Tips for enjoying a family gathering

Tips for enjoying a family gathering
By: Marissa Anteby

You're planning a family gathering, but somehow the day that’s supposed to be anticipated with great glee, has you strapped down with anxiety. The thoughts swirl through your head; What if no one likes the cake I make? Which aunt will say the wrong thing? Will the flowers be pretty enough? Will the kids bicker? The self-inflicted torture is endless. You don’t have to be a prisoner of your own mind anymore. Get out of your head and in to the party.

Here’s 4 easy things you can do to ensure a more pleasurable experience:
1 – Keep it simple. This applies to everything, including your menu, decor, and entertainment.

* Prepare easy to eat, no-mess foods. Portions divided in to single servings, not only look appetizing to the adults, they’re more manageable for children’s little fingers and mouthes. Think; tea sandwiches, mini borekas, muffins, yogurt parfait cups, crudite´, tapenade spreads etc.
* Serve all the food at one time. You’ll save the time and aggravation of re-setting your table for dessert. It doesn’t really matter if someone has a piece of cubed fruit before they eat a spinach tart.
* Adopt a ‘less is more’ attitude about decorations. Use bud vases scattered high on shelves, or in the breakfront, instead of one large bouquet. Or, forgo flowers altogether and use brightly colored linen napkins as the focal point on each place setting. This way, you won’t worry about scampering children knocking over watery floral arrangements.
* Let the day flow on its own. Enjoy the company of your family and friends. Don’t miss out on the moment you are in, by trying to make it something it’s not. The family get-together might not be the ideal setting to try out that new murder mystery game that has intricate rules for each player to follow.

2 – Defuse uncomfortable situations. If you know that you are sensitive to unwanted comments, (and who isn’t?) instead of reacting hastily or brooding, when someone slights you, try and think of a personal quality you can use to keep yourself calm.

* Look inside yourself for inner resources. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you have a wealth of patience, kindness, understanding, gratitude, etc. that you can draw upon for strength in trying times.
* Maintain your composure. It may be challenging at first, but in the long run you’ll be glad you didn’t snap at your sister for criticizing your teenager’s choice of attire. (That’s just an example, I’m sure you can think of many more!)

3 – Don’t just do something, sit there. We are all conditioned to move and do. We’re missing out on a depth and richness more potent than anything we can do. It’s the power of being.

* Take a few breathes. Let the day seep in to your body.
* Look around and find something to be happy about. Invite this one happy moment in to your body. Imagine you can place this in your body like a memory to be retrieved later. You do this all the time with bad occurrences and tension that creeps in to your muscles as aches and pain. Now, try it with something good in your life, placing it in your body as a spot of ease.

4- Sip some water. If you put all your attention on drinking water, those pesky thoughts of melted frosting or frizzy hair, won’t be in your mind for at least a few seconds.

* The more water you drink, the less empty calories you’ll consume. Overeating when you’re stressed out thwarts all the hard work you put in to balancing your diet. So, sip water throughout the day and stay committed to your food plan.
* Ease your mind. Drinking water not only keeps your body healthy and vibrant, it has a therapeutic calming effect on your mind.

Take time to slow down and enjoy your day because although you don't get to choose your family, they are the people that love you most.

marissa@embodyinc.com
www.embodyinc.com