Reflections on Gratitude
As I began to write this post about gratitude, I found myself reflecting on why this season—and November in particular—has become so connected to thankfulness. The obvious answer is the cultural holiday of Thanksgiving in the U.S. But beyond dates on a calendar, there’s something deeper about this season. Historically, fall has always been a time to pause and look back: a moment between the harvest and the winter ahead, when communities took stock of what carried them through.
November, the second-to-last month of the year, naturally invites reflection. It prompts us to consider the past eleven months—what strengthened us, what challenged us, what surprised us, and what shaped us. That act of looking back is not just tradition; its resilience. Every reflection reveals what we survived, what we learned, and what helped us grow.
I initially felt a cynical tug: why focus on gratitude for only one month or one holiday? But as I thought about it more, I realized that gratitude and resilience are intertwined. Even in our hardest moments—sometimes especially in our hardest moments—there is almost always something we can name that kept us going. Some days it’s obvious; other days we have to dig for it. But the simple act of searching is itself an expression of resilience.
Recognizing that softened my cynicism. And as we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, I’m actually grateful that as a society, we choose to dedicate time to gather—around great food, around people we love, maybe even around acquaintances—and reflect on what we are grateful for. The audience doesn’t matter; the practice does. Gratitude doesn’t ignore hardship. It reminds us we’ve made it through.
So I challenge all of us, for the rest of this month and this year, to notice gratitude in the simple, often overlooked parts of our lives. Our stressors and struggles may weigh us down, but they also push us toward reflection. And reflection helps us see the resilience we’ve built along the way. When I pause and look back, I can more easily recognize what went well, who we love, and the circumstances—both smooth and rough—that brought us to this exact moment.
Thank you for this community! Thank you for your support, your trust, and your willingness to face hard things with courage and honesty. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to work in such an impactful place, and even more grateful that we get to do it in Park City.
Warmly,
Megan Calder
Marketing and Outreach Manager
