Thanksgiving: Gratitude Beyond the Table

Thanksgiving gets billed as the “gratitude holiday,” but let’s be real—it’s also the “burnout, family drama, too-many-casseroles, and awkward-dinner-conversations” holiday. Gratitude can feel like a stretch when your nervous system is fried and Aunt Linda just asked why you’re still single.

But here’s the shift: gratitude isn’t about ignoring what’s hard—it’s about widening the lens. Gratitude says, yes, this is messy, but there’s still good here.

Instead of the tired “what are you thankful for” circle, try this:

• Gratitude for the tiny things. The way your fork hits that perfect bite of turkey skin. The quiet moment before everyone wakes up. The dog waiting under the table like your personal crumb vacuum.

• Gratitude for what you survived. This year wasn’t easy—but you’re still standing. That counts.

• Gratitude as rebellion. When life feels heavy, gratitude is saying, I’ll find joy anyway.

Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. Gratitude isn’t about the big gestures—it’s about noticing the small lights in the middle of the chaos. That’s where the real feast is.