Dr. Diane Medved describes her family’s beloved table tradition: each person shares something they’re thankful for that is unexpected — from FaceTime and Zoom connections to opportunities that stretch us and help us grow. Maura Sweeney shares how, without a large extended family nearby, she and her husband created an annual “Friendsgiving” in their Florida neighborhood, turning neighbors, newcomers, and even a woman from Siberia into family around a driveway table. Laurie McDermott reflects on how her family’s “Thank You Party” evolved into a January gratitude gathering — and then opens up vulnerably about navigating Thanksgiving plans in the middle of a sudden health crisis with her mother.

Throughout the episode, the conversation weaves between past and present, tradition and adaptation, and the many creative ways people make others feel seen, welcomed, and loved during the holiday season.

This is an episode about more than turkey and stuffing. It’s about:

• How gratitude can be practiced intentionally, not casually
• Turning strangers into family through hospitality
• The role of technology in keeping families emotionally close
• Finding meaning in holidays even when plans fall apart
• And why “giving” is an active, energizing force in our lives

Whether your Thanksgiving is traditional, unconventional, joyful, complicated, or somewhere in between, this episode invites you to reflect on how you create belonging — at your table and in your life.

https://www.youtube.com/thewifeexpert
https://thewifeexpert.com

https://www.barryshore.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.