Thanksgiving has a way of holding up a mirror to the season of life we’re in. Some years,
the house is bustling...pots bubbling, kids running through the kitchen, someone asking where the tape is because a craft project has turned into an emergency.
Other years, the day takes on a different rhythm. Maybe your child is now a teenager who no longer needs
constant supervision, but still lives at home and fills the house with that familiar energy.
Maybe they’re in college now, and this is the season of checking flight times and stocking the fridge before they walk back in the door.
Maybe you’re caring for aging parents.
Maybe
you’re living alone and deciding exactly what kind of day you’d like to have.
Maybe this is a quiet holiday for two, where the biggest question of the day is which movie feels right after dessert.
Each season of Thanksgiving comes with its own look, feel, and pacing...and its own organizing style.
When I look back, I can almost chart my life by how I
prepared for this holiday. When Amanda was little, it felt like I was organizing in motion: wiping fingerprints from the fridge while stirring gravy, keeping crayons on hand for a calm moment at the table, doing that quick five-minute sweep of the family room before guests arrived.
The house was noisier, the schedule was fuller, and the TO DO list had a few more moving pieces. But it was joyful chaos...the kind of chaos that lets you know you’re in the middle of active, growing years.
Then came the teen years...still busy, still full, but with a little less running around the kitchen
and a little more independence. The routines shifted subtly. I wasn’t packing crayons anymore, but I was planning meals around her favorites, making sure her room was ready, and enjoying the feeling of having everyone under the same roof.
And now, the college
years. Suitcases instead of backpacks. Travel arrangements instead of carpools. My Thanksgiving routine shifted again. Fewer side dishes. A simpler table. A little more emphasis on making the home feel welcoming and restful instead of magazine-perfect.
For the
first three college years, Amanda came home, and we settled right back into our familiar rhythm. But this year, she’s traveling with friends. My husband and I are still celebrating, of course, but today will be different. And then we'll have a "second Thanksgiving" when Amanda is home in a few weeks for a long Christmas break.
You may find yourself in even a quieter stretch. Maybe the kids are grown and flown. Maybe some chairs around the table stay empty unless we intentionally invite someone new to fill them.
Maybe you’re
hosting, maybe you’re not. Maybe Thanksgiving is a full dining room…or maybe it’s two people and a cozy meal, with leftovers shared in containers you’ve labeled ahead of time.
For those who are living alone, this season can be surprisingly peaceful...no schedule to
juggle, no pressure to create a feast unless you want to, and the freedom to shape the day entirely around your own comforts and routines. There’s beauty in that kind of autonomy.
For anyone who is homebound, or caring for someone who is, your season has its own quietly heroic kind of grace. Maybe the Turkey Trot is replaced with a
soft blanket and a familiar show.
Maybe your traditions come in smaller, sweeter forms: a favorite meal, a handwritten note, a virtual visit.
Your organizing may look different too...less about table settings, more about creating comfort within reach, keeping essentials close, and arranging the day in ways that support ease and peace. That is a form of love every bit as meaningful as a crowded table and clanging dishes.
What I’ve learned through all these seasons is this: there is no single “right” way to do Thanksgiving. There is no perfect menu, guest list, or timetable. There is only the season you’re in...and the chance to shape it intentionally.
If you’re in
a busy season, find gratitude in the energy and activity. If you’re in a quieter season, find gratitude in the calm. If you’re caring for others, find gratitude in the moments when things run smoothly because you thoughtfully prepared the day before.
If you’re
living alone, find gratitude in the ability to design a day that fits your spirit perfectly...no compromises, no expectations, just comfort in the way you choose it. And if you’re celebrating solo or with one other person, find gratitude in the intimacy of a holiday that doesn’t require big production to feel meaningful.
Wherever you
are, remember this: your routines, your rhythms, and your home don’t have to look like they used to. They’re allowed to change right along with you.
Thanksgiving isn’t about recreating the past. It’s about honoring the present and finding gratitude for the season you’re living right now.
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
Also...For the family member or friend who loves a good checklist, color-coded bins, or a fresh start every Monday morning, this list has their name written all over it. You’ll find organizing must-haves that are both functional and beautiful, from planners and journals to home organization favorites that bring peace to every space! Visit:
