The Wellness Compass Initiative

03/02/2026

Join a six-week Wellness Circle facilitated by Holly Hughes Stoner, LMFT, and co-author of the Wellness Compass materials. Each circle meets for 1 hour each week for 6 weeks. Participation is FREE but a sincere commitment to the group is appreciated. Use the links below to register for your preferred date.
Tuesday, APR 7 - May 12, 2026, at Noon (Central time, U.S.)
Wedneday, APR 8 - May 13, 2026, at 4:00 pm (Central time, U.S.)
Wedneday, APR 8 - May 13, 2026, at 6:30 pm (Central time, U.S.)

Sign up at wellnesscompass.org. Go to the green bar at the top of the homepage and click.

The Wellness Compass Initiative creates and produces wellness resources tailored to specific age groups. Click on the images below to learn more about what is available for the populations we support.

02/27/2026

The Courage to Reset: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

Alysa Liu won two Olympic gold medals in figure skating this month at the age of 20. We were both mesmerized by her. Yes, her skating was delightful and amazing to behold, but what left us mesmerized was her spirit—her joy, her presence, and her story.

To start this new year we have been writing a series of articles about change, as many people hope to change something in their life at the beginning of the new year. Alysa Liu embodies one of the most important aspects of change: knowing when it is time to choose to reset.

Any of us can find ourselves on a path that is leading us to a place that doesn't feel good, maybe even to exhaustion and burnout. Perhaps, like Alysa, we are living from the "outside, in," going through the motions—working hard or pursuing a goal at any cost, afraid of what others might think if we don't keep on keeping on. At times like that it can seem easier to just keep doing more of the same. We might even feel too tired to consider a reset.

Knowing when to prioritize one's mental health and having the courage to choose a reset is exactly what moved us about Alysa Liu's story. She became the youngest ever U.S. national champion at age 13 in 2019. She competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics at age 16, finishing sixth.

Shortly after Beijing she announced her decision to step away and retire at age 16—a decision that seemed sure to end any hopes of future success. She chose to prioritize mental health, joy, and overall wellbeing. She took two years off to care for her mental health and to learn what it felt like to be a “normal teenager.” She only came back when she eventually reconnected with her joy for sharing her art with others. In fact, that is how she described her approach to the Milan Olympics. In her own words: "This time just feels so completely different. I know who I am as a person now. And I love my training. It's even really fun, and I am more present for sure, more happy and fun."

Like gold medalist Simone Biles, Alysa has been open about her mental health challenges. Again, in Alysa's own words: "I hope that with all this attention, I can at least raise awareness about mental health and sports, and mental health in general."

For us, we take away several key lessons from Alysa and Simone.

Resting or resetting is not quitting.

Detaching our wellbeing from achievement or our role is essential.

And listening to the whispers and warning signs that a reset is needed—and then having the courage to act on them—is crucial.

Here's one final quote from her: "I think my story is pretty cool, so I hope that it inspires some people as well."

We think her story is indeed pretty cool, and it serves as a reminder for all of us to wonder if there is something we are doing right now that might benefit from stepping back or some kind of reset—not as defeat, but as an act of wisdom and self-care.
*Photo of Alysa Liu Credit: By YantsImages - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=184533407

On our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

02/13/2026

Love as Practice: Beyond the Feelings of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day invites us to celebrate love with cards, flowers, and chocolates—gestures that honor the warm feelings we have for the people we care about. Feelings are an important aspect of love, but love is so much more than that. What sustains love through ordinary days, difficult seasons, and genuine hardship?

This week, nineteen Buddhist monks completed a 2,300-mile walk from Texas to Washington, D.C., covering over twenty miles each day for 108 days. Some walked barefoot. Some nights they slept in tents in the midst of freezing weather. Early in their journey, their es**rt vehicle was struck by a distracted driver, and one monk lost his leg. Rather than responding with anger or litigation, the monks offered compassion and continued their pilgrimage.

Their journey teaches us something essential: love is not primarily a feeling. Love is an embodied practice—a decision we make again and again through our actions.
American scholar and author bell hooks wrote that, "Love is an act of will—namely, both an intention and an action." She insisted that love requires care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust. These aren't emotions that wash over us. They're disciplines we can choose to cultivate, day after difficult day.

This understanding has for centuries appeared across wisdom traditions as well. In the Bible, for example, in 1 Corinthians 13, love is described not as a feeling but as a series of actions: love is patient, love is kind, love does not keep a record of wrongs. These are choices, not sentiments. They require intention and practice.

The monks' walk demonstrates this truth beautifully. When faced with injury and loss, they couldn’t rely solely on positive feelings to carry them forward. They instead relied on their commitment to peace—a commitment expressed through every mindful step, every tent pitched in the cold, every encounter with strangers along the highway.

Their example has profound implications for our relationships. When we understand love as practice rather than feeling, we stop waiting for the emotion to show up before we act lovingly. We show up for our partner even when we're frustrated. We offer kindness to our children even when we're exhausted. We extend compassion to
ourselves even when we feel unworthy of it.

Love as practice means recognizing that the small, unglamorous choices matter most: listening when we'd rather talk, pausing before reacting, choosing forgiveness over resentment, showing up consistently rather than dramatically. These daily disciplines build the foundation that feelings alone cannot sustain.

So this Valentine's Day, by all means celebrate with flowers and chocolates. But also ask yourself: What loving actions will I practice even when the warm, affectionate feelings aren't always there? How will I embody love even when it costs me something? What am I willing to walk twenty miles a day for?

The monks teach us that love sustained over 2,300 miles isn't about warm feelings. It's about faithful practice. Step by step. Day by day. Choice by choice.

That's the love that endures.

On our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

01/30/2026

Start With Why - column and podcast

In our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column below, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

Most attempts to make a change will fail if they are not connected to a clear "why"—a clear reason for making the change. The "why" is the root system that grounds and nurtures change. Without a strong root system, most attempts at change will wither or die out altogether. For example, if a person makes a New Year’s resolution simply because it’s the popular thing to do, there is a good chance that resolution won’t stick. If, however, a resolution is grounded in a compelling why, it has a much greater chance of lasting.

Author Simon Sinek writes extensively about change. He says most people focus only on the "what" and "how" of a change they want to make, and forget the most essential part—connecting with their "why." For example, a person might decide they want to spend less time on their screens. That's their "what." They may even have a "how"—a plan for doing this. But unless they articulate the deeper "why," their attempt to limit screen time will likely be short-lived. If, however, they can identify why they want to spend less time on screens—to connect more meaningfully with others, pursue other activities, or get more sleep—then there's a greater chance they'll make a lasting change.

All great leaders inspire and facilitate change with a clear "why." Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who passed away in 2021, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless work to end apartheid in South Africa. The “why” that kept him going, even when facing seemingly insurmountable barriers, was his belief that all people are created equal and that the freedom and dignity of every individual must be affirmed and honored. What he did and how he did it evolved and adapted to changing circumstances, but his "why" never wavered. His “why” sustained him his entire life. Such is the power of knowing and connecting with our deeper "why."

This principle has guided a significant change in our own work. Before COVID, our main strategy for our nonprofit Wellness Compass Initiative centered on creating print resources and traveling around the country doing in-person trainings. This approach was effective and personally rewarding, and while it helped us reach thousands of people, its scalability was limited. When COVID hit, we were forced to pivot—developing digital downloads and moving all our trainings and meetings online. Initially, we made these changes simply because circumstances required it.

But here's where the "why" became essential. As the world reopened, we faced a choice: return to our familiar pre-COVID methods or embrace the challenging work of continuing to grow these new digital strategies. We could have easily justified going back to what we knew best. Instead, we chose to press forward with learning new technologies like podcasting and expanding our digital reach. Why? Because our deeper purpose has always been to expand access to wellness resources for as many people as possible.

The changes have been challenging. There's a learning curve to new technology, and we miss the warmth of in-person gatherings. But our reach has expanded in ways we never imagined. Now we are reaching many tens of thousands of people Before COVID, we ran Wellness Circles in person in our local geographic area. Now we facilitate five times as many Wellness Circles, regularly welcoming participants from Europe, South America, and other parts of the world, as well as people just down the street from where we live and work. Our "why"—making high quality wellness resources accessible to organizations and individuals who need them—gave us the motivation to persist through the challenges that change always brings.

Making It Personal

Can you think of a change you have already made in your life that was fueled by a clear “why”? How did it go?

Is there a change you want to make, or are making now, that would be strengthened by connecting it more clearly to a “why"?

What is your "why" for the change you are aspiring to make and how might identifying that help motivate to stick with it?

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

01/16/2026

Listening for a Change (Part 1 of an Updated 6-Part Series on Understanding Growth & Change)

Four years ago, we wrote a series of six columns about the process of change—how it starts, what keeps it going, and why it's often so hard. Since then, people have regularly asked us to share information from those columns again. As marriage and family therapists who've spent decades working with individuals, couples, families, and organizations, we've learned that understanding how change actually works is key to making the changes we want to make. So we decided it was time to update this series. For the next six columns (and podcasts), we'll look at how change begins with listening, the stages we go through, what keeps us stuck, and what helps change last. So, if you're thinking about a change or already in the middle of one, we hope this series is helpful.

Whether or not we make New Year's resolutions, a lot of us take stock of our lives this time of year. We pause and ask ourselves if there are changes we want to make. The turning of the calendar invites us to think about what in our lives needs attention. What might need to shift or grow?

One idea we've found to be helpful—both in our own lives and with our clients—is what we call "listening to the whispers." It's pretty simple: all meaningful change begins with listening. Often a desire or need for change first shows up as a whisper, a quiet feeling that something's not quite right. The whisper might sound like:

"I'm feeling disconnected from _______. I'm not sure how to fix that, and honestly, I'm afraid to take the first step, but I know it's time."
"I used to make time for ________, and I really miss that. I want to find a way to bring it back."
"The pace of my life is wearing me out. I can feel it in my body, and I want to do something about it before I burn out."
"My relationship with alcohol (or screens, or work, or shopping) has changed in ways that worry me. I want to address this now, while I still can."
"This job doesn't fit who I'm becoming anymore. I'm going to start looking at what else is out there."
"I feel called to get more involved in what's happening in my community. I'm going to talk to people who are already doing the kind of work I want to do."
"There are things in our family we keep avoiding. I think we could be stronger if we started being more honest with each other."
"I keep hearing people talk about meditation and how much it helps them. I'm curious about what that might do for me."

That inner voice, that whisper that something needs to change, is easy to ignore. After all, it's only a whisper. But here's what we've noticed: when a whisper goes unheeded, it doesn't just go away. The pattern we see again and again is that the whisper gets louder. Gradually our inner voice starts to shout. And what happens if we don't listen even then? Eventually something breaks through—a consequence, maybe even a crisis—something we can't ignore anymore.

When it comes to taking care of ourselves and our relationships, we need to learn to listen to these hints. Healthy people, couples, families, leaders, and organizations do this regularly. They take honest looks in the mirror. And because they know they can still fool themselves, they ask for honest feedback from people they trust. They create ways to get feedback so they can adapt and respond to warning signs. But it all starts with being willing to let our lives speak to us and actually listening to what wants and/or needs to change.

Our lives are always speaking to us. Together, let’s commit to listening to what they might be saying.

And speaking of change, we are making a small change with the frequency of our Wellness Column and Podcast. Due to other new initiatives that we are working on (more about that later!), we will be moving from a weekly format to an every other week format. So look for our next column and podcast in two weeks, and every other week thereafter. And please note that this change came from a “whisper” that reminded us that our bandwidth has limits and that we can’t develop new initiatives without making space for the energy they require!

Making It Personal—These questions can help you listen more closely to what your life might be saying right now:

1. What do you think about the idea that all meaningful change begins with listening?
2. Can you think of a time when you listened to a whisper in your life, and it led to something good?
3. Listening to your life right now, what's one change that's calling for your attention as we start this new year?

In the weeks ahead, we'll explore the stages of change, what helps transformation stick, and how to work with resistance—both the kind inside us and the kind from others. We're looking forward to this journey with you.

In our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

01/09/2026

Join a six-week Adult Wellness Circle facilitated by Holly Hughes Stoner, LMFT, and co-author of the Wellness Compass materials. Each circle meets for 1 hour each week for 6 weeks. Participation is FREE, but a sincere commitment to the group is appreciated.
The times are below.
Tuesday, JAN 13, 2026, at Noon (Central time, U.S.)
Wedneday, JAN 14, 2026, at 4 pm (Central time, U.S.)
Wedneday, JAN 14, 2026, at 6:30 pm (Central time, U.S.)
Go to wellnesscompass.org to sign up.

The Wellness Compass Initiative creates and produces wellness resources tailored to specific age groups. Click on the images below to learn more about what is available for the populations we support.

12/19/2025

Sharing Light in the Darkness

In the 1990’s, there was a children’s show on the Nickelodeon Network that our children and we loved, called Are You Afraid of the Dark? One thing that made the show special was that it was just scary enough, without being terrifying. We find ourselves thinking about that show now as we in the Northern Hemisphere approach the darkest night of the year. There is a lot of fear, a lot of scary things happening in the world, things that can seem dark and overwhelming at times.

As therapists, we find ourselves invited into so many conversations these days about how can one find and how can one be light in the midst of the very real darkness we are seeing in the world.

Fortunately, we are not the first people to encounter this struggle. Each of the world’s spiritual traditions offers wisdom on finding hope, love, and peace—light—in the midst of the darkness of suffering, injustice, and violence.

A few years ago, we lost power in our house for several days due to an ice storm. As disruptive as that experience was, we discovered a lesson that has stayed with us. We discovered the difference a single candle can make in a pitch-black room. This experience has stayed with us, especially during difficult times when tragedy strikes our communities or violence erupts in our world. Like many of us, we sometimes feel overwhelmed by the darkness around us, uncertain where to turn or what to do. But then we remember the difference that one small candle, one small light can make.

There's an old saying: "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." For us now, lighting one candle means doing something kind and loving for someone else—some act of service that brings a small amount of light into their world and, little by little, helps brighten our world as a whole.

Here's what's remarkable about sharing light: when you have a lit candle and reach out to light someone else's candle, it in no way diminishes your own light. Unlike money or material resources, we can share the light of hope, love, and kindness with countless others, and still have own light which can continue to burn just as brightly.

As we celebrate the upcoming holidays, may we all commit to being candles of light, spreading love and kindness to all we encounter. The darkness is real and powerful, but the power of love and light is greater still.

Making It Personal:

1. When have you experienced someone lighting a candle of hope for you during a dark time? How did their act of kindness change your perspective or situation?

2. What small act of love or service could you offer this week to bring light into someone else's world?

3. What helps you remember that sharing your light with others doesn't diminish your own? How might this understanding change the way you approach generosity this season?

In our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

12/12/2025

The Spirit (and Neuroscience) of Generosity

The holidays are a time for gift giving and generosity. Nonprofits receive more donations of both money and volunteer hours this time of year than at any other time. With that in mind, we offer a few thoughts on practicing generosity—not just during the holidays, but all year long.

Our Brains Are Wired for Generosity

The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in their book entitled The Book of Joy, remind us that generosity is fundamental by saying the following, "Generosity is so important in all of the world's religions because it no doubt expresses a fundamental aspect of our interdependence and our need for one another. Generosity was so important for our survival that the reward centers of our brain light up as strongly when we give as when we receive, sometimes even more so.” Modern neuroscience confirms this ancient wisdom. We are literally hardwired for generosity.

Our Gifts Can Go Beyond the Material

While material gifts can be meaningful, many of the most significant forms of generosity often cost nothing. The gift of presence—truly listening to someone who needs to be heard—activate our neural reward pathways. So does offering forgiveness, sharing a burden, or bearing witness to another's joy or pain. These exchanges of care create the web of interdependence that sustains us.

Hospitality Can Be a Gift

A friend recently shared a formative memory. Every Christmas, her parents invited people they knew who were alone to join them for dinner—someone from work, a neighbor, someone from church. She said those experiences taught her more about the meaning of the holidays than any material gift she ever received.

Generosity Transforms Hearts

How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Christmas Carol are beloved because both the Grinch and Scrooge are transformed by embracing joy and generosity. Hearts that were two sizes too small become enlarged.

This holiday season, let’s commit to practicing generosity in all its forms as we give warmth freely, receive graciously, and notice how both nourish our connections with others.

Making It Personal:

1. Think of a time when someone offered you the gift of their presence—truly listening or simply staying with you through something difficult. What made that moment meaningful? How did it feel?

2. Like the Grinch or Scrooge, where in your life right now might you be resisting generosity (think time, attention, forgiveness, or resources)? What would it feel like if you worked so that part of your heart grew larger?

3. If you were to create your own ritual of generosity—whether during holidays or throughout the year—what would it look like? Who might you include, and what would you want others to feel from witnessing this practice?

In our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

12/05/2025

The Power of Enough: Finding Contentment in a Culture of More

In our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

We live in a culture that constantly tells us that we need more, especially as we approach the holidays. More success, more possessions, more activities, more social media likes, more achievements, more of everything. We don't know about you, but the constant striving leaves us exhausted, anxious, and spiritually depleted. There is another choice, though. We can embrace a different mindset, one we call the power of "enough." Here are four thoughts on what the power of "enough" looks like and how we can embrace it.

How the mindset of "never enough" negatively impacts our mental health. The psychology of scarcity can have a significant impact on our well-being. We end up feeling like we never have enough or that we never are enough. We also start to believe that everyone else seems to have "enough," or at least more than what we have. It's so easy to find ourselves on the treadmill of never enough that we don't even realize that we are on it.

We are all familiar with the story of the half a glass of water and the question of whether it is half full or half empty. A third option is that the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. In this metaphor, the glass represents our desires to have more. Once we learn to scale down the size of our desires, we will experience more fullness with what we already have.

Chasing after external validation ultimately leaves us feeling empty. Wisdom teachers across traditions remind us that we're already complete, already beloved, already whole. When we chase external validation to fill an internal void, we're looking in the wrong direction. All religions teach that a life of meaning and happiness isn't based on an abundance of possessions and offer invitations to recognize the fullness already present in this moment and in what we already have.

There are things we can do each day to cultivate the belief that we already have enough. Here are a few ideas. Begin and/or end each day with a simple moment of gratitude. Pause and be thankful. Sit quietly and notice what's already here: your breath, a roof over your head, the beauty of nature, and the kindness of others. When you notice the desire for "more" arising, pause and ask: "What if I already have enough? What if I already am enough?"

Living from abundance rather than scarcity is a choice we need to make continuously. When we're not desperately grasping for more, we can live from genuine appreciation rather than anxious striving. We can give more generously, rest more deeply, and love more freely.

The power of "enough" isn't about having less—it's about being more present, more peaceful, and more content.

Making It Personal:

Does the holiday season create stress around not having enough or feeling not enough? Reflect on specific areas—work, relationships, possessions, achievements—where you feel the pull of "more." What does this striving cost you emotionally and spiritually?
What would change in your daily life if you truly believed, "I am enough," and "I have enough"?

When have you experienced a moment of genuine contentment—a time when you felt delighted with what was present? What conditions made that possible? How might you cultivate more of those conditions in your life, especially during this holiday season?

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.

11/21/2025

Beyond Thank You: Four Insights About Gratitude from an Unexpected Vista

The two of us went on a hike the other day. It was a beautiful late Wisconsin fall day. We had chosen a large state protected area we'd never explored before, and as we switchbacked up a ridge, we had no idea we were about to experience gratitude in its truest form.

Turned around at the top, we were overwhelmed with the unexpected view we now had looking out over the Wisconsin River. The sun was hitting the river at just the perfect angle causing the flowing water to glisten magnificently. Without a word being said we both stopped in our tracks and silently breathed in the view. After a minute both of us declared how grateful we were to be there to enjoy the special moment. Standing still for a moment, our bodies had minds of their own and knew the appropriate response to that experience of overwhelming gratitude.

As we continued our hike, we found ourselves appreciating people we would never meet—the conservationists who fought to protect that land, the trail builders who carved those switchbacks, the park staff who maintain the paths. Our moment of beauty and gratitude was made possible by countless others who cared enough to preserve this place.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we keep thinking about our hike and what it taught us about deeper understanding of gratitude. Here are four insights we're carrying forward:

1. Real gratitude is embodied, not just intellectual. It moves through our whole being—physical, emotional, and spiritual. When gratitude is genuine, it shows up in our bodies, not just our minds. Watch for those moments when thankfulness moves you to stop, gesture, to extend a hand, or to offer a touch that physically expresses what words alone cannot capture.

2. Gratitude emerges from wonder and awe. While it’s important to teach children to say “thank you,” gratitude is much more than good manners or something we “should" express. Authentic gratitude comes from being thankful for the sheer gift of existence, for beauty we didn't create, and for the shared good of people known and unknown to us. It's about letting ourselves be humbled by moments that remind us how extraordinary ordinary life can be.

3. Gratitude reveals our profound interconnectedness. Almost nothing we experience comes from our efforts alone. When we trace backward from any moment of joy or beauty, we discover countless hands—seen and unseen—that made it possible. We live within an intricate web of giving and receiving that stretches across time and space.

4. Gratitude inspires us to share. When we recognize how our experiences depend on others' care and commitment, we're inspired to become those people for others. Gratitude isn't passive—it awakens us to our role as both recipients and stewards. Metaphorically, what trails do we want to build for others?

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you may find your own moments where wonder breaks through the ordinary and gratitude rises spontaneously.

Making It Personal:

1. When has gratitude moved through your whole being—not just your mind? Describe a moment when thankfulness expressed itself physically. What does it feel like when you experience authentic gratitude versus polite thank-yous?

2. Recall a recent moment of wonder or awe. How did that experience connect you to something larger than yourself? Did that experience inspire gratitude in you?

3. Choose one thing you're grateful for this Thanksgiving. Trace the web of interconnection backward: Who made this possible? Whose work, whose love, whose choices? How does seeing this network of interdependence enhance your feeling of gratitude?

We will be traveling for Thanksgiving, and so our column and podcast will return in two weeks.

In our Wellness Compass podcast, a companion offering to this column, we expand on the column's topic each week. Listen at www.wellnesscompass.org/podcast or by searching for “Wellness Compass” in your favorite podcast app.

This column and podcast are offerings of the non-profit Wellness Compass Initiative, www.wellnesscompass.org. It is written by two licensed marriage and family therapists, Holly Hughes Stoner and Scott Stoner, LMFTs, who are partners in life and work.