Every Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on three groups of people.
The first group is the set of people who made this year memorable – the ones who were an essential part of the story of this year. This year, like every other, had its ups and downs, and there are always a few people whose presence, conversations, or actions had a disproportionate impact on my experience.
The second group is smaller but deeply significant: the people who gave me a break or supported me at a moment when I most needed it. So much of the privilege and opportunity in my life traces back to this handful of people. Without them, the story would have been very different.
The third group is the group that stays – the people who are with me on the journey, through all its ups and downs. Not just for a reason or a season, but for a lifetime. These folks are the anchors of this experience.
Every Thanksgiving, I think about these groups. And every year, I’m struck by the same thing: there are many material things to be grateful for, but it’s the people – always the people – who make this life special.
Happy thanksgiving!
