The things I’m most grateful for are...

This week marks the start of Thanksgiving for millions of Americans around the world as well as the millions of non-US citizens living abroad. This might surprise a few people, but Thanksgiving is my absolute *favorite* holiday. And as many of my team, partners and customers head out to celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones I wanted to share why this holiday celebration is so special to me. So, here’s my '3-for-3:' 3 reasons Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday celebration, 3 Thanksgiving holiday traditions, and 3 things I am thankful for this year:?

3 reasons Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday celebration

1.Time with Family. For all the glitz and glam of things like Christmas you just can’t beat the authenticity of Thanksgiving. For me the simplicity of spending time with my family and friends, reflecting and expressing gratitude for so many of the great things in life is priceless. (Did you know that one of the longest-standing pieces of research on happiness found a strong connection between happiness and close relationships with for example spouses, family & friends?! Here's some of my family getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.)

2. Time away from screens. I’ll admit it I’m not the world’s best cook (though I am slowly improving.) But I do enjoy the process of putting Thanksgiving dinner together. My sister Lisa is an amazing entertainer, I am “known” for my appetizers and as my boys are getting older, they are willing to put down screens and come get creative in the kitchen with me...luckily they're not getting creative in my kitchen this year!!

3. Time in nature.?I’m blessed to live among the Redwood trees outside of San Francisco. Most years, we do a family hike on Mount Tamalpais. We do count our steps, calories burned, but mostly it's fun, great views, and a chance to feel healthy before overeating begins.

3 Family Thanksgiving traditions

1. Share gratitude. Like many, we tend to go around the meal table and share what we’re grateful for that year.?My kids tease me endlessly, but it’s hard not to get sappy when I see my parents, my siblings, my children, and some friends we “adopt” all so lucky to share this holiday.

2. Football. Though I’m nowhere near as crazy as my Dad or sons, the Thanksgiving football tradition is strong in my family. Since I was a little girl, I’ve gone to 49ers games with my Dad, and watching football before and after the meal is just part of the detaching from work, email, and responsibilities (below Dad, Elliot, and I at a 49ers game.)

3. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. ?Like millions, the floats, creativity, and togetherness of the Macy’s Parade are fun to watch. Of course, with my retail passion, the history of the parade to kick-off shopping and the spirit of the holidays is not lost on me.

3 things I’m thankful for

1.Family: Family has always been the thing I treasure most in the world. I am grateful for Phil, my parents, sisters, Flash the dog, and of course, the crazy teenagers that keep me young AND old at the same time.

2. My Microsoft team: My team RCG (Retail and Consumer Goods) sets the standard every day for collaboration, pushing through barriers, and innovating. It’s been so long since many of us have seen each other in person, some we’ve never met, but in some ways, we're stronger than EVER.

3. Science and Vaccines: Last year we ate outdoors and were socially distanced. This year, my dad can carve Turkey and my Aunt Jenny and her sons are flying in from NY. We can be together again. So, I am grateful for science, the scientists and the vaccines that allow us to be together again.

For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, I wish you a truly wonderful time with your close ones. And I hope to hear from as many of you as possible as you share what you like about this time of the year, your own traditions, and what you’re grateful for in 2021.?

Happy Thanksgiving and Go 49ers!!