Thanksgiving Is Here…
Something personal...
Hospitality isn’t just an act; it’s a way of being.
As experiential hospitality enthusiasts, we strive to craft unforgettable, one-of-a-kind places and moments for our guests—experiences that become lifelong memories.
But, today I found myself asking the question: “what other ways could I be living out hospitality?”
Those who know me well know I can be intense.
Even on vacation I sometimes struggle to shift gears. My siblings still joke about a family trip to Banff when I insisted on all of us waking up long before sunrise to drive hours to see a particular lake right at dawn. I’d done my research and made a plan. We were in an incredibly special place. Seemed perfectly logical to me...
They (most of them) forgave me later, but let’s just say the ride there wasn’t as pleasant.
...that morning (some of my little brother's faces give away a tinge of displeasure)
This intensity and drive has a double edge. Passion for details on the one side—impatience and frustration on the other. Like all of us, I battle this tension every day.
Anyone who’s built things or managed projects knows the feeling—stress. But too many times, I let a busy or “bad” day harden my attitude, closing me off to the small opportunities for kindness that surround me.
How many times have I missed a chance to yield in traffic, hold a door, smile at someone? Worse, how often have I let my own frustration or impatience make someone else’s day harder. Too many to count, and I’m not proud of it.
This brings me to Thanksgiving.
And I sure have a lot to be thankful for. Yes, there have been setbacks—big ones. This year I’ve faced failures and disappointments, both in myself and in others. Such is life.
But wow—so much to be thankful for.
When we’re truly grateful, something shifts. It softens our hearts, opens our eyes, and enables us to extend true hospitality and kindness to others. As humans, I believe this is where we’re at our best: loving other people.
This Thanksgiving, I’m committing to a whole new level of gratitude. Life, my incredible wife, our son (and another baby due soon!), friends, family, health, home, freedom, fresh air—there is so much…
I’m grateful for you, reading this right now. You are a big part of what makes this journey meaningful. Thank you for all your support—I sincerely hope I can help you in some way!
I want to be more intentional about loving others in all the little overlooked moments of my daily life. In my business, my church, my neighborhood.
Because this is what the world needs: kindness. It starts with seeing how much we have to give and choosing to give it.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday wherever you are. Let’s celebrate with open hands and full hearts. Let’s commit to creating spaces—both physical and relational—where others feel loved, noticed, and cared about.
It's a gift worth giving (and receiving).
Happy Thanksgiving!