Tag: resolving

How often do you see people in your extended family or community who believe their family gets along just fine and doesn't have any problems? However, upon further inspection, you find that screaming, yelling, name-calling and physical aggressiveness is almost the norm. There almost seems to be a denial that there is a deeper issue, and because of this, the conflict continues and people believe that destructive behaviors are acceptable. Whether it is sibling rivalries, parents behaving badly, physically or verbally abusive behaviors and/or conflicts between extended family members, these patterns of conflicts often endure from generation to generation. What are the factors that start these conflicts and continue them across time?

He says no… she says yes. She wants to go to her best friend’s for Thanksgiving dinner, he’s firm about going to his parents. She wants a change… he wants the same. Suddenly you’re not feeling thankful for anything at all. Sound familiar? So, how do you put the thankful back into Thanksgiving? How do you come to a middle ground with your partner, your family and yourself?

Thanksgiving can be anything but peaceful if holiday disagreements escalate into yearly battles. It’s easy to forget what you’re thankful for if the hassles of planning Thanksgiving begin to outweigh the meaning of this important occasion.