With Thanksgiving fast approaching, all of us have one thing in mind: The Turkey Dump. The beloved Turkey Dump refers to a student from college breaking up with their significant other from high school during the Thanksgiving break. This harsh reality can come about for a multitude of reasons, such as communication issues that come along with long distance, a newfound love that you must pursue at college, or even realizing that you didn’t actually like the person and the relationship was coming from a place of convenience. After leaving home for even just a few months, it is inevitable that people are going to change, and with that, comes changes to a relationship.
After analyzing Facebook status updates, design technologist, Lee Byron, and data journalist, David McCandless, concluded that one of the peak break-up times in the year is two weeks before Christmas holidays, which just so happens to be Thanksgiving time. Most often, this is the first time since college, and the whole long-distance thing started that people will return home or be home at the same time as their significant other. The only comparable time of year looks to be around the time of Spring break – taking the idea of spring cleaning very literally. Other times in which people would be home would be cruel – Christmas or Hanukkah is brutal before New Year’s is worse because that’s leaving them stranded without a New Year’s kiss, and there is nothing more vicious than a pre-Valentine’s day break up.
Being from Canada where we had Thanksgiving on October 8th, I have already dealt with friends from home having their Turkey Dump sob stories. After analyzing every situation, and there were a lot, I’ve come up with a few ways to get through it.
Movies.
Everyone knows that there is no better way to get through a breakup than with a movie. That said, there are tons of types of breakup movies; those to make you continue bawling your eyes out, those to cheer you up with a chuckle, and those to make you remember that love still exists. If you genuinely want to be in shambles, get your hands on a ticket to A Star Is Born. It is impossible to sit through the heartbreak of that movie without going through a full box of tissues. For a deep laugh that will make you completely forget about what just happened, watch anything with Sacha Baron Cohen, Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler. Finally, for those who need the reminder that love is still out there and are sick of watching Nicholas Sparks on repeat, Serendipity will put a smile on your face.
Eat.
The whole point of Thanksgiving is stuffing your face with turkey and everything else that this feast has to offer, right? Putting a breakup on top of the holiday that exists for the sole purpose of you unbuttoning your jeans at the dinner table calls for even more food. So don’t feel bad about it – indulge in all that you want and all that you can.
Friends.
So, the whole Turkey Dump happened because you and your now ex were at home at the same time. As tragic as it is, this also means that all of your besties are home as well. Send a text in your group chat and put together a “Friendsgiving” because, at the end of the day, they will always be by your side.
Get excited to go back to college.
Before this whole ordeal happened, you were likely having the time of your life at college. As much as you probably love the comfort of home, going back to college and being surrounded by your new life will be a great thing. And remember, there are plenty of fish in the sea, especially in this new environment.
Sources:
https://informationisbeautiful.net/2010/peak-break-up-times-on-facebook/