Thankful for Connection

As we begin this week leading up to Thanksgiving, I’ve been reflecting on connection and gratitude.

I just returned from the PLMA conference, an annual event for private label manufacturers, retailers, and service providers. It’s a gathering I’ve attended for over 25 years, and it remains a highlight of my year for many reasons. It’s inspiring, feels like a college reunion, and offers a chance to reconnect with people I admire and care about but may only see once a year.

PLMA always falls the week before Thanksgiving, a time when gratitude naturally comes to mind. This year, I’m especially thankful for meaningful connections.

There’s something profound about catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a year and picking up right where you left off. It’s the kind of connection that feels like a soul-deep hug, reminding you why human interaction matters so much.

For many of us who work virtually, face-to-face interactions are rare. I find myself craving them. Meeting someone in person whom you’ve only known through a computer screen—it changes everything. It’s fascinating and deeply rewarding.

Business occupies a significant portion of our lives—perhaps a third, or even more if you’re a workaholic. Why not make that time meaningful? Why not work with people you truly connect with, share a meal or drink, and create those bonds that energize and inspire you?

This year at PLMA, I didn’t get to spend as much time with everyone as I would’ve liked, but I made it a point to be fully present with those I did see. And for that, I am grateful.

This Thanksgiving, and every day moving forward, I am thankful for the people who inspire me, challenge me, and support me.

I am thankful for connection.

Let’s not wait for an annual conference or a holiday dedicated to gratitude to reach out and connect.

Let’s make it a habit.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays.