Make Excuses This Year for Thanksgiving

We live in the Land-of-the-Free and the Home-of-the-Brave. We live in a land of opportunity. Many risk their lives crossing the oceans to come in hopes of living the American Dream. Unfortunately, many Americans are addicted to complaining, blaming, criticizing, and ridiculing despite their privilege. However, one time a year, we come together to realize our blessings and thank God for all we have. This time of year is now. This time of year is what we call Thanksgiving.

Since most will already be making lists and social media posts about what they are thankful for, I do not intend for that to be the backbone of this article. Instead, this article is going to focus on encouraging you to make excuses. Yep, that’s right, my friend, it is time to see how many excuses you can make! Hear me out.

Think back to the last time you messed up. Perhaps you did something that really ticked someone off, or you made a decision that tipped your life over on its side for a while. Either way, you probably sat there wondering how you could be so stupid; or you found yourself sitting in a sea of regret. Hey, we have all been there! As you pondered your actions, if you are like most, you then began explaining why you made the decision you did. Maybe your excuses often sound like one of the following statements.

  • Well, I only said what I did because she did that.
  • I didn’t get the laundry done because I had a lot to do today.
  • I yelled at my kids because I have been stressed out at work.
  • I was late because my hair wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do.

Alright, perhaps they are reasons…in your mind. To the person whom they affect, they are probably not good enough reasons, and instead, excuses. Truth-be-told, you didn’t have to respond negatively to someone else’s bad behavior. You could have gotten the laundry done if you made it a priority. Your kids are not to blame for you being stressed out at work, and your hair is not more important than being on time. My point is this, you can agree that we make excuses for ourselves and mask them with reason. However, when someone else messes up, and their mess affects our life, are we as quick to make excuses for them?

The other day my fifteen-year-old and I were in the SUV driving to McDonalds. While heading down 5th Street, an older gentleman was riding his bicycle on the side of the road instead of the sidewalk. Needless-to-say, this slowed down the flow of traffic. With her young reasoning, my daughter said, “Why doesn’t he just use the sidewalk?” Me, the master of excuses, responded with, “Well, honey, he is older, and those sidewalks are bumpy. Maybe it hurts his body too much to ride over that many bumps.”

When I picked her up at McDonalds after eating breakfast with her soccer team, she got into the SUV and said, “I just now got my drink. Everyone else had their drink, and we already ate, and I, literally, just got my drink.” My response to her was, “Honey, look around at how busy they are. It was just as busy when I dropped you off. The employees have been running ragged all morning, and they still must get through the lunch rush. Can you imagine having to keep everyone’s order straight while keeping your head on straight through that madness? It is not as easy as it looks!”

Between the bicyclist and the McDonalds’ employees, I am grateful for the gift of being able to teach my daughter how to keep her peace by making excuses for other people. It is easy to make excuses for ourselves. Still, it is often difficult to give others the same courtesy excuses allow. So, this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to see how many excuses you can make for other people. If you are courageous, you might just find yourself continuing this practice throughout the rest of the year; and, perhaps, your lifetime.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please be sure to leave me your thoughts below in the comments.

17 replies
  1. Melanie K Graves
    Melanie K Graves says:

    Yes, this blog was quite an eye-opener. Too often I am quick to react negatively. I must realize that everyone can have an off day. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Steve
    Steve says:

    I’m still trying not to shoot, run-over, or punch people. I’m giving them the benefit of not being my friend and therefore they do not understand they are on the edge of my wrath. Thanks for the thoughts. I will go use my punching bag in the garage now. ~Steve

    Reply
  3. Tim Sparks
    Tim Sparks says:

    Nice sentiment, Elena. Something that I need to do more of, especially in my role. I actually teach something similar to this in one of my presentations. It’s called the Fundamental Attribution Error and it’s when we tend to overlook our own mistakes or blame them on circumstances while we blame others for their mistakes as a character flaw. You should study it. It’s very interesting. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Beth Lybarger
    Beth Lybarger says:

    I absolutely love this!! No one can ever know what another person is going through, so just be kind! There are many times where it’s easy to become frustrated or impatient, but slowing those emotions down and allowing yourself to make excuses for others, is actually humbling. Very well said Elena:)

    Reply
    • Elena Rahrig
      Elena Rahrig says:

      Thank you for your comment, Beth. I am happy you enjoyed the lessons in this article. You’re right, we truly never know what others are going through, so it is important to remain kind and thoughtful.

      Reply
  5. Daria Dillard Stone
    Daria Dillard Stone says:

    I love how you “flipped the script” on Thanksgiving! I am blessed and mature enough to have learned to give myself permission to give an excuse when I can’t do something as well as I used to. I am grateful I can do anything when I look at others my ripe young age (69) who can’t even put their clothes on. I never thought of it as “making excuses for others” but that is what I taught my children when they would complain about the same things you expounded on in this “awesome – thought provoking blog.” Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Elena! James 1:1-3

    Reply
    • Elena Rahrig
      Elena Rahrig says:

      Thank you for your comment, Daria. (James 1:1-3 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
      Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.) Great verse! And yes, working with you over the past several years, you indeed prove yourself to be extremely capable. I am proud to know you and help you transform your business into an Empire!

      Reply
  6. Becky Russell
    Becky Russell says:

    Love this twist on gratitude. Whenever I find myself getting impatient while driving behind someone going below the speed limit, I imagine the driver is my grandmother or my teenager who just got their license. Calms me down!

    Reply
    • Elena Rahrig
      Elena Rahrig says:

      Exactly! I typically imagine they have groceries in the back that they don’t want to get smashed or they have anxiety in traffic. This allows me to stay calm. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Tammeron Karaim
    Tammeron Karaim says:

    Yes! We can also choose to understand that everyone is different. Even when we think the other person is doing something wrong perhaps the truth is they honestly believe that they are acting in their own best interest. No-one ever truly knows what is going on inside someone else’s head. We just think we know.
    Different strokes for different folks.
    Life is weird at it best.

    Reply
    • Elena Rahrig
      Elena Rahrig says:

      Exactly! We often view the world as we think and do; or we view the world as everyone is out to get us. Really it depends on our attitude in the moment. There have been many times I was screwed over by someone, and made excuses for their behavior because perhaps they were in such a bad spot they were seeing foggy and relaxed on their morals. Other times, when I was in a foul mood, I did not make excuses for them and allowed myself to become angry and revengeful in my thinking. A positive mood always equals positive results; and vice versa.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Unity Radio Community Expressions Elena Rahrig Transform
Unity Radio Community Expressions Elena Rahrig Transform
10 keys to Confidence Elena Rahrig
Controversy Conversations Elena Rahrig