Manage episode 521190906 series 3543279
A glossy holiday is easy to post, but the real story of Thanksgiving often lives in the places that ache. This year, our table looks different—empty chairs, fading memories, and traditions that no longer fit who we are now. Still, gratitude finds a seat beside grief.
We talk about the tenderness of a rare moment of clarity with a loved one whose memory is slipping, and the sting of anniversaries that return each November. Love doesn’t disappear; it changes shape. It becomes presence, comfort, breath.
We trace Thanksgiving back to its roots: gratitude amid survival. Through that lens, we practice a thanks that is honest and brave—naming what hurts and what holds us together. We share simple ways to stay grounded when life feels overwhelming: focus on the next step, protect small rituals, and notice the goodness that still rises.
Faith shows up as a steady hand when ours shake, and quiet phrases like “even here, I see good” become anchors. Nature’s rhythm reminds us that loss prunes but also deepens roots.
So we invite a truthful Thanksgiving: say what hurts, then say what remains. Teach our kids that courage is presence, not pretending.
If your heart is heavy, may gratitude gently hold you. If someone is missing, may their love warm the room. Press play for a reminder that even here, even now, we can still be grateful.
And we have a surprise at the end! Our kids talk about what Thanksgiving means to them!
From our families to yours--Happy Thanksgiving
Chapters
1. Even Here, We Are Thankful (00:00:00)
2. Reunion And Thanksgiving Theme (00:00:08)
3. Grief At The Table And Lasting Loss (00:01:10)
4. Alzheimer’s, Little Joys, And Real Thanks (00:02:47)
5. Changing Families And Enduring Traditions (00:05:07)
6. What Gratitude Really Is (00:06:10)
7. Resilience And Choosing A Brighter Path (00:08:09)
8. History And Spirit Of Thanksgiving (00:10:11)
9. Gratitude Beyond Circumstance (00:12:15)
10. Honest Thanksgiving And Holding Both (00:15:05)
11. Being Carried, Faith, And Peace (00:18:20)
12. Growth From Hard Places (00:21:03)
13. Keep Showing Up And Moving Forward (00:23:55)
14. Season Metaphors And Hopeful Closing (00:26:05)
153 episodes