Fall has settled in with crisp days and longer nights, some areas have even seen their first snowfall! November is a special month of gratitude and giving. Before we move into the hustle and bustle that December brings, it is so nice to be able to take the time to enjoy being with our loved ones and eat all the delicious food that the Thanksgiving holiday offers as we give thanks for our blessings.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. My childhood memories of the traditions passed down within my family hold such a special place in my heart. I come from a family who loves to cook, so Thanksgiving is our Superbowl! Having everything on the table made from scratch by all of us together, makes for such a fun day. One of my fondest memories is watching my Great Grandmother — Bobo, my Grandmother— Nana and my mom making the dressing. Everyone seemed to have a special touch to the recipe and theirs was the addition of the fresh herb, sage. This ingredient became so special that I named one of my daughters after it, thankfully she is the one who caught the cooking bug! The tradition of making the dressing has been passed on to the two of us, while my mom supervises and my brother makes sure I remember how to do it just right. There is no written recipe for the dressing, just words, technique and togetherness passed down each year. In the many times I have asked about this over the years, the answer has always been, “the recipe is one of love— you just blend all the ingredients you choose and it is always delicious because of the two key ingredients, love and sage.”
As with much of the holiday season, we can get caught up in the business of everything and forget how impactful it is to come together and help one another. My favorite part of the Thanksgiving story is how Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, taught the weakened and malnutritioned Pilgrims to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants in order to survive. This is such a pinnacle example of love thy neighbor and one for us to remember as we gather with our loved ones and have the opportunities to help those less fortunate.
The peoplezest team is so thankful for our clients and candidates, we love what we do and making the professional growth match between the two. I hope each of you find the time to celebrate with your company colleagues and loved ones during the week of Thanksgiving.
What is your family’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Let us know in the comments!