Oof. Last year’s Thanksgiving might have been kind of rough for Daily Kos readers who have conservative relatives, coming weeks after a terrible Election Day for Democrats. But this year … it’s presidential primary season. That means you don't just face the prospect of fighting about politics with your Republican uncle, but with your Democratic cousin who’s usually a reliable ally. You're for Bernie, she’s for Hillary, or the reverse—spend a few minutes in the comments at Daily Kos and you’ll know how bitter that fight can get.
Politics isn’t the only possible Thanksgiving social and emotional challenge, of course. After all, many of us go and spend this day for giving thanks with people who we wouldn't necessarily choose to spend time with, and certainly not under the stressful circumstances of "this is a holiday and you will enjoy it, dammit" and "let's get five times as many people as usual into this house and then cook a meal much bigger than any of us cook on a regular basis." They might be your family whom you love, but for real? When you're dodging each other fighting for the last burner and nearly getting stabbed when someone turns from the counter to the sink too quickly? Tempers will flare a little.
Or was your Thanksgiving cut short or cancelled by someone you wanted to celebrate with having to work early on Black Friday, or even on Thanksgiving itself? (Assuming that if you yourself are working those hours, you're not reading this post.)
So what are your frustrations tonight? What, despite your immense gratitude for all the good things in your life, just drove you up a wall today? Was it your conservative relatives? Your liberal ones? The lumpy gravy? The football on the television while you were trying to have quality family time? The fact that the football game on the television didn't come out the way you wanted? The fact that you couldn’t be with the people you wanted to be with? Having to scrimp and do without even on a holiday?
None of these things have to mean that you aren't thankful for all the good things in your life, but having things to be thankful for doesn't obliterate the pressure-cooker irritations of the holidays. Surely there's something—let it fly.