Turkey Lessons
by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD | November 28th, 2021

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself and just be grateful for life. Last year for Thanksgiving, it was just the four of us, my husband, my two daughters, and me. Instead of a whole turkey, I bought turkey parts and ended up placing it in an air fryer. My daughter said it was great. This year, we went from four people to eight people so I decided to buy a 10 -12 pound turkey. My daughter insisted that we air fry the whole turkey. Well, the picture tells the story. The picture is my burned turkey. My brother commented, “Thanksgiving is not the time when people should be experimenting”. We all laughed and we moved on. The rest of the food was so good that everyone forgot about the turkey. The next morning I wrote in my journal lessons learned:
- Step out of your comfort zone. We should feel comfortable trying something new especially with family and friends because they will be the ones to support you no matter the outcome.
- Always try to have a backup plan. Not everything you do in life will be successful. This does not mean that you are not optimistic, you are just being realistic. Have a plan B.
- Do not dwell on the past. When I removed the turkey from the air fryer, I wondered whether I should have roasted the turkey in the oven. I did not. I could not go back in time. Once I placed the turkey at the center of the table, I let go of what should have happened.
- Look at the big picture. At the end of the day what was most important was the fellowship with family and friends. There are lessons to be learned with every mishap.
- It is okay to laugh at yourself. Laughter is good medicine. Laughter has many health benefits. It can reduce stress, boost your immune system, and relieve pain. Every time I look at the picture of the turkey, I continue to laugh.
The picture especially caused me to literally laugh out loud, as well as your brother’s comment! Your journaled lessons learned are what’s really important, in my opinion! Thanks so much for sharing!
I am glad I made you laugh. Thanks for your support.