The 8 Daily Areas to Appreciate This Thanksgiving
I have been lucky to have some fun Thanksgiving over the years from eating KFC in the Czech Republic with Chelsea to chewing on cold Turkey Jerky and Pringles in Antarctica! This holiday always makes me think about many things.
Every day, I pay attention to eight core areas of my life—eight commitments that keep me grounded, growing, and connected to who I want to be. And as Thanksgiving arrives, I’m reminded that gratitude is not simply a feeling. It is the practice, the discipline, the lens that can open so many doors.
When we look through this lens, each of these eight areas becomes an opportunity to appreciate what we have, honor what sustains us, and recommit to becoming THE version of ourselves—not a random version, not an accidental one—but the intentional, aligned, awake version.
Here’s how Thanksgiving invites us to pause and honor each of the eight areas.
1. Source
Anything you believe in that is bigger than you—God, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, the Universe, Mother Nature, Spirit.
Thanksgiving is one day that naturally slows us down. It invites us to acknowledge that we are held by something bigger than our schedules, stressors, or roles.
This is the moment to appreciate:
The sunrise we didn’t create but still get to witness
The breath we didn’t design but rely on
The miracles that keep happening even when we don’t see them
On Thanksgiving, we can take five quiet seconds to remember that we are guided. Supported. Connected. And that awe is available at any moment we are willing to notice.
2. Physical
Our bodies carry us through every moment of our lives, often without thanks.
This Thanksgiving, appreciation can look like:
Enjoying food without guilt
Honoring our bodies for everything they do behind the scenes
Moving, stretching, or walking because we can, not because we “should”
Seeing our physical health as the gift, not an obligation
Thanksgiving is one of the rare days when the US collectively pauses. Let’s use that pause to appreciate the vehicle that makes our entire experience possible.
3. Mental
I often forget that our thoughts are the seeds of our reality.
During the holidays, our minds can race—planning, preparing, anticipating. Thanksgiving gives us a chance to shift into appreciation for:
The creativity of our minds
Our ability to reframe challenges
Moments of stillness
The growth we’ve made over the past year
We can be grateful not only for peace but for the mind that is learning how to create more of it.
4. Relationships
Thanksgiving is built on connection.
Whether our table is full, small, virtual, or metaphorical, this day reminds us to appreciate:
People who lift us, challenge us, and love us
The old friends who feel like home
The new relationships shaping us into a better version of ourselves
The family we were born into and the family we’ve chosen
This is the chance to say the thing we often postpone:
“Thank you. I appreciate you. I am grateful you are in my life.”
5. Purpose
Purpose becomes clearer when we look backward in gratitude before we look forward in ambition.
On Thanksgiving, we can appreciate:
How far we’ve come
The lessons that shaped us
The moments that clarified what we’re here to do
The opportunities ahead and the excitement in the unknown
For me, purpose doesn’t show up all at once. It reveals itself in flashes, and holidays like this remind us to notice the spark.
6. Serving
Thanksgiving is one reminder that the fastest way to feel rich is to give.
This season invites us to appreciate:
Our ability to help
The people who serve us daily without applause
The small acts that make big differences
The privilege of being in a position to support someone else
Service is gratitude in action. It transforms appreciation into impact.
7. Financial
Gratitude shifts our relationship with money from stress to stewardship.
This is one moment to appreciate:
The resources we have
The opportunities money has provided
The stability we’ve built or are building
The lessons we’ve learned about earning, spending, and growing
When we see money as a tool instead of the judge, we feel empowered rather than overwhelmed.
8. Intellectual
Thanksgiving reminds us that curiosity is one of life’s greatest privileges.
We can appreciate:
What we’ve learned this year
The skills we’ve developed
The ideas that excited us
The growth that came from reading, listening, and asking better questions
The mind is this amazing garden and gratitude is sunlight.
This Thanksgiving, Appreciate the Whole You
When we consciously appreciate all eight areas—Source, Physical, Mental, Relationships, Purpose, Serving, Financial, and Intellectual—we step into Thanksgiving with our fuller heart.
We see that gratitude is not something we feel once a year. It’s something we practice every day by paying attention to what matters most.
And when we pay attention, we transform.
We become THE leader, THE partner, THE parent, THE human we are meant to be.
Happy Thanksgiving all yall!
May our days be filled with gratitude in every area of our life.