Room at the Table: Giving Thanks for Strange Sides
Every family has that dish, you know, the one that appears every Thanksgiving even though no one is entirely sure who keeps bringing it or why it still exists. Maybe it’s a lumpy lime Jell-O mold suspended with what can only be described as “mystery fruit.” Maybe it’s Aunt Carol’s “experimental stuffing” that contains raisins and olives, which is frankly a cry for help. Or maybe it’s the dreaded canned cranberry sauce still holding the shape of the can, ridges and all, sitting proudly on the table like a monument honoring processed food.
These dishes are baffling…and yet, someone always takes a scoop or two. Not because they particularly want to eat it, but because it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it. These strange sides carry nostalgia like gravy carries flavor. They are messy, comforting, and capable of starting a heated debate. But if we look past the questionable culinary decisions, these oddball dishes remind us that everybody brings something different to the table.
When We Make Room, Everything and Everyone Fits Better
Thanksgiving has a magical way of gathering people who may not always agree on everything (or anything). Yet somehow, food creates a unique opportunity to bring people together. Once the smell of roasting turkey settles into the house and the rolls come out of the oven, everyone’s prickly edges begin to soften. While the upcoming holidays may instill a sense of dread in some, they provide an opportunity to stare into the faces of the people around the table and celebrate that our unique perspectives and lived experiences can make us better. We don’t show up perfect. We show up as a collection of quirks, histories, hopes, flaws, and, yes, deeply questionable recipes passed down from relatives who must’ve been braver than us.
A Table Big Enough for Everyone
The beauty of Thanksgiving, or any holiday, isn’t in the delicious dishes (the ones that actually make sense), it’s in the people who bring them. Friends. Family. Neighbors. New faces who become familiar ones. When we pull up chairs, set extra plates, and welcome everyone as they are, something incredible happens. We have the chance to engage in richer conversations, even if we don’t always agree. We must remember that everyone is entitled to an opinion, and we become better when we learn to listen. Setting aside time to gather allows us to forge deeper connections. After surviving a global pandemic, we should treasure these in-person opportunities. It is during these times when the mundane becomes memorable, when we teach younger generations that our differences can unite us when we reach for understanding. Thanksgiving reminds us that family and community isn’t built on sameness; it’s built on openness. On laughter. On passing the lime Jell-O to someone who sees the world differently than we do. On choosing to listen, share, and show up.
Our Wish for You This Year
Make room for those you love (or like, or tolerate) because you never know what others may be struggling with or how much they just need a little bit of kindness. Make room to feel and allow others to express themselves. It’s okay to be loud, quiet, silly, thoughtful, or all of those things at once. Just make space. Make time to share old traditions, but also allow others to suggest new ones. Just because it has always been done one way doesn’t mean there isn’t room to try something new. Make a brand-new recipe. I know everybody loves that traditional green bean casserole (it’s a classic after all), but trying a cornbread chorizo stuffing (my favorite) might create a new classic dish that allows everyone to try something a little outside their comfort zone. Finally, open yourself up to welcome the unknown. It’s okay to learn something new, to understand a different perspective, and to listen more than we answer. Because the table is big enough and better when everyone has a seat.
Happy Thanksgiving!
🧡 May your day be full of good conversations, helpful hands, open hearts, and lime Jell-O. 🧡
