Alexandra NielDivorce Recovery Coach, ANiel International, LLC. · I help women who held it all together through divorce finally build a life that’s actually theirs | Thrive After Divorce

From Thanksgiving to Friendsgiving #shorts

25 Nov 2024 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:30

This content was created by Alexandra Niel. This content was uploaded by Alexandra Niel. This is a YouTube short titled "From Thanksgiving to Friendsgiving #shorts" (contenttype: YOUTUBE, createdtime: 2024-11-25T05:00:16+00:00) featuring a single speaker delivering a personal monologue about Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving. The narrator recounts first experiencing Thanksgiving at 16, family changes after their parents’ divorce, smaller holiday meals with their dad, happy memories of celebrating with a spouse, and coping with Thanksgiving after divorce—ultimately describing being welcomed by a friend (Amanda) and encouraging viewers to create new traditions. The tone is informal, reflective, and aimed at offering empathy and encouragement around the holidays.

Chapters

I never celebrated Thanksgiving until I came to the US. I was introduced to turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and the dreaded pumpkin pie casserole—no thanks—when I was 16. And when my parents got divorced and my mom went back to France, the first Thanksgiving we had with my dad was a stuffed chicken because turkey was just too big for 3 people. When I got married, it was great because I was finally part of a family that formally celebrated Thanksgiving. We would drive down to Delaware and have turkey with all the fixings. We'd go antiquing, we'd play games, and it was really, really some of the best memories that I have of my marriage. So when I got divorced and Thanksgiving came around, I was like, well, now what am I gonna do? Because I didn't want to go out by myself. I didn't know. And my best friend Amanda invited me over to her house for Thanksgiving to celebrate with her family. She was also taking in what I call the strays, other people that she knew who didn't celebrate Thanksgiving either, but it was an opportunity for us to come together as an extended family. So I'm sharing this with you because I want you to know that I understand how hard it is during the holidays, but I also want to remind you that it's a great opportunity for you to create new traditions.