestly say yes, I am thankful that I am not a turkey but, would you be thankful if you were a turkey? What does a turkey have to be thankful for as Thanksgiving Day approaches and roughly 40 million of them are consumed in America?
What would I experience if I could see the world through a turkey’s eyes?
I would be filled with a profound sense of safety, connection, and love for my dedicated mother who was there to nurture me every step of the way.
I would be blessed with a sense of curiosity, intelligence, and the innate ability to fly, hunt, and survive.
I would embrace the beauty of the vast outdoors and freedom to roam about the forest.
I would enjoy exploring the phenomena of Nature, both physically and spiritually, while making personal connections with other wildlife.
I would be forever inquisitive about life, death, and Nature’s natural laws.
I would bask in the joy of living life every day in the moment.
Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the drama of everyday life. Communication has become a quick text or email, and quality time with family, friends, or significant loved ones now need to be planned weeks in advanced. Sure, we may be intelligent and curious humans, but when was the last time that you felt your heart soar by exploring the phenomena or nature, both physically and spiritually?
The remarkable gift is that we don’t have to be a turkey to enjoy the world through their eyes. We can enjoy it everyday through our own eyes, we only need to take the moment to let it happen.
We are Human Beings. It is time to stop doing and start being. Start living life to it’s fullest by taking time to live like a turkey.
With Love & Gratitude,
Ellen
Want to learn more about the life of a turkey, watch My Life as a Turkey.
It’s a documentary based on Biologist Joe Hutto who mothered 16 endangered wild turkeys from hatchlings to adulthood.
🦃🦃🦃
Want more support for your mind, body and spirit?
Book a FREE Discovery Call with us!
To book a call with Debbie: Email her at dwwings3968@gmail.com
To book a call with Denna: www.avordari.com/book-a-call
To book a call with Ellen: https://myrelaxationtoolbox.com/contact
Happy Thanksgiving!
🍂 Your FLYH Coaches 🍂
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