365 Squarey Monsters: What Gratitude Makes Possible

Sunday, November 30, 2025

What Gratitude Makes Possible

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Thanksgiving may be behind us, but the spirit of gratitude lingers long after the last slice of pie. Not a day goes by that I don't think about what I'm most thankful for: my three children and the wonderful parents they've become.

This year's holiday only deepened that feeling. I keep replaying the small moments that made it meaningful last week: the joy of having all seven grandkids under one roof, the familiar music of Marylou orchestrating a busy kitchen with more little helpers than ever, and the pride of watching my kids raise their kids with such patience and love.

I've also been thinking about the letters you've shared with me these past few weeks. As I wrote last week, gratitude is a powerful force. It grows as we practice it, spreading through families and communities.

As this holiday weekend ends and we look ahead to the celebrations still to come, I wanted to share a few of the stories you shared. They reflect so many different experiences and types of gratitude, and together they remind me why this community is so special.

Gratitude for community

A number of you wrote about gratitude for the people who move through your life each day — family, friends, coworkers, and even the strangers who cross your path but still leave a mark.

One reader, Brendalee, captured the feeling when she wrote that she is grateful "for the people in my life who surround me each day, whether I know them or not."

She makes a great point. Sometimes the simple presence of others, whether it's the neighbor we wave to or the cashier who remembers our name, can steady us. It reminded me of how much we missed these interactions during the pandemic lockdowns a few years ago.

Others spoke of gratitude forged through years of experiencing life with other people. Kelly, a hairstylist, wrote about the blessing of hearing her clients' stories and being there for them in big and small moments. She added:

"To be able to style and cut my clients' hair for a living is a precious gift I don't take for granted. To earn an honest living with each hairstyle is another blessing I appreciate."

These are different stories and circumstances, but they both show how gratitude grows when we see each other and use our power to connect.

Faith and gratitude

Many of your letters reflected the role faith plays in shaping gratitude. For some, it's a daily practice. For others, it's a source of resilience during life's hardest moments.

Ora wrote that gratitude, for her, comes "through the love of Jesus, family, and true and trustworthy friends." Her note echoed a theme I saw often: gratitude rooted in a deeper sense of being guided and supported.

Others wrote about the strength faith provides when the future feels uncertain. Carol shared a personal story about her granddaughter, whom she raised and spoke with every day until, suddenly, the calls stopped. After months of worry and prayer, Carol finally received a text message.

"I am grateful to God that I heard from her last week and know she's alive," she wrote. Her gratitude wasn't tied to an explanation or a resolution. It was the relief of knowing her granddaughter was safe.

There were other stories of answered prayers. Pam wrote with joy that her daughter is now cancer-free. After years of fear and hope, she captured the feeling in six words: "Gratitude is hearing that my daughter is cancer-free!"

Faith doesn't erase hardship, but it often gives us the courage to keep going, and a way to recognize grace when it arrives.

Gratitude for this community

Before I close, I want to share something that's been on my mind all month. I am grateful for you and this community. Every week, you take the time to read these letters, reflect on your own lives, and then send stories that are heartfelt, vulnerable, funny, wise, and human.

What you share isn't small. You write about faith, family, loss, resilience, kindness, and the moments that open your heart. Sometimes it grows among people who gather around a story each week and who care about one another even if they've never met.

Your letters lift my spirits. They challenge me to think more deeply. And they reaffirm my belief that people are good, generous, and stronger than they realize. This community has become a kind of extended family that teaches me something new every week.

Thank you for reading, for writing, and for sharing your lives. As we move through this season of celebration, I hope you continue sending your stories and reflections. They inspire me more than you know.

All the best,
Jim

What would you do if you hit financial independence at 30… and realized the life you built was slowly destroying you?

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, Paul Stamoulis and I sat down with Ryan Renteria, a Stanford grad who rocketed through Goldman Sachs, became a rising star in the hedge fund world, and walked away right as he reached the top. His body was failing, his spirit was exhausted, and he knew he had to choose a different future.

Ryan opened up about work-life integration, emotional health, culture building, the power of service, and what matters beyond the paycheck. We also dove into generational expectations, leadership, purpose, burnout, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story.

Ryan opened up about the journey that shaped his new book, Lead Without Burnout, a guide for high performers and leaders who want sustainable success that doesn't cost them their health or humanity.

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step, this episode will change how you think about success, ambition, burnout, and what it really means to live a meaningful life. Share your thoughts at podcasts@celebrations.com.

Stories of care and extraordinary love

As National Family Caregivers Month comes to a close, I wanted to offer something a little different. Many of you wrote to me after this month's Celebrations Pulse on the challenges facing caregivers , sharing heartfelt notes about the people you care for and the people who care for you.

To honor those stories, I recorded a very special episode of Celebrate Your Story. It felt important to pause and give your words the space they deserve, since each one reflects love, effort, and strength.

You'll see how caregiving takes many shapes. Sometimes it looks like tending to a parent or partner. Other times it means checking in on a neighbor, supporting a friend, or showing up when someone needs you most. Each story is a reminder of the power of compassion.

Giving Tuesday: A day to lift one another up

After a long weekend of gathering, celebrating, and maybe eating a little too much, Giving Tuesday invites us to shift our focus outward to generosity, community, and using our power to help someone else.

One place where I see that power in action is Smile Farms, the nonprofit my family founded to create meaningful jobs for adults with disabilities. Every time I visit one of its campuses, I am reminded that giving involves far more than financial support. It is rooted in dignity, opportunity, and the simple act of showing up for one another.

The farmers, families, and partners who make Smile Farms flourish show how small acts, carried out across a community, have the ability to change lives.

Whether you're supporting a cause you love, volunteering your time, or just reaching out to brighten someone's day, I hope you'll join me in celebrating the spirit of Giving Tuesday.

Sunday, November 30, 2025

What Gratitude Makes Possible

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