GratefulSample

You might be familiar with the dreaded overshare ... that moment when someone forgets to "read the room" and shares far too much information.

Have you ever been guilty of saying too much, or saying the wrong thing? When we get together with family and friends at Christmas, there can be so much going on, that it becomes difficult to truly be present.

The same is also true when we're forced to embrace the awkward silence that comes with not knowing what to discuss. Have you ever been in a house full of people — most of whom you're related to — and had absolutely no idea what you should say? What do we do in those moments? We try to think of the most exciting story we can remember (or exaggerate), so we don't have to listen to Aunt Bertha talk about her ingrown toenails again.

When we realize all the ways we see the world differently, we tend to forget to lose sight of how our words can come across to others. But what would happen if we used these opportunities to share the good things that are happening in our lives? If we asked those around us to identify something they were thankful for, these conversations might be a lot different.

The reality is, when we choose to focus on and share the things we're thankful for, it becomes harder to get caught up in every disagreement and instead, make the most of the time we have together.