Same here, both my parents families are Catholic. I’m okay with prayer because I think of it as good thoughts for those I love.

I have Dissociative Identity Disorder so its easy for me to tune out - I don't really have a sense of how it happens it just seems to happen when I want it to - I have 9 alters so someone else is in control of my sensory perceptions - Its pretty handy but I don't reccomend it - It takes a lot of insanity to get this sort of disorder. I think if you practise tuning out or catch yourself when you are capacitous of doing it you might be able to replicate it when you need it. Also singing a silly song to yourself in your head - I think there might be many ways to tune out - I have D.I.D because I was adept at tuning out my mentally disturbed family- I called it 'going away' but its good to be in control of ot yourself rather than going as far as I did and getting alters.

I do that too. I rarely close my eyes. But I am grateful. I give thanks to the animal that gave it's life so that I could eat. I give thanks for the ability to understand that my "sustenance" was provided by a creature that maybe wasn't willing to give it's life. And I remind myself that I am alive thanks to the gift of other creatures.

While they're thanking God, those are the things I'm thinking of.

Those repeated prayers are so meaningless. You might add:."may the fates bless everyone here."

My family are all believers; the few times I AM around them and they do group prayer all I do is just stay silent whole looking around.

I bow my head - close my eyes and while they pray to their God I think about the meal I'm about to have and thankful that I have another year to be with the people I love. And let me tell you - it's borrowed time - I'm 50 now and most of the people I had these meals with have passed away starting in 1995. From June of 2016 to last July I lost me grand aunt, my best man, my father and finally last July my 51-year old brother. I'd give anything to at least have a couple of them back and so focus less on the tradition and more on being with family because one day they won't be here and when that time comes you're not going to see them as being silly but yourself for focusing on something that in the long-term had no value.

Endure with respect.

I do that every year at thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with relatives. To me it's just a meaningless gesture and usually lasts fewer than 30 seconds. It's not like they're ever gonna call on me to lead the blessing. I'm there to visit and eat.

Same here! I just go along with them. For family I just tolerate it. In the big picture it's not worth losing family. Just keep thinking for yourself. Kudos..

Dito.
Exactly the same way even as a child. ?
It's awkward every time.

same. just enjoy the moment together

LOL ... I used to be married to a family like this. During the Thanksgiving meal prayer, I looked up and saw father-in-law also looking around and giving me a knowing grin.

I close my eyes out of politeness and respect, and just relax. Why make any more of it than that? I give family members their superstitions. They will take them anyway.

This must be very difficult for you and I really don't know how I would handle such situations. Must be akin to being the only sane person in a mental institution.

People usually exclude me from that, they know I do not respect the ritual.