Thanksgiving is my favorite nondenominational holiday - delicious food, family, and friends coming together without the stress often related to gift-giving. As I think about Thanksgiving this year, the Latin word gratia, meaning graciousness and grace, circles in my thoughts. Importantly, Thanksgiving allows us to incorporate gratitude into our day and an opportunity to think about others who may be less fortunate at home and abroad. This year, we've asked everyone attending dinner to donate a non-perishable food item to All Faiths Bank. This new practice will set the stage for introspection.

 

 

 

We'll gather in the kitchen from the early hours on Thursday morning and spend time prepping, laughing, and finally savoring the delicious aromas wafting throughout our home. This year, we will involve everyone in grocery shopping and extensive meal preparation; alternatively, some people will offer their creative skills to set our festive table. I anticipate the sounds of laughter filling our home as we share our communal day and meaningful relationships while creating lasting memories. The menu will include some of our many favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes alongside a few non-traditional cuisines we have come to appreciate from our travels. Every year, to our adult children's chagrin, we go around the table asking different questions. This Thanksgiving, I'll ask who, past or present, inspires us to be the best version of ourselves and how this inspirational figure may encourage new, uplifting, and fulfilling practices this year. We are fortunate to live on the Sun Coast and enjoy dining al fresco, followed by a leisurely beach walk.