Dear John --

One of my favorite things to do at the Thanksgiving table is to have everyone share something they are grateful for from the year. I have found that a daily practice of gratitude can be a powerful source of strength and happiness.

This year, as I host my first Thanksgiving, I am grateful for my beautiful mother, who will be right by my side, showing me how to actually cook a turkey and make gravy (I'm pretty confident that I can handle the rest of the meal).

While this may seem like a fairly routine thing to be grateful for, there were many years when my mom didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with her children like she would have liked because of the marriage she was in – one that kept her isolated from her children and even unable to get a cellphone in her own name without permission.

My mom and I at her 70th birthday party. An old gratitude list I wrote in 2012.

Why do I share this? Because I think it’s important to share the hard things, the uncomfortable truths that cause great harm when left unspoken and hidden. It’s why I will never stop fighting so hard for women and survivors. I am grateful to my mom for showing me such strength, that she now lives close by, and that she can spend every holiday with her children and grandchildren as she likes.

In this spirit of Thanksgiving, I am curious to know what you are grateful for – your experiences, your concerns, your insights. Your input is invaluable, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside you as we fight for safer communities, greater accountability from our government, and a brighter future for our children.

We have a lot to be grateful for here in San Francisco, and I am grateful for all of you and the opportunity to be of service. May you have a very happy Thanksgiving.

In gratitude,

Catherine

Catherine Stefani for Assembly 2024
https://www.votecatherinestefani.com/