Every year around this time, I notice something funny happening.
People soften.
Not everyone, not all the time — but enough that you can feel it. The smiles get a little easier. The patience stretches a little further. The world seems to remember, even briefly, that we’re all just humans doing our best with the tools we have.
And isn’t that a bit of a miracle?
Gratitude doesn’t ask us to pretend life is perfect. It simply invites us to notice the good that’s here too. A warm cup of coffee. A friend who checks in. A moment of quiet when the noise finally settles. The small victories nobody else sees.
These little things matter.
They stitch us back together.
Science says gratitude rewires the brain — but honestly, I think it also rewires the heart. It gives us a chance to breathe again. It reminds us that even in challenging seasons, beauty still shows up… usually wearing ordinary clothes. When we take time to acknowledge it, savor it, enjoy it, it changes us for the better.
So this Thanksgiving, my wish for you is simple:
May you find joy in small things.
May you feel supported in ways that surprise you.
May your nervous system get at least one moment of pure, unhurried peace.
And may you remember that your presence — your light — has a “positive spillover effect” that goes far beyond anything you realize.
Thank you for being part of my life, my community, my reason to keep sharing the science (and art) of happiness. Your work, your growth, your courage — inspire me more than you know.
Wishing you a gentle, gratitude-soaked holiday.
With Warmth,
JoAnna Brandi & Company
