I was 23 when I learned how to cook; I grew up around the same

Host: The room feels warm, with the soft glow of evening light creating a relaxed atmosphere. Outside, the world continues its usual rhythm, but inside, there’s a sense of reflection, as if the conversation is about to touch on deeper themes of tradition, growth, and the meaning of holidays. Jeeny sits at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, her expression thoughtful. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, watching the street below.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, yet filled with curiosity) “You ever think about how the meaning of holidays can change as we grow older? How certain traditions take on a deeper significance, especially when we start to contribute to them instead of just receiving?”

Jack: (glancing over at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Changing meanings of holidays? Yeah, it’s interesting how we start out seeing holidays as all about us, about getting gifts or celebrating for ourselves, but as we get older, the focus shifts to others—the joy of giving and sharing. What made you think about it?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, a small smile forming as she shares her thought) “I was thinking about something Rosecrans Baldwin said: ‘I was 23 when I learned how to cook; I grew up around the same time. It was precisely then that Thanksgiving started to mean something more. Growing up, Christmas was always about me, and eventually you, when I finally started to enjoy the giving part. But Thanksgiving is always about us.’ It made me reflect on how certain moments in life, like learning to cook for a holiday, shift our perspective and make the holiday more meaningful.”

Jack: (pauses, considering her words carefully) “So, she’s saying that when she started contributing to the holiday—by learning to cook—Thanksgiving became more meaningful? That, while Christmas was initially about receiving, Thanksgiving has always been about sharing and bringing people together?”

Jeeny: (smiling more deeply now, her eyes steady as she explains further) “Exactly. Baldwin’s point is that as we grow and begin contributing to traditions—whether through cooking, giving, or creating experiences for others—the meaning of the holiday evolves. Thanksgiving, in particular, became about connection, about the collective experience of sharing a meal and spending time together, not just about receiving or focusing on ourselves.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to settle in the room, creating a subtle shift in how we think about the evolution of holiday traditions. Jack stands still, his expression softening as he processes the deeper message behind Baldwin’s statement. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, the conversation feels rooted in a more profound understanding of how holidays reflect personal growth and the shift from self-focus to shared experience.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, almost reflective) “I see what she means. The older we get, the more we start to appreciate the act of giving, of contributing to the holiday experience rather than just being a recipient. It’s about the collective joy, the togetherness, that makes the holiday truly meaningful.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her voice calm, yet filled with quiet strength) “Exactly. As children, holidays are about us, about what we receive. But as we grow, we start to understand that the real joy comes from creating experiences for others, from sharing and giving. That’s when the holiday becomes truly meaningful, because it’s no longer about individual enjoyment—it’s about us, as a community, coming together.”

Jack: (pauses, a small smile forming on his face as the idea sinks in) “It’s liberating, isn’t it? To realize that the meaning of the holidays isn’t about receiving or getting everything we want—it’s about the collective experience, the act of giving and sharing. That’s where the true joy comes from.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice gentle, yet filled with wisdom) “Exactly. The more we grow, the more we realize that the heart of the holiday season is in the togetherness, in the shared experiences, and in the joy of giving to others. It’s about creating memories that connect us, rather than focusing on what we get.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, as though the conversation has shifted into a deeper appreciation for the meaning of holidays and the value of shared experiences. Jack turns from the window, his posture more relaxed, his thoughts clearly reflecting on the evolution of holiday traditions. Jeeny watches him, content in the realization that the most meaningful parts of the holidays come from giving and connecting with others. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, there’s a shared understanding that the true joy of holidays like Thanksgiving comes from the collective experience, from “us” rather than “me.”