We can only see the stars when the sky is dark

You know those old-timey photos where everyone's gathered around a candlelit table, faces glowing with warmth? That's exactly what our first Thanksgiving in our new home felt like – though not entirely by choice.

Picture this: Our dearest friends (the ones who used to be just-next-door neighbors) had journeyed across the water by ferry to keep our years-long tradition alive. The table was set, the views were stunning, and everything was perfect. Then – click – darkness. The universe, apparently, had its own plans for our cooking schedule.

But here's where it gets interesting.

Those 5½ hours without power were a gift wrapped in darkness, tied with a bow of unexpected magic. Thank goodness for Past Me, who had already done the dance of advance preparation. (Future Me sends endless gratitude for that foresight.)

Sometimes life hands us cold turkey – literally. And sometimes that's exactly what we need to create something unforgettable.

There we were, like our ancestors (okay, maybe with slightly better amenities), finding creative ways to warm food, sharing stories in the dimming light, and learning that sometimes the best memories are made when plans go sideways.

It reminds me of how sailors navigate by the stars – they can only do so when darkness falls. Sometimes we need our carefully laid plans to go dark to see the true constellation of what matters: friendship that crosses water, love that can run on backup generators, and the kind of bonds that make any space feel like home.

The electricity came back eventually (just in time for bed, thank you very much), but the magic of those unplanned hours? That's permanently wired into our new home's history now.

So here's to planning ahead, yes. But more importantly, here's to those moments when life unplugs us from our plans and plugs us into something far more precious: the raw, unfiltered joy of being together, making do, and finding light in the darkness.

Aransas

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Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode of The Uplifters Podcast is headed your way on Thursday. This one features

Claude Silver

. Claude is the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia. She's a motivational speaker, podcaster, and industry trendsetter who focuses on using empathy and emotional optimism to create cultures of belonging and high performance.

Claude was nominated by her BFF, Gail Tifford. Click below to hear her story.

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