November asks us to hold two truths at once.
First, we stand still. We pause for the quiet courage of our Veterans; the ones who raised a hand, kept a promise, and carried weight most of us will never see. We honor those who served and the families who served alongside them: the late-night waits, the birthdays on video, the empty seat at the table. Thank you.
Then, we gather. We pass plates, laugh too loudly, and say out loud what we’re grateful for. In between the salute and the table is a small, steady question: What does my work serve?
If you’re a doctoral scholar, an educator, or both, your days are full of small acts of service that rarely get a ceremony: showing up prepared when it would be easier not to, reading one more article so your claim is cleaner, giving a student feedback that turns a corner. It’s not glamorous. It’s not viral. But it’s how lives change quietly, and then all at once.
This month, I’ve been thinking about a lesson I’ve learned from the veterans in my life: purpose isn’t loud; it’s precise. Service is a practice, the repetition that turns values into action. In research, that looks like careful alignment (questions that truly match methods), honest limits (naming what your data can’t say), and courage on paper (writing the truth your findings demand). In classrooms, it looks like routines that protect learning time, clarity that dignifies students, and patience that makes room for growth.
Thanksgiving reminds us that gratitude isn’t a feeling you wait for; it’s a lens you choose. When I read a strong paragraph, watch a student finally read a sentence through, or see a teacher try a new strategy, I’m reminded: this is what we’re doing here. We are building understanding and understanding feeds people, too.
Maybe this November you’ll write a brief note to a veteran or a military family, not because it fixes anything, but because recognition is a form of care. Maybe you’ll also give yourself five quiet minutes to name why your work matters right now. If it helps, try this:
A November note to self
Today I honor ________ for their service.
Today my work serves ________.
I’m thankful for ________ because it helps me keep going.
However you mark the month, let it be honest and simple. Stand still. Then gather. And in the space between, carry your work with purpose.
Join the conversation:
In the comments, share (1) a Veteran you’d like to honor (name or initials are welcome) and/or (2) one thing you’re thankful for in your work or studies right now. Your words might be the reminder someone else needs this week.
