Every November, we kick off the holiday season by celebrating Thanksgiving. It is an occasion rooted not only in gratitude but in the enduring human desire to build a better life. The very first Thanksgiving, which occurred in 1621, wasn’t simply a harvest festival; it was the culmination of a daring financial and personal venture taken by a small group of people who believed that across the ocean was their chance for freedom, prosperity, and self-determination.
The Pilgrims left England because they were chasing something deeply familiar to us today: opportunity. They risked their lives and endured brutal uncertainty by crossing the Atlantic in search of a place where their efforts, not their birthright, would define their future.
They arrived in a harsh new world and their first winter in 1620 cost them nearly everything, as nearly half of them died during those first brutal months from cold, disease, and lack of food. Yet, with the help of Squanto and the Wampanoag people, the Pilgrims slowly adapted to this new environment. A year later, after their first successful harvest, they paused for a time of gratitude that became the foundation of our national holiday.
Four hundred years later, the essence of their journey still shapes the economic aspirations of millions of Americans. Thanksgiving reminds us that although the pursuit of a better life is fraught with difficulties and obstacles, America continues to be a nation where hard work often leads to success, a place where building relationships can open doors, and where resilience is rewarded.
As we gather around our tables this week, I would encourage you to reflect not just on the abundance of what we have, but on what it represents. The first Thanksgiving teaches us that prosperity is rarely an accident. It usually comes as a result of courage, determination, community, and good stewardship. These are the same principles that guide sound financial planning.
As you think about your goals for the year ahead, consider the spirit of those early settlers: bold enough to dream, disciplined enough to build, and grateful for the opportunities that enabled them to thrive. In that sense, Thanksgiving is not just a celebration of the past; it’s an invitation to keep pursuing the future we desire.
(Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The advice is general in nature and not intended for specific situations)