I love this time of year, especially living in New York City. The air is crisp, the leaves have fallen, and the city begins its beautiful transformation into a holiday mecca. Tourists flood the city, the shops are abuzz and the festive decorations are starting to go up. This year, I am especially excited that the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade will allow crowds to line the streets again. This feels so natural, and right to kick off the season of giving.

This year, I will spend Thanksgiving surrounded by my family-my daughter, granddaughter, sister and brother. We make it a point to spend holidays together whenever possible, but of course, we haven’t been able to do that. This year, it feels like we have so much to really be grateful for. And some of the simplest things that perhaps, we all took for granted, mean so much more now. Here are some of the things I will be doing:

– Visiting friends and catching up on all the months missed
– Staying with family and loving each other more than ever before
– Giving gifts to those I love and those in need
– Taking time to reflect on the past year and a half

Obviously, I’m looking forward to staying with my family. It’s been far too long, and I know that millions of fellow Americans will be doing exactly the same thing. Thanksgiving is almost a pilgrimage for many of us, where we leave our homes to stay with others and share what we are grateful for. Of course, this year is a little different with Covid still hanging over us, so here are a few tips on how to stay safe during the Thanksgiving season:

– If you’re staying with family, do the usual things like locking your doors and windows and turning on your alarm systems to keep your own home secure whilst you’re away
– Take tests before you go. If they’re negative, you should be fine. If they’re positive, stay at home.
– Try to keep your gatherings small. I know this is hard, but it reduces the number of people you come into contact with
– Open the windows to improve ventilation. It might be cold where you are, but just wrap up in another layer and use hot water bottles to save on heating
– Keep your distance. It might be tempting to hug, and once the alcohol is flowing this rule tends to get ignored, but it really can help
– Bring your own cutlery. If you or a family member is shielding, you can never be too careful!

Visiting a friend or family member’s house, whilst still risky, now feels so much more special. After being forced apart, we can finally all come together and celebrate (within reason). I plan on staying with my own family, and I make sure to take a moment each day to think of those who don’t have any family or those who have nowhere to go.

It’s important to remember how, even though everything feels so magical at this time of year, there are many who have little to be grateful for. Millions have lost a family member to Covid and millions more have lost their jobs due to lockdown. For the rest of us, we have so much to be thankful for!

It can be a hard time of year for those with very little. I’m lucky that I have my own house and I can choose to visit others. At this time of year, people’s houses are full of food, gifts and joy. There are also houses full of pain, suffering and sadness. And then there are those with no houses at all.

I’ve been on a journey the past few years, doing a lot of self-reflection and asking myself some really hard questions. Lately, I’ve been wondering, “What do I want my legacy to be? How would I like to be remembered? What mark will I leave on the world?”

These are some mighty big questions, not to be taken lightly. And to be certain, important questions to really think about.

If the past year and a half has taught me anything, it’s to be grateful for the tremendous abundance in my life, even taking an inventory of all my blessings. This year, I feel grateful to be surrounded by so much love, many good friends, an amazing family, and thankfully, to be in relatively good health, which is definitely a blessing as it can be hard for many people out there who deal with a variety of health issues for which they need to buy vitamins online as well as medications, so they can maintain their health in the best way possible. The other day, a friend reminded me that without our health, we have nothing. It’s so important to take care of ourselves, especially this time of year. No matter what that is, physical, or mental, we need to be there for ourselves and do what we can to create a better environment around us. For instance, some people may turn to private label gummies that have various calming properties with vitamins and minerals in, whilst others will go with physical activities to help them gain a clearer mind and support their health.

Someone once told me there is a difference between living a life with good intention and living with intentionality. I wasn’t really sure I understood the difference, so I asked this person to explain it. She said, “Good intentions are something most people wake up with, but don’t act on. Intentionality is following through.”

Wow. It’s a small shift that can have a big impact.

I love that.

Are you living with intentionality or merely good intentions?

As we approach Thanksgiving, I am inspired by the will to find deeper and more significant meaning in life. Where are you finding significance and meaning? What’s your purpose-your why?

I’d love to hear your answers.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.