One woman. One Turkey. Many Thanks.
The Accidental Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving my love!
Thank you so much for being part of Jenni Tooley Presents. I’m so grateful for the continued support and opportunity to share my life and creations with you.
Now…on to my little story…
Last week, when asked, “what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”, I would smile and say “Nothing.” Just how I like it right now. Then I would add: “I usually cook up some food but this year I’m just going to chill and see what happens.”
Well, apparently the universe was listening (as it always is) and it decided that I was going to cook this year. How do I know that?
I was innocently driving down the road to go pick up a totally non-Thanksgiving-related item from a local shop and noticed a bunch of women and children on the side of the street boisterously waving handmade signs that read “Free Turkey Giveaway!”
I thought, “Huh. I bet there’s a catch in there somewhere.”
As I continued on my way, a vague memory popped up of a newspaper article last year about a community group giving away turkeys during the holidays.
Cool, but that generosity doesn’t apply to me. I’m not “in need,” and I’m just one woman, not a whole family. Let’s just cut to it: I didn’t think I deserved a free turkey.
So, I arrived at my destination where I sat and talked with a friend and said, “They’re giving away free turkeys” and she replied “I saw a post about that. Are you going to get one?” My immediate response “Oh no.” Then I think she may have asked ”Why not?”
Rather than answering her question, I pulled the old misdirect and started reminiscing about how long it had been since I’d made a turkey and the last one I made I cooked in a paper bag. Her response? “I’ve got a paper bag.”
Huh.
I checked the post and indeed these people were giving away turkeys- no strings attached, no questions asked. But I’m still thinking- “I can’t do that. I don’t deserve a free turkey. Too much meat. Too much blah blah blah.”
But I had a feeling that I couldn’t shake so true Jenni fashion, I told myself that if they were still there on my way home that I would stop and get a turkey. After all, there’s no way that they would have any left right? I mean they’ve been giving away turkeys for two hours!
You know where this is going.
They were, in fact, still there giving away turkeys. To continue to build self-trust and confidence in myself, I do my best to follow through when I make a promise to myself so I stopped and waited for an opportunity to turn into the lot.
While waiting, my rational side added her two-cents: “Well, they must have too many turkeys if they are still giving them away, so it’s okay. I’m not taking anything away from anyone.” (Oh, rational Jenni.)
I pull into the parking lot, roll down the passenger window, and a woman comes at me brandishing a 12lb frozen turkey and says, “is this where you want it?” And tosses the turkey in the car. They wave me on so that they can deliver the next turkey to the person behind me.
That was it. No drama. Nothing. I now have a frozen turkey riding shotgun. A slobbering dog in the back seat wondering just when that turkey will be thawed. And a little feeling of glee “I’ve got a turkey!”
And then I text my friend: “Ok. I’ll take you up on that paper bag.”
And here we are, Thanksgiving Day, and I have a turkey with sides all ready to go. I can’t eat them all together in one sitting because my recovering colon won’t like that, so I started by eating cheesy potatoes for dinner last night and as soon as I get through writing, I am going to cut the turkey and chow down on it.
What will I do with the rest of the turkey? I don’t need to have an answer to that. The universe already has a plan. It’s not my job to know what it is, I just need to be aware of opportunities and accept whatever they offer when the time arises.
The universe, life, is abundant that way. It’s only when I squeeze my eyes shut in disbelief and rejection that the world is a dark and empty place. Thank goodness it isn’t! And thank you universe and everyone else for the turkey!
It’s Thanks-giving. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to grab gratitude by the horns- you’ll notice all kinds of abundance in your life that you hadn’t seen before.
Need a little help with how to do gratitude? I ripped this page out of the November Volume of Better Homes & Boundaries for you.
Love ya lots!
Jenni