We’re just days away from Thanksgiving, and the grocery stores are stocked up on traditional foods and the lines at the checkout counters are long. People are planning their menus and their traditional Thanksgiving Day activities. It’s my favorite time of year — I love all of this!

There’s a Pillsbury commercial that has been playing nonstop showing a family around a Thanksgiving table. The father begins by saying what he’s thankful for, and the little girl looks at the Pillsbury Doughboy and asks him what he’s going to say. He tells her he’s going to say he’s grateful for Grandma, but the little girl steals his before it’s his turn.

We can take things like being able to gather with loved ones and even the ability to afford food for granted. It’s wonderful if you’ve never struggled with starvation, but it is a reality — even in this country of abundance.

There have been many times in my life when I didn’t have enough money to afford food to eat. So, I wouldn’t eat at all, or I’d eat very little of what food I had access to which wasn’t satisfying or even all that healthy for my body. That’s why I get emotional when I turn on the TV news and see people sitting in long food giveaway lines. That was basically me, except I didn’t qualify for assistance because I was single and alone. Thanksgiving and Christmas were the two days of the year when I knew that I wouldn’t go hungry and would be full and satisfied because my grandmother would cook for days prior to the holidays, and she made sure to fix a favorite dish and dessert for everyone in the family. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I love the holidays so much? I think about her generosity, selflessness and attention to the details of the likes and desires of each and every family member, and I try to display those characteristics, too. I also think she is one of the reasons that the kitchen is one of my happy places everywhere I live.

I truly am grateful for the little things because of the adversity and challenges I’ve experienced in my life. That’s why weekly coffee dates and date night dinners out are things that I cherish and appreciate so much. Paying attention to the seemingly little things give me hope that bigger and better things are coming soon — and they always do.

While I don’t expect any of you to be able to relate to my story of hunger and lack of food, can you relate to the feeling of eating but not being satisfied or eating unconsciously on autopilot? Can you relate to emotional eating? I’ve delt with the repercussions of all of those things, too. Being mindful when I eat is a form of gratitude in action. I connect with my body and listen to it when it indicated that I’ve had enough, and I also practice types of fasting regularly. It hasn’t always been easy for me.

In my upcoming book Becoming the Magnificent Me, I talk about the body image issues I faced prior to leaving to compete in the Woman of Achievement and Ms. U.S. pageants this past January. I was at my heaviest in several years last November. I only managed to lose about six or seven pounds before the pageants. Even though I wasn’t as small as I wanted to be, I decided that I was going to go anyway and do the best I could. Since bringing home the national Ms. U.S. crown, I have lost at least 25 more pounds. Being in a state of peace and mindfulness has made all the difference.

As a way to show gratitude in action, I also always quietly bless the food I eat to show appreciation for it and to dispel any negative energy that was involved during the process. I say, “Thank you for this food and the money to pay for it. Bless it to nourish and heal my body and bless the hands that prepared it and the hands that served it.” I would recommend establishing a similar practice for yourself. Now, let’s get into today’s practice …

The highlight of my day was:

What good or positive thing happened to you today? If nothing stands out to you, then what one thing are you grateful didn’t go a lot worse?

Today, I am grateful for having food I like to eat. 

Now, list two other things you’re grateful for and at least one thing you’re looking forward to doing or eating on Thanksgiving Day. Also, think of one way you can take care of your body during this holiday season.

• Thing No. 1:
• Thing No. 2:
• Thing I’m looking forward to on Thanksgiving Day:
• One thing I can do to take care of my body during this holiday season:

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, I would encourage those of you who are planning and cooking the meals to get into a peaceful, joyful, loving state. Turn on your favorite happy or holiday music and pour your love into every dish you make (and wear good shoes so that your feet and back don’t hurt as much). For those of you attending Thanksgiving celebrations, I would encourage you to be mindful of all the work it takes to create that beautiful meal, show your appreciation to the person who makes it and also be mindful of the blessing that it is to participate, enjoy the company of loved ones and fuel your bodies. Let yourself enjoy it all, but try not to eat like it’s a Thanksgiving feast every day until New Years Day. That’s a recipe for a weight loss battle. 😊

Until we meet again tomorrow … I’m so grateful for you and deeply appreciate you joining me during this challenge!

Senée Seale Luchsinger is the visionary behind The Princess Guide, a transformative coaching experience for those seeking empowerment, deep personal growth and authentic connection. She is a therapeutic coach, book author, public speaker/singer and the 2024 Ms. U.S. Ambassador Queen with a platform of “Discovering your magnificence within — A journey of self-love.” She resides in her hometown of Dallas with her husband.

If you’d like to experience the full 45-day guided gratitude journal journey, “The Princess Guide to Gratitude” is available in instant eBook download and autographed paperback versions. For those who prefer not to read, “The Princess Guide to Change Your Life in 14 Days” audiobook is available for a two-week guided gratitude journal experience.