Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday for feasting. It’s my personal favorite holiday and a time to cherish traditions and values that shape our families and legacies. As a financial advisor and father of two young daughters, with another on the way, my wife and I see Thanksgiving as an opportunity to foster a legacy built on gratitude, service, and togetherness. Here’s how our family traditions shape this legacy and why it’s important to cultivate these values for generations to come.
Family traditions are powerful in creating a sense of identity and belonging.
For us, Thanksgiving traditions like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, expressing our gratitude before each meal, and sharing a post-dinner walk have become touchstones that bond us together year after year. As we age, these traditions aren’t just rituals; they become the memories that remind us of who we are and the values we hold dear. In a world that often feels rushed, I’m so thankful to have my wife and these moments to remind me to slow down, stay connected, and find joy in simple, shared experiences.
Gratitude is a pillar in our household, and Thanksgiving is a chance to highlight its importance.
Each day, before we eat dinner, we each express thanks for something specific, a practice that reinforces appreciation for what we have. Teaching our daughters this habit is our way of ensuring they grow up with an understanding of their blessings, big or small. Thanksgiving morning, Kristen and I take part in an “Earn your turkey workout” with our friends at Lakeland Athletic Club. This tradition reminds us to be grateful for our health and embrace an active, balanced lifestyle that we hope our daughters will carry forward.
Perhaps one of our most valued traditions is volunteering with VISTE (Volunteers in Service to the Elderly) every Thanksgiving Eve.
Together with so many other people in our community, we help assemble and deliver meals to 2,000 people in our community who are in need or don’t have family to celebrate with. This tradition holds special meaning for Kristen and me. We believe it’s essential to model compassion and community involvement for our daughters. By including them in this service, we aim to nurture their empathy and understanding, showing firsthand the impact of lending a helping hand. For us, it’s a way to express gratitude not only in words but in action, reinforcing a legacy of giving back that we hope will endure for generations.
As our family celebrates Thanksgiving and our shared traditions, it’s also a natural time to consider the legacy we’re building financially.
Part of this legacy includes imparting values like gratitude and responsibility. By sharing in your family’s blessings and discussing the importance of financial stewardship (even in small ways as they grow), our children begin to understand that wealth is not just about monetary success. It’s about using resources to support family, help others, and build a future of stability and generosity.
Our Thanksgiving traditions, whether it’s watching the parade or volunteering, create memories that our daughters will carry with them. These memories are a reminder of who we are and the values we hold as a family. As our children grow, I hope they’ll carry forward these traditions and, someday, create new ones with their families. In doing so, they won’t just be passing down habits; they’ll be passing down a legacy of gratitude, kindness, and connections.
Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of what truly matters: family, gratitude, health, and the impact we make in the lives of others.
These traditions may seem simple, but they are the foundation of our family’s values, shaping a legacy that I hope will continue for many generations. By nurturing gratitude, service, health, and connection in our family, we’re building a legacy of love and generosity – One Thanksgiving at a time.
November 2024
