Happy Thanksgiving!
This is Thanksgiving week in the U.S. and it is considered by many as the start of the holiday season. Although Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, appreciate family and friends, and of course eat lots of food, it can be stressful, so today's post has some fun ideas to make it a special day.
Take a family walk. Ask people to join you for a walk before or after the meal. If possible, venture out to a nature area to enjoy the beauty and breathe in the crisp air. Ask each person to take photos along the way, so that you can share what you each discovered when you return home.
Organize a treasure hunt. Plan a path for your walk around your neighborhood, local park, or waterfront. Give all of your guests a map with key spots marked (street signs, addresses, stores, etc). If you have enough people you can form teams, otherwise send people out with the task of bringing back home photos from the various spots. You can get creative and give prizes for the first one to return, the best photos, or the most creative captures.
Play games. If you have children, take them on a walk and play "What do I see?" or give them a letter of the alphabet and ask them to point out the things they see starting with that letter. Make sure they all have a camera and tell them to capture images as they go.
Find a new place to walk. Spend a little time in advance of Thanksgiving to research a new place to take a walk. Make it an adventure. The new territory will be a stimulating bonus to your good exercise.
Share. When you return, download everyone's photos and create a slideshow to watch after dinner. Ask each person to talk about their photo, what prompted them to take it, and have others give constructive feedback. Using the photos, make a small book that will memorialize the day and send copies to everyone. If that is beyond your budget, consider making an online photo journal using Adobe Slate or Exposure.co. These can make wonderful post Thanksgiving gifts for your guests.
Remember to laugh:
Laughter can lighten your load mentally and it actually induces physical changes in your body. When you laugh it stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles. It also activates and reduces your stress response, and it soothes tension. So tell stories, read jokes, or watch a funny video to prompt laughter. It will help you feel good and relaxed.
This is a time to give thanks for all the things that are good in your life, so we hope you have a fun, relaxing Thanksgiving this year. We love to hear from you, so post a comment below, or on our Facebook page, or send us an email. Remember during this hectic season, go out Camera Walking to achieve better health, fitness, and creativity this holiday.
