Musings by Dr. Michelle Gannon: Surviving Thanksgiving if you are single

Musings by Dr. Michelle Gannon: Psychologist, Wife and Mother

Thanksgiving is a time of year where it seems that everyone has plans. It is the busiest travel week. Many people have annual traditions and rituals. A lot of people visit their relatives. Many families in the Bay Area make their own celebrations. It appears that everyone else likes Thanksgiving, but what if you are single and do not have any plans?

Rather than feel sorry for yourself or pretend that the holiday does not exist, consider some of these suggestions:

• What does Thanksgiving mean to you? What are you thankful for in your life?
• Are you really the only one you know without holiday plans. Invite friends, neighbors and colleagues to join you for a potluck Thanksgiving. In graduate school, my roommates and I did this, and we were amazed how many "fellow Thanksgiving orphans" we actually knew-after we cast the net far and wide.
• Consider volunteering at a church, synagogue or soup kitchen. Some of the most fulfilling Thanksgivings that I remember were serving meals at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.
• What about helping at an animal shelter or visiting folks at a nursing home? Check out www.1-800-Volunteer.org for lots of volunteer options. Many of them require little time commitment for meaningful reward.
• Animal lovers- Spend special time with your pet. Or offer to take care of friend or co-worker's pet while they are away.
• Plan a day appreciating nature or the outdoors. Amazing hikes and bike rides are available in Marin at Phoenix Lake, Marin Headlands and Tennessee Valley.
• Try a new yoga class- Many yoga studios offer special classes on Thanksgiving.
• Visit Book Passages or Borders before the holiday, and pick out a really good novel that you have been wanting to read. Give yourself the day to luxuriate reading a good book.
• Take the time to connect with people via phone and emails. You could even get an early start on writing holiday cards.
• Be productive. Clean out some closets. Organize photos. Get something done that you usually are too busy to do. Be thankful for TIME.
• Ask around. Perhaps you can still receive an invitation to friends or co-workers' houses for Thanksgiving dinner if that really is what you want.
• Take yourself out to a nice Thanksgiving meal.
• Treat yourself to a movie or theater ticket.
• Go to Stinson Beach to watch the sunset, and be thankful we live in the Bay Area.
• Rather than isolate, call old friends. Let them know that you are thankful for their friendships.
• Watch Football.
• Write down 3 things you feel gratitude for. Experience at least one of them on Thanksgiving.

Maybe it is time to take a risk, and try something new. You deserve a Happy Thanksgiving too.

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Dr. Michelle Gannon is a Psychologist specializing in Women's Issues and Relationships.  She has been in private practice in San Francisco for 20 years helping individuals and couples with relationship issues, self esteem, depression, anxiety, family of origin issues, parenthood, career and life transitions. She also specializes in women's issues such as work/life balance, body image, intimacy and sexuality, pregnancy, infertility, transition to motherhood, perimenopause, parenting, friendship, and helping women develop a strong sense of self. Visit her at www.DrMichelleGannon.com and www.MarriagePrep101.com.

Dr. Gannon lives in San Rafael with her husband, two sons, dog and cat.

Comments

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