If you are part of my family or have ever come over to a holiday get together at my house, you know one thing for sure; Cindy is going to get everyone to play a holiday game! My favorite holiday has been Thanksgiving for many years and getting my children and other family members to find gratitude is such a gift. With that said I think I am looked at as the “weird” aunt, mom or bonus mom, because I always end up, with a tad bit of arm twisting to get everyone involved in the gratitude games I come up with. I always hear the moans, groans and “here she goes again”. But every year I do it again and every year the group is pleased to be a part of it. Matter of fact I often here them saying “I can’t wait to see what she comes up with this year”
Some of these games, have made us cry, some have made us laugh, some have us holding hands, doing scavenger hunts and one even has you throwing yarn at your most loved relative. What they do, do for sure, is bring you closer together, with the knowledge that we all have things to be thankful for when it comes to family and friends.
So here are a few for you to try this year:
A Basket Full of Gratitude;
This one is very easy, get a basket and cut up paper in nice size pieces, or fill full of index cards, sticky notes or whatever you have. Fill basket with paper and pens and as the day goes on pass the basket around and have everyone write what they are most thankful or on the paper. (Make sure they do not write their name.) After dinner don’t jump up to clean off table, stay put and pass the basket and have each person read one card or thankful note. See if you can guess who wrote it? This get’s everyone talking and it’s amazing to find out what others are grateful for.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt;
Come up with a short and fun list of things that kids and adults alike can find around the house or yard. Keep it simple, yellow leaf, blade of grass and so on. (You can also do this with things around the house, if it’s too chilly to go outside.) Break everyone in to teams; give them the list and a bag to put their goodies in. Before they start tell them to keep in mind that this game is about gratitude, so every time they find something, say “I’m thankful for this blade of grass” or whatever it is, they are adding to their bag. When they come back ask “when was the last time you were thankful for a blade of grass?” or something else they have picked up. This is a great way to get kids and adults looking at gratitude for the little things in life.
The Web of Gratitude;
Get a LARGE ball of thick yarn. Have everyone stand in a circle. The first person holds the end of the yarn and throws the ball of yarn to another person in the circle. (So there is now a piece of yarn going from the first person to the person with the yarn ball) The person that threw the yarn, tells the person with the ball of yarn, something they are thankful for about them. Now that person holds a piece of the yarn and throws the ball to the next person and again says what he or she is thankful about that person. This goes on back and forth until you have a huge web of yarn holding you all together. Keep in mind you are not passing around the yarn, you are randomly throwing it to a person across the circle. Keep this up, until you have used all the yarn or have a nice web holding you all together. (Have everyone keep holding on to it) One person, take a pair of scissors and cut the middle of the web until it starts to unravel. If you are the person cutting the web say “Remember, that gratitude and love is the web that holds a family and friends together.”
Enjoy your thanksgiving holiday and remember;
“Gratitude is the Best Attitude”
Much Body Bonding Love,
Cynthia Sharp
Body Bonding Coach
http://www.bodybonding.com/
A Basket Full of Gratitude;
This one is very easy, get a basket and cut up paper in nice size pieces, or fill full of index cards, sticky notes or whatever you have. Fill basket with paper and pens and as the day goes on pass the basket around and have everyone write what they are most thankful or on the paper. (Make sure they do not write their name.) After dinner don’t jump up to clean off table, stay put and pass the basket and have each person read one card or thankful note. See if you can guess who wrote it? This get’s everyone talking and it’s amazing to find out what others are grateful for.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt;
Come up with a short and fun list of things that kids and adults alike can find around the house or yard. Keep it simple, yellow leaf, blade of grass and so on. (You can also do this with things around the house, if it’s too chilly to go outside.) Break everyone in to teams; give them the list and a bag to put their goodies in. Before they start tell them to keep in mind that this game is about gratitude, so every time they find something, say “I’m thankful for this blade of grass” or whatever it is, they are adding to their bag. When they come back ask “when was the last time you were thankful for a blade of grass?” or something else they have picked up. This is a great way to get kids and adults looking at gratitude for the little things in life.
The Web of Gratitude;
Get a LARGE ball of thick yarn. Have everyone stand in a circle. The first person holds the end of the yarn and throws the ball of yarn to another person in the circle. (So there is now a piece of yarn going from the first person to the person with the yarn ball) The person that threw the yarn, tells the person with the ball of yarn, something they are thankful for about them. Now that person holds a piece of the yarn and throws the ball to the next person and again says what he or she is thankful about that person. This goes on back and forth until you have a huge web of yarn holding you all together. Keep in mind you are not passing around the yarn, you are randomly throwing it to a person across the circle. Keep this up, until you have used all the yarn or have a nice web holding you all together. (Have everyone keep holding on to it) One person, take a pair of scissors and cut the middle of the web until it starts to unravel. If you are the person cutting the web say “Remember, that gratitude and love is the web that holds a family and friends together.”
Enjoy your thanksgiving holiday and remember;
“Gratitude is the Best Attitude”
Much Body Bonding Love,
Cynthia Sharp
Body Bonding Coach
http://www.bodybonding.com/
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