A Thanksgiving Reminder: Gratitude in an Unexpected Place

I tweaked my back on Saturday and have been walking around like an old lady ever since. I can see that my upper back is out of place. Getting up hurt, lying down hurt, even sleeping is uncomfortable. Every small movement requires planning.

Why am I sharing this? Because it’s Thanksgiving season—the perfect time to be thankful—and this little injury reminded me of something big: how grateful I am for my health. My body will recover. I get to do so many things. And sometimes it takes losing something temporarily to see clearly what I already had.

This small setback made me look around my life and realize how much I could be taking for granted. Our messy, wonderful family life. My good, long-term friends who have walked with me through so many chapters. Is anything perfect? Absolutely not. But perfection isn’t the point. The point is enjoying the beauty, the chaos, the growth, and the tenderness of a life lived fully—even with its imperfections.

I’m also deeply grateful for you—the readers of this blog. I’ve been writing here for 16 years, and it continues to be one of the greatest gifts in my life. This space lets me document what I’m learning, share the twists and turns of my journey, and hopefully help others along the way. Hitting “publish” still makes my day, and hearing that something I wrote helped someone—even in a small way—means everything to me.

So I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep sharing how I navigate work, transitions, family, and all the uncertainties that come with being human. And I hope my stories continue to meet you where you are.  And if you ever want me to write about something specific that would help you, you can always email me at Leihan04@gmail.com.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving today in the U.S., I hope you’re surrounded by family, friends, and good food—wherever you may be. Thank you for reading, for your support, and for letting me be part of your life in this small but meaningful way.

I’ll leave you with one invitation:
Look around your life today. Really look. You might be surprised by how much you already have to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving. 🧡

Lei