Thanksgiving Reflections: Small Wins, Big Thanks

Gratitude isn’t a once-a-year ritual; it’s a daily reset that can steady your mind and strengthen your relationships. We open with a clear look at why thanks changes how you feel and behave, then move into practical ways to make it a habit—without adding pressure to an already busy season. From one-minute reflections to simple affirmations, you’ll leave with tools you can use the moment you hit pause.

We spotlight small wins that often go unnoticed—warm smiles, a call returned, a quiet cup of coffee—and show how naming them rewires your day. You’ll hear a guided micro-exercise you can do anywhere, plus real-world ways to express gratitude through action: sending a kind note, supporting local creators like Cynthia Creations, and contributing to community efforts such as Toys for Tots. Along the way, we share grounded holiday tips to stay safe, shop smarter, and keep your energy for what matters most: connection, care, and presence.

Traditions have their place—parades, pies, and game day—but we challenge you to pair them with a short daily journal and a budget-aware plan that includes yourself. Expect a warm, down-to-earth conversation that blends mindset, service, and practical life skills. If you’ve been searching for a simple gratitude routine that sticks, you’ll find it here—clear, gentle, and doable even on hard days.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a lift, and leave a quick review telling us one thing you’re grateful for today. Your note might spark someone else’s next small win.

Chapters

• 5:39 Thanksgiving And The Power Of Gratitude
• 6:59 Daily Practice And Affirmations
• 9:19 Shoutouts And Giving Back
• 11:19 Guided Gratitude Exercise
• 12:39 Holiday Safety And Smart Shopping
• 14:09 Traditions, Volunteering, And Community
• 16:09 Gratitude Journaling And Lasting Habits
• 17:49 Closing Reflection And Next Episode Tease

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 2:50

Welcome back to the Motivational for You podcast. I am your host, Wandra, and today we are going to dive into the Thanksgiving day and the gratitude. So Thanksgiving Day, it is one of my favorite days. I just want everyone to pause and reflect and appreciate the things that are in our lives. So gratitude is powerful. It shifts our perspective from what's missing to what's present, what we have an abundance of. When we practice gratitude, we strengthen our relationships, we nurture our well-being. It creates a ripple effect of kindness in the world. So think about the small things. What about a warm smile? Someone that's comforting you, and you're having a great meal, the strength of shown through challenges. These are moments worth celebrating. So gratitude doesn't have to live on Thanksgiving Day. It can be something that we practice for the season that's in our life, and we can do it every day. So as you gather with your loved ones, your significant others, it is a quiet time to reflect. I encourage you to ask yourself, what am I grateful for today? Write it down, share it loud, or simply hold it to your heart. Some things I am grateful for is my family, my friends, my love for myself, my health, my well-being, and just so many other things. So make sure you practice that every day and say an affirmation to yourself. I love myself, I am thankful for myself. So gratitude is a fuel, it can energize you, it can ground you, it can remind you of even in the difficult times, they're a light, and it can be found. So I know on Thursday, November 27th, it's not about the turkey and the shopping. You can just take a second and think about gratitude. So I want to ask you, what are you grateful for for this year and many mother, many other years? And who's been in your corner? What are some small wins that can deserve a celebration? So take the moment to reflect, maybe write it down. Gratitude is your fuel, it can keep us going when the road can get rough. So I will add the shout out segment into the podcast, but I definitely want to get a shout out to Cynthia Creations. She is creating some tumblers, some shirts, decals inside it out, and she will ship them to you, or you can pick them up locally if you're in the Alabama area. So her email is C underscore blockston B-L-O-X-T-O-N at Yahoo.com. She is on Facebook and she does have many other things, such as your turnlers and a 17 and a 20 ounce. Um, and she has those, they can start at um roughly about$35,$40 or higher, just depends on the size, and she has other things that's on her store also. And one of my favorite times where me and my family and I do ask others to go with this, we go and we drop off any unwrapped toy to the toys for tops donations. So they've been around since 1947, and this was something that I got involved with um in the military, so they do distribute over 708 million toys to more than 314 million children, and you can check on their website toys fortox.org. So they do have drop lock drop-off locations that can be near you. You can drop off an unwrapped toy by Monday, December 1st, but please check your local area for specific details. So those two websites and links I will add to the podcast. So today I want to do a exercise with you. So if you pause and close your eyes, take three deep breaths and let go of distractions and bring focus to the present moment if you recall three things that you are grateful for today. It can be your family, your health, your opportunities, a small cup of coffee, just smelling the new fog or air, autumn leaves, write them down and say them aloud. You can feel each of the things that you're grateful for, and I want you to pause and let that sink in with your want and your joy and peace, and ask yourself how can this gratitude be expressed? It can be a quick message to someone, appreciation, or just a small act of kindness. So your holiday tip, um, which is the biggest time of the year, just some friendly reminders to be safe, watch your surroundings, have your car keys in one hand, just really look out for each other. You can shop early online and in stores because I know the deals they have begun. Make a list, do something for yourself, your spouse, your kids, your neighbors, significant others, um, and add others to your lift too, to your list too. Um, set a budget. You can start early, not to go over your budget, and don't forget yourself because you've earned it. So I know that Thanksgiving traditions can be turkey, stuffing, sauce, um, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, um, sweet potato pie. So you're gathering with your friends, your family, long distances can reconnect. Um, you can watch the parades that's on the TV, the different games, and you can even give back. So giving back volunteering would be my next segment. But you can volunteer your local shelter, your food banks, and be around others and give back. And you can call your local churches to drop off a tray of food, gather with your friends and your family. So, some lists you can make, which is big or small, gratitude, list, share things, going around a table, reflections, take a moment, and acknowledge what you're grateful for, um, your act of kindness, helping others. What does gratitude mean to you? It can be your mental wear being shifting focus from being um really scarceful, and to have an abundance of things, encourage strength, and during your difficult times, and it could be a ripple effect, which would be gratitude, generosity, and being positive in your community. I do have a gratitude journal that is out there, it's a self-discovery, it's for yourself, it's about your small things, your big things, your big wins, your small wins, a positive mindset. It can weigh ways you can be happier, you can have a friend join in and really make this gratitude something of a habit and start appreciating things in your life. So as you pause over your Thanksgiving holiday, I know it's going to be filled with food and people, experiences, and moments. Just take that time to be thankful, celebrate your small victories, make sure you have a powerful reminder. Your challenges arise, really be thankful for those and reflect on the positivity. So you can be joyful doing challenging times. I know it's a busy holiday, so plan early, be safe, make sure you understand this hustle and bustle of it. So, a reflection for today. I want to thank you for being on the podcast with me and listening in. The upcoming podcast is volunteering day. So make sure you be up to it. So thank you for joining me on this reflection. May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, connection, and a spirit of gratitude that lasts far beyond the holiday. Be safe and enjoy. Bye bye.