In this heartfelt and illuminating episode, Dr. Maria explores two deceptively simple but profoundly impactful gifts: thankfulness and gratitude. As we enter the season of light, she invites listeners to reflect on these practices not merely as holiday traditions, but as pathways to transformation.

Dr. Maria unpacks the difference between change and transformation, reminding us that transformation reshapes how we see our lives at their core. Through stories, cultural traditions, and spiritual wisdom, she guides us to understand how gratitude can soften our days, reveal what sustains us, and rekindle our inner light.

Dr. Maria invites you to take part in four simple but powerful practices to bring more light into your daily life:

1. Acknowledge one person each day
   Name specifically how their presence made your life easier, kinder, or more meaningful.
    
2. Write down one thing you’re grateful for each evening
   Especially something that didn’t require perfect conditions.
    
3. Offer a gesture of thankfulness
   A short note, a brief voicemail, or a genuine “I appreciate what you did for me.”
    
4. Share your gratitude around the table
   Let the people in your life know, in a way they can truly absorb, how thankful you are for their presence.

Tune in to see how these practices help light seep quietly into your everyday life, softening the edges of your days and opening your heart.