In this Thanksgiving-week episode, James reflects on the seasons when gratitude comes easily and the seasons when it feels nearly impossible, inviting listeners to explore what it means to practice thankfulness when life is heavy. He encourages gentle self-compassion, naming the inner obstacles that block gratitude, and slowly loosening the grip on pain, fear, or grief rather than forcing a sense of thankfulness. Drawing from his own mixed year of profound joy and deep loss, he reminds listeners that tending to their inner struggle is itself a form of gratitude—a way of honoring the gift of their own life. With tenderness and honesty, he reassures those finding gratitude difficult that they are not alone, that they are infinitely precious, and that giving themselves space to simply be where they are is enough.
