Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. It slows us down in a way that most holidays don’t. For at least a day, time with family moves to the very top of the list.

In our house, the holiday really starts on Wednesday. We cook all day together—chopping, mixing, taste-testing, and laughing in the kitchen. There’s usually music playing, a few debates about recipes, and at least one minor disaster that becomes a running family joke.

Now that our youngest is a teenager, she’ll be in the kitchen with us too. She’ll be “helping” (sort of), but that’s part of the fun. It’s less about perfect execution and more about being together and letting her feel like she’s part of the tradition.

Thursday morning is our reset button. We start the day outside, on a walk, before the oven goes back on and the kitchen chaos resumes. There’s something grounding about getting fresh air before you come in and throw everything together for the big meal.

Some of my favorite memories aren’t just about the eating, but about the cooking. The familiar dishes we look forward to all year, the recipes that have been passed down, and the new ones we cautiously add to the rotation. Food has a way of connecting generations—what we serve often carries stories with it.

But underneath the food and the football is what really matters: gratitude. Thanksgiving is a built-in reminder to pause and take stock of what’s good, even in a year that may have been hard. Gratitude doesn’t erase challenges, but it changes how we carry them.

This time of year, I think a lot about my dad. Holidays feel different when someone you love is no longer in their usual chair, telling their usual stories. There’s a mix of gratitude for the time we had and a quiet ache for the time we don’t get anymore.

Remembering him has made me more intentional about how I show up now. I try to honor what he taught me—about loyalty, about doing the right thing, about showing up for family—by living those values with the people who are still here. That, to me, is part of the work of Thanksgiving too.

I’m deeply grateful for my wife. She is the steady center of our family, the one who brings warmth, perspective, and love to everything we do. So much of what our kids feel as “home” comes from who she is and how she cares for all of us.

I’m grateful for my children. They are each their own person, with their own strengths, questions, and dreams. They remind me every day why the future is worth working for and why optimism matters.

I’m also grateful for my mentors over the years. People who challenged me, guided me, and believed in me—sometimes before I fully believed in myself. Their lessons show up in how I work, how I parent, and how I try to support others.

This season also brings out my stoic side. To me, being stoic isn’t about being emotionless; it’s about accepting reality, learning from it, and focusing on what you can control. We can’t change the past, and we can’t guarantee the future, but we can choose how we respond today.

Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect on the hard seasons we’ve made it through. Not to dwell on them, but to acknowledge the strength, faith, and support it took to get to the other side. Those experiences shape how we move forward—hopefully a bit wiser, a bit kinder, and a bit more grounded.

I also choose to be optimistic about the future. Not because I expect it to be easy, but because I believe in the resilience of people and families. We’ve all overcome more than we give ourselves credit for.

So this Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for family, for memories of those no longer with us, for mentors and friends, and for the chance to keep learning and growing. I’m grateful for good food, shared stories, silly kitchen moments, and quiet walks before the day begins. Most of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a little more present with the people I love.

However this holiday finds you—surrounded by a full table, marking the day in a quieter way, or navigating a year of change—I hope you find a moment to pause and reflect on what matters most to you.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.