A tradition around many dinner tables on Thanksgiving is to ask each person to share something they are thankful for.
Common responses are friends, family, pets, food, and good health. These answers are good but easy and automatic.
It’s similar when someone asks, “How are you?” and your response is the typical one-word, “good” or “great.”
You could surprise your family or guests this Thanksgiving with a more profound response.
Responding With a Genuine Answer
Planning ahead can help you give a thoughtful response to “What are you thankful for?”
Also, if you have a response prepared, you will be able to listen to the responses of others instead of trying to think up something amazing before it’s your turn.
The key to a great response is considering why you are thankful for your friends, family, etc.
- Why are you thankful for the person?
- Why are you feeling thankful for your pets?
- Did something happen recently that made you feel extra grateful?
Once you have your reasons, you can use them when answering “What are you thankful for.” And your response will sound awesome and authentic as you’ve thought about it in advance.
Here are three examples:
I’ve been a little sick recently. When it’s my turn to answer I might say something like this: I am thankful for Ted (my husband) as he’s taken very good care of me while I was sick recently. He made me meals and bought me my favorite comfort foods. He also encouraged me to take naps and get extra rest.
Another example I might say is that I’m thankful for my cats. My cats give me a lot of joy every day, and I’m happy they are part of my life.
My brother will be at Thanksgiving dinner this year. I could thank him for inviting me to do a Mammoth March with him.
If there is someone on the list that you are grateful for but will not be at your Thanksgiving celebration, I encourage you to send them a thank you note or a thank you text. They will likely appreciate your kind words.
“I am thankful for…” Activity
You could also make this a fun Thanksgiving activity using an “I am thankful for” leaf. You could also use sticky notes or any blank paper.
With this brainstorming activity, aim to list as many things as you can.
If you are going through a hard time, making a list can help remind of what are grateful for even when life is difficult.
After everyone has made their list, encourage them to share why they are thankful for one item on their list.
The leaf shown below is available on Etsy and can be printed as many times as needed. It’s a PDF which you’ll get instantly after ordering, which is perfect if you need a last minute Thanksgiving activity (assuming you have a printer).
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