Thanksgiving can feel like a beautiful whirlwind. The planning, the cooking, the guests, the timing of everything lining up just right. There’s something magical about it, but it can also pull us right out of the moment if we’re not careful.
Even holidays built around gratitude can leave our nervous systems buzzing. We get caught in the hum of it all, trying to make sure the food turns out perfectly, the table looks beautiful, everyone’s happy, everyone’s comfortable.
But perfection often steals presence.
I still remember one Thanksgiving years ago when a simple miscommunication turned into an argument that rippled through our family. It started small, but it left hurt feelings and broken trust that took time to repair.
All over a holiday that was supposed to be about connection.
Looking back, I can see how easy it is to get swept up in expectations and forget what matters most. When we’re focused on managing everything, we miss the small moments that actually hold the joy.
This is your reminder to take a moment to slow down this holiday week.
To breathe.
To let things be imperfect.
To let your body rest even while the world moves around you.
Because the memories that last aren’t the ones where everything went right. They’re the ones where you laughed together, where something burned but someone made a joke, where you felt warmth instead of pressure.
For me, finding that warmth starts with a mug in my hands.
What I’m Drinking This Week
Cozy Peppermint Mocha Postum
1 scoop Postum (cocoa also great!)
1 scoop cacao powder
Sweetener of choice (I use stevia)
Top with cold foam
My favorite cold foam right now is Coffee Mate’s Peppermint Mocha, which instantly brings in the holiday season. Sometimes I mix in Dunkin’s chocolate cold foam for a chocolate peppermint twist. It’s absolutely delicious.
The warmth, the smell, the first sip — they remind me that my body can slow down. That I’m safe here. That joy doesn’t have to be earned or scheduled.
Maybe gratitude this year isn’t a list to check off but a practice of noticing.
The scent of cinnamon.
The laughter that slips out when something goes wrong.
The comfort of a soft blanket after a long day.
You don’t have to do anything to deserve that kind of peace. You can just let yourself receive it.
So this Thanksgiving, maybe the invitation isn’t to do more or be perfectly grateful. Maybe it’s to notice what already feels good, right here, in this imperfect, living moment.
That’s living unmuted.
That’s presence.
That’s enough.
With gratitude,
Kimberlie
PS: What’s your version of cozy this week? A drink? A candle? A quiet five minutes before everyone wakes up? Do you have a memorable holiday story you'd love to share? Hit reply and tell me. I’d love to know.