With the recent election, there are bound to be some high tensions when it comes to politics at Thanksgiving. Here are some tips to deal with political discussions.
Stay Calm
It’s easy to start yelling as soon as someone says something you find offensive. The biggest thing is to remember to stay as calm as you can. If you start yelling, let your anger get in the way, and start calling your relatives terrible things you’re going to regret it. You still have to see them at the next family gathering and they’re not likely to forget quickly that you insulted them.
Stay Sober
Even though it might seem easier to just get drunk so you don’t care as much about the political discussions, it’s definitely not a good idea. You’ll regret if you get drunk and call your grandma a racist. You won’t regret sobriety.
Stay Positive
Instead of focusing on the negatives of the year and the elections, steer the conversation back to the holiday. Tell your family how thankful you are to be there and with them and so on. This isn’t guaranteed to work but it’s always worth a try.
Acceptance
There will come a point where you have to accept that you’re not likely to change someone’s mind. Your older relatives have likely held these beliefs for decades and one educational speech from you won’t suddenly change their outlook on the world. But, this being said, it’s still good to try to educate in a way that explains your beliefs rather than condemning theirs.
If all else fails, just play Adele.