November Reflections: 11 Things I’m Grateful-Thankful For in 2025

As the year winds down and the air turns crisp, November calls us to reflect—not just on what we’ve gained, but on what we’ve lost, what we’ve learned, and how we’ve grown. Gratitude this year didn’t come easy. It came through grief, through stretching, through surrender. But it came. And I’m honoring it.

Here are 11 things I appreciated, took for granted, or gave more attention to in 2025:

1. Grief That Transformed Me

I lost three loved ones this year. Two people close to me lost two of their own. Grief didn’t ask permission—it arrived unannounced and stayed longer than expected. But it taught me how to honor memory, how to sit with sorrow, and how to let healing be holy.

2. Prioritizing My Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health

I stopped pretending I was okay. I gave myself permission to feel, to rest, to seek help. I leaned into therapy, prayer, journaling, and quiet. Healing became my ministry, and I’m grateful for the strength it took to choose it.

3. Walking Boldly in My Gifts

I let go of shrinking. I stopped apologizing for the anointing on my life. I honored God by showing up fully in my writing, my leadership, my creativity. I walked boldly, and I’m grateful for the courage to be seen.

4. Loving on Strangers

I extended kindness to people I didn’t know. A smile, a prayer, a moment of compassion. I saw God in unexpected places—in grocery lines, inboxes, and quiet conversations. I’m thankful for divine encounters that reminded me we’re never truly alone.

5. Saying “Yes” to Helping More

I said yes to new opportunities. Yes, to helping more. Yes, to stretching myself in unfamiliar ways. Yes, to being used for the betterment of others. I’m grateful for the growth that came from obedience.

6. Legacy Work That Will Outlive Me

I gave more attention to the things that will remain—my writing, my nonprofit, my outreach. I asked hard questions: What will they remember? What will they carry? I’m thankful for the clarity that came when I focused on legacy.

7. Creating Sacred Spaces for Healing

I built spaces—online and offline—where people could breathe, cry, laugh, and heal. I’m grateful for every soul who found refuge in something I created.

8. Stewarding My Creativity

I didn’t merely create; I curated with purpose. Every edit was made with intention, and each design was crafted with a legacy in mind. I am grateful for the discipline to honor the details and recognize the sacredness of the message I convey.

9. Faith That Carried Me

When nothing made sense, faith did. I leaned into God harder than ever. I’m grateful for the quiet whispers that reminded me I was still called, still covered, still chosen.

10. Community That Held Me

From friends who checked in to collaborators who showed up, I felt held. I’m thankful for the people who didn’t let me drown in my own silence.

11. The Beauty of Becoming

I’m not who I was in January. And I won’t be who I am now, come December. I’m grateful for the becoming—the messy, miraculous, holy becoming.

This November, I find myself not just in a state of gratitude; I am deeply grounded in the essence of what it means to appreciate the journey of life. My thanks extend beyond mere words; I am transformed by the experiences and lessons that have shaped me. Each moment of reflection serves as a steppingstone toward a more profound understanding of myself and the world around me.

As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, may your own reflections guide you toward healing, igniting a spark of hope within your heart. Embrace the courage to be bold in your pursuits, allowing the transformative power of gratitude to inspire you. Let this season be a reminder that through introspection and connection, we can emerge stronger and more resilient.