20 Ways to Make Thanksgiving More Meaningful

Thanksgiving is arguably the best of America's national holidays. We get together with family, it's inclusive of all beliefs, it centers on food and we all give thanks. It's also been the holiday most able to resist irritating commercialism. Here are some ways to maximize the meaningfulness of Thanksgiving, as well as ideas for starting new annual traditions.

One new tradition could be making food for your friends' Thanksgiving meals. Send over a pan of brownies or a bowl of your famous cranberry sauce. Let friends who are having their own family get-togethers know that you're thinking of them.

Go around the Thanksgiving table and ask the family matriarch, patriarch or maybe just your older aunts or uncles about their lives—one thing, anything. What do they remember about Thanksgiving as kids? What, after all the years, are they most thankful for? Get the little ones in on the question-asking, too.

Commit one random act of kindness on Thanksgiving. Sure, it can be baking a pumpkin pie. But if you do that every year, stretch beyond. Get others to commit to one, too. See if your whole clan can create kindness all around you.

Create an album of the best photos of the year. Pass them around the table during dessert. Swoon.

If you always run yourself down or deflect nice things that are said to you, don't. Not on Thanksgiving. Let people say nice things, tell them thank you. Allow yourself to enjoy the great things others see in you. Maybe it will become a habit.

Pick a cause or charity that your family feels connected to and make a donation—of money or time—together. Whether you're volunteering at the animal shelter or a soup kitchen, or digging into your wallets for contributions toward a food bank, doing it as a family makes the gift bigger, and connects you in ways outside the habits and structure of family.

While the traditions of Thanksgiving make it one of the best of the year, the holiday does have its complications. While the first Thanksgiving in 1621 was marked by unity between Native Americans and Pilgrims, that peace didn't last too much longer. Consider the strife that came after that first meal, and reaffirm your intentions to bring about change in the world for the better. Doing this together can be meaningful.

Thanksgiving is no time for keeping people out of the kitchen. Throw open the doors, hand over knives, spoons and instructions for what to do. Give everyone a job for creating the Thanksgiving dinner—even if it means a bigger mess (you can give cleanup jobs to everyone, too). Everyone likes to be needed.

Plan a nice walk for everyone at Thanksgiving. Whether that's hiking in the mountains or just heading up the street, set aside time and energy to get outside. There's nothing like creating a large group spectacle to make people feel seen and to make your group feel special.

Set out sheets of paper and plenty of pens and pencils. Encourage all of your guests to make a gratitude list. They don't have to share—just go through the exercise. Have those who are willing to share tell everyone the top three things they're most grateful for this year.

After going around the table saying what you're all thankful for, or sharing what's on your gratitude list, take another lap around the table with praise. Have each guest praise something in someone else at the table. Or draw names from a hat. Start with the oldest person and go from there.

Or you can take turns asking questions of each other. "What was your first job" or "If you could change your name, what would it be?" or any of the ones on this list. Sometimes we see our Thanksgiving guests only once a year, so it's hard to know them well. Questions change that.

Hide the password, turn off the router. Once everyone has arrived, try to disconnect this Thanksgiving. If it's really too controversial, say you'll turn it back on after dessert. Finding true connection is difficult when our faces are in screens.

If you're hardcore and think you can get away with it, put out a phone basket and ask your guests to drop theirs in.

Mix it up a little this Thanksgiving. Move your dining table outdoors (weather permitting), or set up a bunch of small eating areas all over the house. If you usually serve buffet style, try sit-down family-style instead. Put out name plates and organize guests for best conversations. Or decorate with a theme (or gorgeous centerpieces) this year. Whatever your guests aren't expecting—do it.

If your guests usually sit in front of the TV after eating or break off into different areas of the house, bring out board games instead. Make sure there are ones that can be played in large groups and that little kids can also take part in (as long as their attention allows). Winning isn't the objective, but make a few prizes ahead of time anyway. Remember, nobody ever hated a game of charades—just saying.

Don't be afraid of interlopers. Thanksgiving is about expanding the group and connecting with others. Let people bring friends, invite your empty nester neighbors, make sure the long-distance college student or international co-worker has a place to sit at your table.

While you're planning the meal, cleaning up afterward or settling in with leftovers Thursday night for Friday morning, use the good feelings from Thanksgiving to drive goal-setting for next year. Sure, that's what New Year's resolutions are for. But maybe basking in the glow of Thanksgiving is really the better time to think about—and plan for—meaningful change.

You don't have to give up pumpkin pie or even turkey. But expand your Thanksgiving menu with something no one is expecting. Look to other cultures or back in your family's history. Maybe you'll finally have a reason to ditch the green bean casserole next year. Or maybe you'll finally join the green bean casserole club!

It's OK to turn over the carving knife to someone who's not experienced. Or ask a teen cousin to step up and make the stuffing. Let others have a turn at basting, baking or bringing the pie. Mix it up and make sure everyone feels that they contributed to the best holiday this year.