This year feels different, doesn't it?
As we move toward Thanksgiving, many of us are holding complicated feelings. Some are worried about making ends meet. Some are caring for loved ones whose memories are slipping away. Some are simply exhausted from trying to keep everything together. And yet, here comes November, asking us to pause and give thanks.
Maybe that's exactly what we need.
When Simple Becomes Sacred
As usual, the Danish concept called hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") has been on my mind a lot lately. It's not about perfection or abundance. It's about creating warmth and contentment from whatever you have. A candle lit against the early darkness. Warm water and good soap washing away the day. The weight of a favorite blanket. The quiet comfort of being together.
This Thanksgiving, what if we let go of the pressure to create the perfect holiday and instead focus on these small, true moments?
The Rituals That Hold Us
When life feels uncertain, rituals become anchors. They don't have to be elaborate. In fact, the simplest ones often mean the most:
The morning coffee ritual. The way steam rises from the cup. The first sip while the house is still quiet.
The hand-washing ritual. Warm water, soap that smells like something good like lavender, taking an extra moment to really feel it. This small act of care for yourself.
The lighting of candles at dusk. Not because you're entertaining, but because darkness comes early now, and light matters.
The gratitude ritual. Not a forced recitation around a table, but noticing one good thing. Just one. The way sunlight hit the kitchen counter. A text from a friend. That you made it through another day.
This is where a gratitude journal can become a quiet companion. Not another item on your to-do list, but a gentle invitation to pause. Our Daily Hygge Gratitude Journal offers simple prompts that meet you where you are - some days you might write paragraphs, other days just a word or two. Both are enough. The practice isn't about forced positivity; it's about training ourselves to notice the small lights, even on dark days.
Setting a Different Kind of Table
If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year - whether it's an elaborate meal or something much simpler - consider this: the people at your table won't remember if you had three pies or one. They won't remember if the tablecloth matched the napkins.
They'll remember if they felt welcomed. If they felt seen. If there was laughter, or quiet understanding, or simply the comfort of being together without pretense.
Set your table with whatever you have. Set it with intention and warmth. That's enough. That's everything.
For Those Who Are Struggling
If this year finds you worried about how you'll provide a meal, please know: you are not alone, and your worth is not measured by what you can put on a table. The love you give, the resilience you show, the way you keep going - these matter more than any feast. Reach out for help. Most of us have been there at some point in our lives.
Food banks are stretched thin right now, but there are other places to find help:
Dial 211 from any phone to connect with a trained professional 24/7 who can help you find food assistance, utility help, and other resources in your area. The service is free and confidential.
FindHelp.org connects you to food pantries, community resources, and assistance programs near you.
Community Fridges are stocked by neighbors and available 24/7 - no questions asked, no paperwork required. Search online for "community fridge near me" to find one in your area.
Local faith communities often have food pantries and emergency assistance, and many serve anyone who needs help regardless of religious affiliation.
At Island Thyme Soap Company, we're donating 10% of all profits to Feeding America until SNAP benefits are restored. It's a small thing, but we believe in taking care of each other.
If you're caring for someone whose mind is traveling to places you can't follow, I know from experience that your presence is the gift. The familiar sound of your voice. The gentle touch of your hand. These reach deeper than memory.
If you're simply trying to get through the day, that's okay too. Survival is its own form of grace.
Creating Warmth at Home
Some ideas for finding hygge this season, no matter what your circumstances:
Light matters. Candles, string lights, even a lamp with a warm bulb in the corner. Low light creates sanctuary.
Scent is powerful. Whether it's a bar of good soap by the sink, a candle burning in the evening, or something simple simmering on the stove - cinnamon sticks in water will do - scent creates comfort and memory.
Texture soothes. Your softest blanket. Thick socks. A favorite worn sweater. Give yourself permission to be cozy.
Warmth heals. Hot tea. A long shower. Hands wrapped around a warm mug. These small warmths matter when the world feels cold.
Presence is everything. Put your phone in another room. Sit with someone you love. Or sit alone with yourself and just be. This is not wasted time.
This Thanksgiving
Maybe this Thanksgiving won't look like the ones in magazines or in our memories. Maybe that's okay. Maybe there's something true and good about gathering around what we actually have, instead of what we wish we had.
Maybe the real abundance is in the small things: clean hands, warm light, the scent of something good, the presence of someone who cares. Maybe gratitude isn't about pretending everything is fine - it's about finding threads of light even when things are dark.
So this year, let's be gentle with ourselves and each other. Let's create whatever celebration we can, without shame or comparison. Let's remember that the heart of Thanksgiving was never about plenty - it was about sharing what we have and recognizing we don't walk through this life alone.
However you mark this day, may you find some small comfort. Some moment of warmth. Some reason to keep going.
That's more than enough.
From Island Thyme Soap Company, I'm grateful for this community. I'm grateful for you. And I'm holding space for whatever you're carrying this season.
