This morning I read Peter Gray*’s Thanksgiving newsletter to his Play Makes Us Human subscribers, where he invited readers to share six-word statements of gratitude. It made me pause and think about what I’m grateful for this week.
I’m grateful for you—the families and individuals who read these newsletters, who trust me with your questions, who show up with open hearts to this work.
I’m grateful for my classes. The photo above is from a week or two ago: every towel I own piled on the changing table in the dark. One class trusted me enough to let their children run and play in the rain, and I wanted to make sure no one slipped on the deck. So I used every…single…towel I own to completely cover the deck and stairs. These moments—the trust, the joy, the scrambling for towels—this is what it’s all about.
I’m grateful for RIE. It’s not just my work; it’s my way of life. It shapes how I see children, how I move through the world, how I understand what it means to be present.
So I’d like to extend his invitation to you: Please respond to this email to share something you’re grateful for in exactly six words. No more, no less. I’ll collect and share them!!
I’ll start:
- Children running freely in the rain.
- You, reading this right now, here.
Happy Thanksgiving. May your day be filled with presence, play, and gratitude.
With respect and warmth,
Melani
*Peter will be keynote speaker at RIE’s conference in March 2026. His thinking on play and childhood aligns so beautifully with what we hold dear.