Tracy's Wellness Journey
Tracy & Family
Starting New Traditions
Fall is my favorite time of the year, especially Thanksgiving! I love having family and friends together, cooking, sharing stories, baking and reminiscing. It is a time to blend cultures, share traditions and be thankful for the many blessings that we continuously receive.
My mom had always prepared such an amazing Thanksgiving dinner with all the traditional sides made from scratch. Baking took her weeks as she made dozens of cookies, bars, pies and breads to share with neighbors, friends, family and clients. This was her gift!
In November of 2009, my mom passed away. She was only 62. It was also the year that my house flooded three times between her passing and Christmas. I was devastated and angry, traditions went to the wayside and the holidays as I knew them changed forever. It took me five years before I could dig out all her old recipes and do any baking or preparing for Thanksgiving dinner.
During that time, we celebrated Thanksgiving differently. We went to the woods and played. We created memories in Rocky Ford, a small town outside of Statesboro, Ga., riding 4-wheelers, hunting, spending time in the woods, sight-seeing and taking a lot of pictures.
For me, although I enjoyed and embraced this change, it was more of an escape. It was a time of healing and reflection.
I have missed the gathering of our family, the table presentations, the aroma of pumpkin spice, cinnamon and nutmeg and all the traditions that we had spent decades creating. As we celebrate the harvest season this year, we plan to blend the two styles of celebration at home. I have some new recipes that will work for my diabetes and carb sensitivity. A few that I plan to incorporate into our dinner: pecan stuffing, butternut squash soup, and cauliflower mashed potatoes.
As my wellness journey continues, one of the new traditions that I look forward to starting this year is participating in the Space Coast Turkey Trot 5K run on Thanksgiving morning at Front Street Park in Melbourne. I am searching for new things that keep me active and include my family.
Families that play together, pray together and eat together, stay together.
Many blessings to you and yours this holiday season!
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