You make sure to buy enough food to feed an army, because you don’t want anyone to be left hungry while you are planning your holiday family meal. There’s going to be a lot left over and if some of those family members or friends aren’t living in your house already, they may appreciate a take-home care package that they can heat up later. Everyone loves leftovers from Thanksgiving, right?

Before the big day, plan to purchase some “throw-away” containers that you don’t mind giving away. Give each guest their own containers to “stuff” as they wish from designated bowls set out after everyone has eaten. Remember to keep what you would like to keep for yourself, because you enjoy having something to re-create the next day with left-over turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, veggies, and desserts you love!

The Food Network has many talented chefs that lend their ideas for a delicious after Thanksgiving meal you and your guests will be sure to love, so if you go to their website you can copy a couple recipes, put them on cute recipe cards that are hand written or printed and add that to your little gift package. Not only will your guests feel so wonderful with their new recipes they can add to their collection, but you’ve given them their own ideas if they want to start a new tradition of their own.

It’s the little things that warm the hearts of those we love. Share love to them, so they can share love to others.

With the election over and most of the barrage of politics behind us for a while, it’s time to get back to treating each other with love, kindness and respect. The question is why did the presidential race bring out the worst in most? Social media was and is, riddled with unkindness and harsh remarks. It’s sad to see friendships split, families separated and relationships strained because of the strong difference of opinions. I say, it's over…and it’s time to remember that “the greatest of these is love” and we need to put that into practice now and forever forward. We are approaching a day that is set aside for being thankful and grateful for the blessings in our lives, shouldn’t we get our hearts and minds heading in the right direction so that the day truly is one of thanks! Thanksgiving will be followed by Christmas, another day set aside to be thankful for the greatest gift of all and to celebrate friends and family in whatever fashion you choose to celebrate the day. Why not start by choosing a “pay it forward” way of thinking in an area of your life where you can put that into practice several days during the holiday season. I can assure you that if you replace anger and distress with kindness and generosity, you will see this season in a whole new light and in turn, you will choose it for the days that follow. Anger, resentment, fear and distress will make you feel negative, tired, worn out and sad…but changing that mindset will turn your life around!

Please don’t let politics dictate your life now or in the future. Change your mind about the way you think, be kind, pay it forward, speak gently and love loudly…you can be the first link in a chain that changes the way others think!