Soulcare: Thanksliving

By: Kevin Deegan

“Thanksgiving only becomes thanksliving when joy in the blessings given from above — overflows into the blessings given all around.” ~Ann Voskamp

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, not just for the time spent with family and friends but because it brings with it an endless parade of delicious leftovers. Every year, once the main meal is over, I find myself eagerly eyeing the fridge, already planning my leftover creations. There's something truly magical about taking those hearty dishes and reinventing them into something new.

I eagerly await lunch the day after, as I reach for the leftover containers—turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. My favorite creation is my classic Thanksgiving sandwich: thick slices of turkey layered with stuffing, a bit of mashed potatoes, and a smear of cranberry sauce on toasted bread. It’s almost like each bite brings a taste of Thanksgiving all over again, without the hours of cooking. Every year, I look forward to recreating the flavors that filled our Thanksgiving table.

I’ve often wondered if it’s possible to enjoy thanksgiving long after the holiday has passed and the leftovers have been enjoyed. Perhaps the spirit of Thanksgiving provides us a kind of  “spiritual leftovers”.

When we give thanks every day, Thanksgiving becomes Thanksliving. 

And as Ann Voskamp reminds us, “Our joy in the blessings given from above…overflows into the blessings given all around.” 

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

In what ways can your Thanksgiving be transformed into Thanksliving this year?