The Whitsdom Press

Tag: friends

  • Celebrating Thanksgiving Your Way

    Thanksgiving has long been traditional with turkey dinners, family gatherings, and endless traditions passed down through generations. There’s beauty in those time-honored rituals. There’s also power in carving out your own path. This could mean celebrating with friends. It could also mean spending it solo or doing something entirely unconventional.

    In a world that is constantly evolving, so too should our holidays. Let’s be real: Some people just don’t like their family members or want to be around people…and that’s okay! Here’s a reminder: it’s okay to break from tradition and celebrate Thanksgiving in a way that truly brings you joy.

    Friendsgiving: The Modern Family Dinner

    For those whose friends feel more like family, Friendsgiving has become a beloved alternative to the traditional family-focused celebration. Gather your closest friends. Delegate cooking duties or order takeout—no judgment here. Create a space filled with laughter, love, and gratitude. Give thanks with people you love and love you back.

    Friendsgiving offers a low-pressure environment, free of those awkward family discussions or nosy relatives asking about your life plans. Instead, it’s about celebrating the family you have chosen.

    Pro Tip: Make it a potluck to share the load. Encourage everyone to bring a dish that reflects their culture or personal style. This is perfect for trying new flavors and honoring diversity. Maybe you have a theme for Thanksgiving; this gives everyone a chance to be creative.

    Celebrating Solo: Self-Care Thanksgiving

    Not everyone feels like being around others on Thanksgiving, and that’s perfectly valid. You could be far from family. Maybe you’re not in the mood for socializing. Or maybe you want a day to yourself. In any of these cases, a solo Thanksgiving can be an incredibly fulfilling experience.

    Spend the day indulging in your favorite activities. Cook a meal for one. Binge-watch your favorite Tubi movies. Take a long walk outside. Or dive into a good book. Use the time to reflect on what you’re grateful for, and let the quiet moments nourish your soul.

    Pro Tip: Treat yourself to a special meal or dessert. You deserve it. DoorDash and Uber Eats will still be in service!

    Family Redefined: No Turkey, No Problem

    If you’re celebrating with family but want to shake things up, ditch the “rules” and create your own traditions. Why not try:

    • Hosting a game night instead of a formal dinner.
    • Swapping turkey for a taco bar, pizza party, or seafood boil.
    • Watching your favorite movies together instead of football.
    • Volunteering as a family to serve meals at a shelter or food bank.

    Gratitude Beyond the Table

    No matter how you celebrate, the essence of Thanksgiving is about gratitude. It’s not about where you are. It’s not about who you’re with, or what’s on your plate. It’s about taking a moment to appreciate what you have, even in its simplest form.

    Write a gratitude list. Call someone who has impacted your life. Find small ways to give back to your community. These acts of appreciation and kindness embody the true spirit of Thanksgiving, whether or not it includes a turkey feast. Maybe you just landed a new job after months or years of being laid off and without work.

    The Bottom Line: Do It Your Way

    Thanksgiving doesn’t have to fit into a box of traditions. Whether you are surrounded by friends, family, or simply your own good company, remember that it’s your holiday to shape.

    Celebrate with joy, authenticity, gratitude, and your peace—whatever that looks like for you.

  • Another Case of Bad Friends

     

    This post is not meant to create paranoia but to raise awareness. This is to shine light can better protect ourselves and the women around us. Some of the following content may be graphic.

    FRIENDSHIP… a word synonymous with trust, loyalty, and support. Yet, the harsh reality is that for some women, this very trust can be tragically misplaced.  This post sheds light on a danger often overlooked – women murdered by those they considered friends.

    Statistics show that a significant portion of women are murdered by acquaintances or friends.  These cases are particularly devastating because the victim lowers their guard, making them more vulnerable.  The perpetrator, often someone the victim confides in, exploits this trust for personal gain or twisted gratification. The reasons behind these murders can vary. Jealousy, revenge, or financial gain can all be catalysts.  Scenarios can include seemingly harmless situations escalating to violence, planned attacks by manipulative “friends,” or even a friend turning on their companion during a seemingly safe and chill moment.

    In recent news, we learned that Mahogany Jackson, a 20-year-old mother, was killed on Feb. 25th at an apartment in Birmingham, Alabama. The morning of, Mahogany texted her mother that she was being held hostage: “Send the police at apt 3 held hostage don’t call.” She was handcuffed, stripped, tortured, and forced to perform s*x acts on four men and four women before being executed by a gunshot wound to the back of the head…AND IT WAS RECORDED! Video footage (that I refuse to watch) also showed Jackson being stomped and spat on before getting dragged by her hair, naked toward a car’s trunk. Her body was later dumped at an illegal dump site called “Dead Man’s Road.”

    Brandon Pope, 24, Francis “Ace” Harris, 25, and Jeremiah “Kodak” McDowell, 18 – were charged with capital murder, first-degree kidnapping, and capital murder during first-degree sodomy. Teja Lewis, 26, Si’Niya McCall, 23, Giovannie Clapp, 23, Blair Green, 25, and Ariana Lashay Robinson, 23, were charged with felony murder, along with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sodomy.

    Respectfully, this took me back to the case of Shanquella Robinson, who was also killed by a group of friends and acquaintances in October 2022 on a trip in Cabo San Lucas. Another situation THAT WAS RECORDED showed Shanquella being naked, brutally beaten and defenseless by a woman who was a part of the group. She was found in stable condition but dehydrated, disorientated, verbally unresponsive, unable to communicate, and appearing to be intoxicated. Within a few hours of medical treatment, she passed away. An autopsy showed the cause of death being severe spinal cord injury and broken neck. After investigations made by the State Attorney General’s Office of Baja California Sur and the FBU, authorities decided to not pursue criminal charges related to Shanquella’s death. Even after Black Twitter broke the case down and made major developments, no criminal charges!

    Ladies, we must protect ourselves. While it may seem impossible to eliminate all risk, here are some steps we can take. Trust Carefully: Don’t rush into deep friendships. Observe a person’s behavior over time. Boundaries Matter: Set and maintain healthy boundaries. Don’t be afraid to say no and walk away from unhealthy dynamics. Listen to Your Gut: If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t ignore red flags. Tell Someone: If you go on a “friend” trip, let your loved ones or those you trust back home know your whereabouts, It is okay to even share your location with them. Safety Planning: If a friend becomes threatening, create a safety plan FOR YOURSELF.

    The late Dallas, TX rapper MO3, has a famous lyric that unfortunately rings true: “Everybody ain’t yo friend, Everybody ain’t yo partna…”

    A few resources: 

    • The National Center for Victims of Crime: National Center for Victims of Crime: https://victimsofcrime.org/
    • The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)