FOUNDER’S TAKE NO.4
NATALIJA DEDIC STOJANOVIC | MIAMI BEACH | 11.27.24
"Be grateful, Natalija. Now! Be grateful." I can't shake these words or the moment from my mind. It was a chilly day in Costa Rica, and I was with my best friend, Marija, at Tabacón, near the Arenal Volcano. As we soaked in the hot springs, surrounded by the beauty of nature, she kept reminding me to be thankful.
Growing up in Yugoslavia, Thanksgiving was a foreign concept. It wasn’t part of my upbringing, and nothing about it felt familiar. In my childhood, I wasn’t taught to slow down and reflect on what we had. That was something I had to learn on my own, sometimes with a gentle nudge from Marija :)
Over the years, as I’ve spent more time in the United States, I’ve come to appreciate the significance of moments like Thanksgiving. The excess and sentimentality of the holiday, which once felt strange, has slowly become part of my rhythm. I’ve adopted it piece by piece, and now, it’s something I look forward to, even though it’s not part of my original tradition.
Thanksgiving, for me, is a time to step back and reflect on what really matters—the people around us, the traditions we create, and the quiet moments we often overlook. It’s a chance to pause, appreciate the small things, and acknowledge the stories that bind us together. This year, as I gather with family, I’m reminded that gratitude is not a fleeting emotion; it’s a practice—something we cultivate daily.
Living in Miami, it’s easy to forget that Thanksgiving is, at its core, an "American" holiday. The city is a vibrant mosaic of cultures, and no one here fits the stereotypical "true-born American" mold. Yet, every year, we hit the jackpot with my sister-in-law, Amy, a native-born American, who takes it upon herself to make Thanksgiving happen. She’s the anchor that holds it all together, transforming what could be just another big meal into something truly meaningful. Her enthusiasm infuses the holiday with life, giving it a sense of home—even for someone like me, who never grew up with these traditions.
As I sit down with my family, I’ll hold onto gratitude for both my immediate family and my Swim Week extended family. And here's to everyone surviving the politics-talk at the table this year!
