Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving—and all that surrounds it—is one of my favorite times of year. Today, as I sit at my desktop drafting this note before the big day, I’m reflecting on exactly why Thanksgiving holds such significance for me. There is of course delicious food, gathering with loved ones, and special traditions (for my family, it’s always ending the day playing games over dessert), but Thanksgiving goes beyond that.

My thoughts turn to a special project we launched earlier this fall where we asked people to submit stories of gratitude to an arts teacher who influenced them. We received 600 messages for teachers nationwide, and I loved starting my day reading new stories of inspiration. They were stories from people I’ve never met, but I instantly felt connected to them all. Whether it was someone’s high school band teacher or their next door neighbor, so many formative lessons come to us through the arts—from teachers of all forms.

Thanksgiving offers a way to recognize these shared experiences of learning and helps us to find common ground. No matter our backgrounds, daily challenges, or favorite type of pie, there is something that connects us all —the ability to be grateful and the ability to learn from each other.

So this year, I’m centering my gratitude on those who make a difference in my everyday life here at the Kennedy Center—my daily teachers. I’m grateful for the artists who inspire and challenge, the staff who create opportunities for art to thrive, our volunteers who give so generously of their time, and the members of our Kennedy Center community like you, who fill our theaters with life and my heart with joy.

Being grateful gives us a way to connect not only with those around us, but also with our teachers from the past. On this day in particular, it’s important to recognize the cultures and people who came before us. The Kennedy Center stands on the traditional land of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway peoples past and present. I am grateful for their stewardship of the land, but also grateful for the ability to learn through their culture.

However you are celebrating today, I hope you take a moment to express gratitude for the teachers in your life—no matter what form they may take. From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.