Welcome to November, a month of colder weather, fallen leaves and a natural slowing down—a time to reflect on the year that’s quietly settling into the pages of history.

My name is Riley Brubaker. I’m a freelance journalist, communications generalist, advocate for organ donation and kidney patients, and assistant to the publishers at Natural Awakenings Lancaster/Berks. Before last year, November was just another month on the calendar, one that blurred easily between October and December. But after receiving a kidney transplant in mid-November last year, the month of thanks-giving has taken on a much deeper meaning for me. It’s now a time of immense gratitude.

Whether you’ve experienced a significant life event in November or make gratitude a year-round practice, reflecting on what we’re thankful for benefits us in so many ways. Gratitude can lift our mood and strengthen our resilience in the face of adversity.

Of course, gratitude doesn’t always come easily. If it did, it wouldn’t shape us the way it does.

Sometimes, practicing gratitude feels like searching for meteorites in a night sky speckled with clouds—you catch a glimpse before a cloud covers the light. It’s natural to feel disappointed or frustrated when clouds get in the way of your view. That’s a valid frustration if you’ve awakened at 2 a.m. hoping to see a meteor shower. Even so, in that moment of frustration, you may not notice another meteorite. It could be flickering past just a short distance away.

If gratitude feels hard to find some days, be gentle with yourself. Try looking for your cloud instead. See whether it’s truly hiding that bright star or simply passing by more slowly than you’d like.

We hope this month’s stories inspire you to cultivate gratitude in new ways. Our feature explores strategies for relieving stress and burnout, embracing the rhythm of seasonal living, rediscovering the transformative power of singing, and letting nature restore calm and balance—practical ways to notice and appreciate life’s everyday gifts.

As you navigate this month of giving thanks, may this issue bring a bounty of ideas, encouragement and inspiration to help you continue practicing gratitude through the changing weather and beyond.

And finally, this November marks Natural Awakenings Lancaster/Berks’13th anniversary. We as a team wish to express our deep gratitude to you, our wonderful readers, and to the vibrant community of creators, entrepreneurs and practitioners that bring these stories to life year after year.

With heartfelt thanks,

Riley, Jacqueline, Kendra and the Natural Awakenings Team