Hey Reader.

The Honest Truth About This Time of Year

Thanksgiving has always been a weird holiday for me. Not because I’m ungrateful — I’m absolutely grateful — but when your health is a daily uphill battle, “gratitude” isn’t this warm, Pinterest-worthy epiphany.

Most days, I’m just trying to exist without my body throwing its own plot twists.

And when you're already exhausted and in pain, being told to “focus on the positives” feels like someone handing you a balloon while your house is on fire.

If that’s you too: I see you. where it belongs.

What Actually Helps Me

On the days where everything feels heavy, the only thing that makes it easier is focusing on a few small things that genuinely make me happy — not the big, performative gratitude lists people post online.

For me, that looks like:

✈️ planning future travel (even if it’s months away)
😴 quiet rest days cuddling my kids
👩‍❤️‍👨 the rare day my partner and I get to sync up and actually enjoy a moment together

Nothing dramatic. Just the tiny things that remind me there’s more than the hard days.

If Today Feels Hard

🍗 You’re not doing Thanksgiving “wrong.”
😡 You’re not ungrateful.
😴 You’re tired — and that’s allowed.

Some holidays feel full. Others feel like a lot. Gratitude can be small, quiet, messy, or late. It doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s.

If all you can manage today is breathing, hydrating, and hiding in your bedroom for a bit… that counts.

Accessible Travel Tip

If holidays drain you (sensory overload, family noise, fatigue), schedule a recovery day now — even if it’s just an hour.

Think:

quiet space
low light
noise control
something comforting
no obligations

Your nervous system deserves an actual breather.

Takeaway

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be profound. It can simply be a moment to notice the few things that make surviving the hard days feel doable.

And if today is a struggle, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you, finding small pockets of joy wherever they fit.

Question for You

What’s one small thing keeping you afloat this week? Reply — I’d genuinely love to hear it.

💙 Phoenyx