How breaking with tradition might be your most delicious Thanksgiving move
For many years, my mom would make Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows for our Thanksgiving meal.
I am not sure whether there is an actual recipe for this dish. It involves emptying a few cans of sweet potatoes into a casserole dish, topping with a few bags of marshmallows, and baking until the sweet potatoes are hot and the marshmallows are melted.
It tasted…okay? Sweet and very canned. Not too fresh.
I could not understand why we were eating canned sweet potatoes when we have abundant fresh sweet potatoes available with a much better taste.
I offered to find a new recipe - and started making Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole. It did take more time than opening a few cans. And everyone loved it! I took over making the sweet potato course from then on. This recipe is out-of-this-world delicious.
All of that is to say: I’m not afraid to break with tradition to create something better. This is what we do in our facilitation work!
A few Thanksgiving favorites
I do have other “Thanksgiving favorites,” pieces I’ve written about Thanksgiving in the past:
Create Gratitude and Energy by Focusing on the Most Painful Truths - In our planning and training work, exploring painful truths becomes a way to move towards something better. “When leaders and teams feel seen and recognized with their pain and their strengths, organizations move forward, relationships deepen, and genuine gratitude emerges.”
This Thanksgiving, Holding Grief and Gratitude - It is so important to keep in mind the complicated history of Thanksgiving, including that it is a Day of Mourning for Native American people.
On stories, traditions and gratitude
I am dropping in briefly to wish you a sweet, and nourishing, and novel Thanksgiving. What new traditions might you create this year?
In addition to food, I love stories. I loved this recent episode of Hidden Brain on The Power of Family Stories at family meals. Maybe this year our new family tradition will be to each bring a story to the meal. I believe that one of the greatest abilities we have is to make room for each other and, what better way to do that, than to listen to each other?
Stories connect and inspire us: My story about the traditional casserole of canned sweet potatoes and marshmallows was an illustration of how I like to approach my life and work: take what people do and find ways to refresh, upgrade or strengthen it so it becomes more nourishing and successful.
As I reflect at this time of year, which has been difficult due to the unnecessary strains of our Federal government, I do lean into the intent of Thanksgiving, and I am making extra effort to lean into gratitude:
I am grateful for you, the reader of this blog.
I am grateful for the strategic planning, training, and board governance clients we had the privilege of working with over the years, but especially this year.
I am grateful for my book manuscript, the 100+ beta readers are sharing thoughtful feedback, and the book launch happening in early 2026.
And I’m grateful for my health, friends and family, and wonderful experiences shared with them throughout this tumultuous time.
I hope you’ll share your experiences with me - my inbox is always open. What are you grateful for during this Thanksgiving season? What new recipes, stories, or processes are coming to your table?
Also, we’re rounding the corner and finishing our 2025, let’s see what’s available on our calendars through the end of this year or early 2026.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope to work with you soon.