Annie Tsai

Several years ago, I started looking at Thanksgiving through a bit of a different lens. Growing up, it was always about the food. Oh my goodness the stuffing – my mom makes this unbelievable Chinese and American fusion of sticky rice stuffing that is absolutely incredible. It was a day of indulgence and family chaos, steeped in tradition but less intentionality. Somewhere along the way, my focus shifted. Yes, food will always be how our family expresses love. As an adult, I see Thanksgiving as an opportunity. It is a time to share a hearty meal with loved ones, yes, but also a moment to pause, reflect, and give back to the community around me.

Let’s start with a simple question: What are you thankful for? It’s such a basic question, yet we don’t ask it enough. Sure, we may go around the table and awkwardly rattle off a quick answer before diving into an overfilled plate, but when was the last time you really thought about it? 

For me, this year has been one of those years where gratitude feels especially poignant. I’m thankful for my kids – healthy, happy, and full of energy and surprises. I’m thankful that they have the chance to grow up with strong bonds to their grandparents, who shower them with love and wisdom. I’m grateful for my husband Tom who is the singular reason I am able to volunteer as much as I do. I’m so grateful to have a job when so many do not right now, and for being able to push myself creatively every week with writing this column. No, life isn’t perfect, but nothing is perfect. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the pursuit of perfection is eternal as the goal posts keep moving. And that’s okay because that’s reality and perhaps perfection was never the thing to strive for in the first place. 

Yes, taking a pause to reflect on a commercial holiday can feel contrived. Why do we need a designated day to be grateful? Shouldn’t we be doing this all year? But the truth is most of us are so wrapped up in life’s to-do list that we rarely take the time to reflect, take stock, and appreciate what we’ve built.

So maybe it’s okay to embrace the contrived nature of it all. Sometimes we need those external nudges – a holiday, a family tradition, even a cheesy dinner table ritual – to interrupt the hustle and bring us back to what really matters. Gratitude is a perspective shift and a reminder that life isn’t just about striving for what’s next. 

This time of year is also a chance to extend gratitude outward. Did you know that Giving Tuesday always falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving? It’s a day dedicated to generosity and making a difference, initially created as a counterbalance to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Since its inception in 2012, Giving Tuesday has become a global movement inspiring millions of people to donate their time, money, and resources to causes they believe in.

Here’s why this day is important to nonprofits: many companies offer double or even triple donation matches on Giving Tuesday. That means your $20 donation could instantly become $40 or even $60, at no extra cost to you. Ask your HR team if they are increasing corporate match for Giving Tuesday – it’s a simple step that can amplify your impact in a big way.

If you’re looking for a little inspiration, San Mateo County has no shortage of incredible organizations working around the clock to support those in need. Our community is filled with passionate nonprofits serving a variety of needs from food to shelter to supporting literacy to childcare and more. Giving Tuesday both gives you a catalyst to seek out an organization that is solving an acute need and enables you to connect with others who care about those issues too. 

This Thanksgiving week, I hope you’ll join me in pausing – not just to savor the pumpkin pie and football, but to truly reflect on what you’re thankful for. And if you can, please consider also pausing to give back, whether it’s through a donation, volunteering, or simply supporting a neighbor in need. When Giving Tuesday rolls around, let’s double down on that gratitude by turning it into action.

At the end of the day, Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday are two sides of the same coin. One is about appreciating what we have, and the other is about sharing it. Together, they remind us that gratitude and generosity aren’t just things we do because we have to – they are engrained in who we are as humans. 

Happy Thanksgiving, and here’s to a season of giving. And sticky rice stuffing.