Reframing Thanksgiving: Managing Expectations and Disappointments

Reframing Thanksgiving: Managing Expectations and Disappointments
H.A.L.T. and Call for Backup-Episode 112
Coast to Coast with Mike Koch and Jim McLintock

Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a time of gratitude, connection, and joy, but for many, it can be a source of stress, unmet expectations, and deep disappointment. For first responders, this holiday can be especially challenging. The demands of the job, shifts away from loved ones, and the weight of experiences carried throughout the year can amplify feelings of isolation, frustration, and loss. In this episode, we explore how the idealized version of Thanksgiving can clash with reality, leaving many to navigate difficult emotions and strained relationships.

Our conversation offers a compassionate perspective on how first responders can approach the holiday season with mindfulness and resilience. We discuss practical strategies for managing expectations, acknowledging complex emotions, and finding moments of connection, even in non-traditional ways. Whether you’re working through family tensions, missing loved ones, or simply feeling out of step with the holiday spirit, this episode provides tools to help you reframe Thanksgiving and create space for self-care and authenticity.

"Be Strong, Stand up, Speak your Truth and Break the Stigma"

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