The biggest challenge of Thanksgiving, we’re told, is to safely navigate the landmines of differing political and social opinions when you’re among family you see only rarely.
This is less of a challenge if you approach the day with a choral educator’s mindset. Choral educators, after all, navigate emotional vulnerability in a group with diverse and often incompatible opinions…every single day. It’s, effectively, a daily family reunion.
We learn, by necessity, to focus on what connects us. We learn to recognize commonalities and extend a hand in friendship to those with whom we disagree.
I’m not saying this mindset will make it easy to spend a day with your racist uncle or whatever other challenges Thanksgiving brings; but I do think it makes it easier.
(Then, of course, the biggest challenge becomes perfect, unlumpy mashed potatoes and gravy.)