Discover heart-centered Holiday travel tips, relationship wisdom, and ways to make this season meaningful for you and your loved ones.

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I took a class about a year ago, and last Friday night my husband and I went to a wonderful gathering where I finally got to put what I learned into practice. We played pickleball for the first time—and the awesome part was that most of the players were newbies just like us! We didn’t care much about the rules; we were simply there to have fun. My cheeks actually hurt from laughing so much.

There were about forty guests, and a nice buffet was set up for everyone. But the best part wasn’t the food—it was what everyone in that room had in common.

As we were leaving, I wondered if the staff who catered the dinner realized who they were serving that evening. People who desperately needed a night off. People who sometimes don’t sleep or eat enough, yet still give their all, day after day. I wondered if they knew how many of the caregivers there care for beautiful souls who require tender, patient love. If they understood how much it meant for some guests to simply laugh and let their worries go, even for just a couple of hours.

It truly was an honor to attend such a beautiful evening dedicated to parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities. With November being Caregivers Awareness Month, this felt like the perfect way to celebrate.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I keep thinking about the caregivers I am blessed to know. They are some of the most caring and resilient people you will ever meet. They quietly and gently fight battles that many can’t see or imagine. Caregivers advocate, protect, serve, nurture, and love with their whole hearts—even when things get incredibly hard.

To every caregiver reading this—whether you care for a loved one or do this as your profession—thank you.

Thank you for your strength.
Thank you for your compassion.
Thank you for showing up every day with your big, courageous, caregiving heart.

You are seen. You are appreciated. And you make the world a better place.

Introducing our new logo, created to honor Caregivers throughout the world who embrace individuals impacted by autism.

Holiday travel doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. With a little planning, flexibility, and plenty of grace, you can create moments of connection that your family will remember long after the season ends. Wherever you’re headed, choose joy, notice the small wins, and give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the journey.

This season, try one new travel tip from this list and make it your own. And if you discover something that works especially well for your family, share it with me—I’d love to include your ideas in a future Travel Well edition!

A week from today is Thanksgiving, and soon after comes a parade of celebrations and holidays. This time of year fills many families with joy—but it can also bring stress, tension, or complicated emotions. I’ve heard so many comments over the years about how hard the holidays can feel because of different family dynamics.

Recently, I was reminded of a TED Talk by Dr. Robert Waldinger, often called “The Doctor of Happiness.” His insights struck me deeply, and with the holidays approaching, I felt inspired to share a short summary. My hope is that it gives you strength, encouragement, and maybe even a new perspective as you navigate family relationships in the coming weeks.

For me, his message was a beautiful reminder of what happiness truly means—and how much power we have to shape our experiences, even when circumstances aren’t perfect.

If you’ve ever wondered what truly keeps us healthy and happy over a lifetime, the longest-running study on adult life has a clear answer: good relationships.
Not wealth, success, or fame—just meaningful human connection.

For 75 years, researchers followed 724 people from their teenage years into their 80s and 90s, tracking their health, happiness, work, stress, and family life. Decades of data all point to the same powerful truth:

People who feel connected to family, friends, and community are happier, physically healthier, and live longer.
Loneliness, on the other hand—whether in a crowd or even in a marriage—takes a heavy toll on both body and mind.

Warm, supportive relationships protect our health.
High-conflict or emotionally cold relationships harm it—sometimes more than divorce.

At age 50, the best predictor of who would be a happy, healthy 80-year-old wasn’t cholesterol or income…
It was relationship satisfaction.

People who feel they can count on their partner in their 80s have sharper memories and cope with physical pain more positively.
Even couples who bicker stay strong if they trust each other when it counts.

No matter your age—25, 40, 60, or beyond—“leaning in” to relationships can be simple:

As Mark Twain wisely said:
“There isn’t time for bickering… There is only time for loving.”

The good life isn’t built on success or status.
The good life is built with good relationships.

As we move into Thanksgiving—a holiday centered on gratitude, togetherness, and reflection—Dr. Waldinger’s message feels especially meaningful. The good life isn’t found in achieving more…it’s found in appreciating and nurturing the relationships right in front of us.

Choose one simple way to strengthen a relationship that matters to you. It could be:

Small moments of connection can transform family gatherings and uplift the people we love most.

This Thanksgiving, let’s create a little more presence, a little more kindness, and a little more connection.
Our future selves—and our families—will thank us.

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