Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I remember the rituals of the holiday as a child. Mom started the turkey on Wednesday night, and it slow roasted for hours.

It was not a big celebration, usually just the four of us, my mom, two sisters and me. Occasionally one of mom’s sisters might visit from Ohio, or a family friend, but mostly just a nice family celebration.

When I was older and living away from home, I would make the trip home from Chicago, Boston or St, Louis for Christmas, but not for Thanksgiving. I usually enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s home. In doing so, I experienced other families and their holiday rituals.

In 1991, Rod and I got married on the Saturday after Thanksgiving which created another emotional link to the celebration. Fast forward 32 years, and the T-day turkey celebration is ALWAYS at my house. This year we had twelve sharing dinner, which is an average crowd, and Jimmy, the 17-year-old cat, is still the star of the day.

What was different this year was the gratitude I felt with the gathering of family and friends. Having spent four months under the tutelage of Mark J., gratitude has taken center stage in my world these days and so the holiday was much sweeter.

I am grateful for my loving husband and delightful daughter, my amazing friends, and the abundance in life that we enjoy.

I am grateful for the wisdom and insight of the Training Solutions cadre of souls and fellow MKE (Master Key Experience) lifetime learners. I am grateful for the rigor, the routine and rhythm of the coursework, and I am grateful for the vision in front of me, of the pathway to excellence!