Thanksgiving has a way of sneaking up on us.

One minute we’re racing through the year, buried in emails, deadlines, and “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” The next minute, someone is asking what we’re bringing to Thanksgiving dinner and we’re wondering how it’s already the end of November.

But before we sprint through another holiday, I want to invite you to do something different this year:

Use Thanksgiving as a reset.

Not a reset for your to-do list.

A reset for your mind, your heart, and your priorities.

The Table Is More Than a Place to Eat

Think about the last few years.

We’ve gone through global uncertainty, personal losses, financial stress, mental exhaustion, and more change than most people expected in a decade.

Yet somehow, here you are.

Still standing. Still breathing. Still trying.

That alone is worth a moment of gratitude.

When you sit at the table this Thanksgiving whether it’s filled with family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or you’re keeping it simple and quiet.. remember that the table isn’t just a place to eat.

It’s:

• A place to put the phones down and actually see each other.
• A place to listen instead of react.
• A place to remember that people matter more than opinions.

The food will come and go.

The conversations and small moments of connection will stay with you.

Gratitude in the Mess, Not Just the Moments That Look Perfect

We often think gratitude means being thankful for everything.

Sometimes it simply means being thankful in everything.

You don’t have to pretend this year has been easy.

You don’t have to sugarcoat the stress, the arguments, the nights you couldn’t sleep, or the moments you wondered how it was all going to work out.

Gratitude isn’t denial.

Gratitude is saying:

• “It’s been hard… and I’m still here.”
• “I’ve been under pressure… and I’m still learning.”
• “I don’t have everything I want… but I’m grateful for what I do have.”

It’s seeing the blessing without denying the burden.

The People Who Don’t Get the Day Off

While many of us gather around tables and televisions, there’s a whole group of people who spend Thanksgiving in a different way:

• Police officers, firefighters, EMTs
• Doctors, nurses, dispatchers, corrections officers
• Service workers, airline crews, utility workers
• People caring for loved ones who are sick, elderly, or struggling

They don’t get a “pause” just because the calendar says holiday.

If that’s you or someone you love, Thanksgiving might look like a quick meal before a shift, takeout on a break, or a later celebration on a different day.

Your sacrifice matters.

If you know someone working this Thanksgiving, a simple message: “Thinking about you today. Thank you for what you do.” can go a long way. Gratitude doesn’t always need a speech. Sometimes it only needs one sincere sentence.

A Thanksgiving Check-In With Yourself

This year, try a short check-in. You can even write these down somewhere:

1. What am I grateful for that I usually overlook?
   Maybe it’s hot water, a car that starts, a friend who always answers, or a pet who’s thrilled to see you no matter what kind of day you’ve had.
2. Who helped me get through this year?
   A mentor, a spouse, a partner, a coworker, a therapist, a neighbor, a coach. Gratitude becomes powerful when it moves from a thought to a thank you.
3. What did I learn from the hard times?
   Maybe you learned how to speak up. Maybe you learned how to rest. Maybe you learned that you’re stronger than you thought. Those lessons are worth more than we realize.
4. What do I want to bring into the next season—and what do I want to leave behind?
   You don’t have to drag old habits, grudges, or beating yourself up into the new year. Thanksgiving can be the moment you decide, “I’m done carrying what’s been weighing me down.”

Turning Thanks Into Action

Gratitude is a great feeling, but it’s even more powerful as an action.

Here are a few simple ways to turn Thanksgiving into something that lasts beyond one day:

• Make one phone call to someone you’ve been “meaning” to reach out to.
• Send one message to thank a person who changed your year, big or small.
• Offer one real apology if you know there’s a relationship that needs healing.
• Give one helping hand, pay for someone’s coffee, invite a person who’s alone, drop off a meal, or donate to a family or organization in need.

Little acts of kindness have a way of multiplying. You may never see how far they travel, but they always matter.

A Final Thought for This Thanksgiving

You don’t need a perfect life, a perfect family, or a perfect table to be thankful.

You just need:

• A moment to pause,
• A willingness to notice the good,
• And the courage to say “thank you” out loud—to others and to yourself.

This Thanksgiving, my hope is that you don’t just fill your plate.

I hope you fill your heart with:

• Gratitude for how far you’ve come,
• Compassion for what you’ve been through,
• And hope for where you’re going next.

Happy Thanksgiving.  May it be a day of peace, perspective, and meaningful connection no matter what it looks like this year.