Dearest Neighbor,
Here in the United States, this week marks our Thanksgiving holiday—a time traditionally meant to celebrate our harvests, blessings, and the bounty in our lives.
But whether you’re celebrating or not… whether it’s a holiday where you live or simply another Thursday on the calendar… I want to acknowledge something:
For many, this can also be a difficult day.
I know someone dear whose son died on Thanksgiving Day.
And I’m not alone in that awareness.
Countless others move through this week with a heavy heart—navigating a significant Life Loss Event: financial uncertainty or job loss, a new diagnosis, relationship struggles, the death of someone they love deeply, or simply the weight of being human in a world that feels divided and demanding.
In times like these, leaning into gratitude—or any holiday celebration—can feel less like joy and more like… surrender.
And not the gentle kind.
More like surrendering to someone else’s needs, conditions, expectations, or emotional landscape.
As someone who has long associated the word surrender with giving in to another’s will—often through pressure or force—I’ve always preferred a different word:
Acceptance.
Acceptance is one of the 5 Steps of Healing within The Five Facets® Philosophy on Healing.
Acceptance that we cannot go back and rewrite our loss.
Acceptance that we already have everything we need to grieve and heal in our own way.
And yet…
“Surrender” has been showing up in my life in unmistakable ways these past six months.
It’s as if The Universe has been whispering, Look again.
When I was invited to speak at the upcoming Surrender Summit, I realized it was time to explore this word more deeply.
What if surrender isn’t about giving in at all?
What if surrender is really about giving over—to the divine within us?
To our Higher Self?
To our soul’s purpose on this planet?
What if surrender is a softening… a leaning in…
an allowing of what is already inside us to rise and guide?
What if the surrender we’ve been resisting is actually the doorway we’ve been seeking?
As we move through this week—whether in celebration, remembrance, healing, or quiet survival—I invite you to reflect:
What does “surrender” mean to you?
And is there a gentler, more empowering way it could look or feel in your life?
Hit “Reply” and share your thoughts, Neighbor.
And if this resonates, I’d be honored to have you join me and over 15 powerful voices for a free, 3-day virtual experience dedicated to this very exploration:
SURRENDER
A FREE Virtual Summit • December 1–3, 2025 • 1–3pm EST daily
A gathering of REAL stories of surrender—illuminating the presence, strength, and guidance of the Divine.
A space to let go, trust more deeply, and reconnect with peace, purpose, and freedom.
Reserve your seat here.
You can join us from anywhere in the world.
May this week meet you gently, whether you’re celebrating, grieving, remembering, or simply breathing your way through.
Yours in hope, healing, and happiness,
Annah ❤️