Episode Summary

Thanksgiving is more than turkey and football—it’s the original American holiday, built on gratitude, resilience, and community.

This special Thanksgiving episode takes you from the first colonial feast to today’s firehouses, exploring how one farmer’s decision to feast instead of fast set the tone for a culture of grateful service. Along the way, we’ll connect Benjamin Franklin’s role in shaping both Thanksgiving and America’s first volunteer fire company to the modern science showing that gratitude builds emotional resilience and mental strength.

Whether you’re celebrating at the station or the family table, this episode will leave you with practical tools to turn thankfulness into toughness—and remind you why service rooted in gratitude endures.

Highlights include:

* How America’s early holidays tie back to Thanksgiving’s founding spirit

* The surprising link between Benjamin Franklin, gratitude, and the first volunteer fire service

* The “broaden-and-build effect” and why gratitude literally rewires the stressed brain

* A simple two-step gratitude practice for anyone living the first responder life

* A heartfelt challenge to pause, reflect, and share what you’re thankful for this season

Share the Episode

If this story resonated with you, share it with your crew, shift partner, or another first responder who could use a reminder that gratitude is one of our strongest tools for mental fitness and resilience.

Send them the link or tag them on social media, and help keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive in every station and service community.

Subscribe & Listen

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to The Aging Well Firefighter wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a reflection on resilience, wellness, and leadership in and beyond the emergency services.New episodes drop regularly with insights to help you fight wisely and age bravely.

Connect with Roy Smalley

* Website: www.agingwellfirefighter.com

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* LinkedIn: Roy Smalley

* All my links in one place: www.roysmalley.us

Reach out with questions, topic ideas, or collaborations, and let Roy know how this conversation on gratitude and grit landed with you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.agingwellfirefighter.com