If you listened to Monday’s Thanksgiving episode, you probably remember that we talked about the history of Thanksgiving, how Americans celebrate it, and of course, the Thanksgiving dinner traditions.

One of the most meaningful parts of Thanksgiving dinner isn’t actually the turkey, the stuffing, or even the pumpkin pie (although I’ll admit… they’re all super delicious) — The most meaningful part of Thanksgiving is the moment before everyone starts eating, when you go around the table and each person shares what they’re thankful for this year.

It’s simple, but very powerful.

It forces you to pause… and look back.

So today, I want to do the same thing here — I want to share with you what I’m thankful for this year.

� 本期的知识卡片我们整理在下面啦：

�Vocabulary List — “Thankfulness & Reflection” Special

1. be thankful for…

中文：对……心怀感谢

Example:

I'm truly thankful for my family's support this year. 我真的很感谢家人今年对我的支持。

Usage Note:常用在 Thanksgiving 也常用于日常表达，比 "grateful" 更口语。

2. count my blessings

中文：数算恩典、回头看看自己拥有的好事

Example:

Whenever I feel frustrated, my wife reminds me to count my blessings. 当我觉得挫折时，我老婆总是提醒我回头看看自己有多少恩典。

Usage Note:带有 spiritual 与 reflective 的语气，很常出现在感恩季节。

3. take something for granted

中文：视为理所当然

Example:

Living in Australia made me realize how many things I used to take for granted. 住在澳洲让我发现以前有多少事情是我视为理所当然的。

Usage Note:可以用在 relationships、health、time 等情境。

4. fall into place

中文：一切逐渐顺利、事情开始对上位置

Example:

Looking back, I can see how everything slowly fell into place this year. 回头看，我能看到今年所有事情是如何慢慢对齐、顺利的。

Usage Note:语气带有命定感，很适合讲人生转变。

5. adapt to

中文：适应

Example:

My daughters adapted to their new school surprisingly well. 我女儿们适应新学校的速度比我想像快。

Usage Note:后面通常接 a new life, a new environment, changes, a new routine。

6. keep me grounded

中文：让我脚踏实地、保持冷静、保持谦卑

Example:

My wife always keeps me grounded when things get overwhelming. 当事情变得太多时，我妻子总让我保持脚踏实地。

Usage Note:非常美式、非常口语，也很 emotional。

7. provision

中文：供应、预备（常用于宗教语境）

Example:

I'm thankful for God's provision throughout this challenging year. 我很感谢上帝在这年里的预备与供应。

Usage Note:在宗教背景（Christian circles）非常常用，很自然。

8. support system

中文：支持系统（指家人、朋友、同事等）

Example:

Having a strong support system makes life's challenges easier. 有强大的支持系统会让人生的挑战容易很多。

Usage Note:常用于心理健康与生活反思的语境。

9. not take something lightly

中文：不把……当小事、不轻视

Example:

I don't take your support lightly — it means a lot to me. 我不轻视你们的支持，对我来说意义重大。

Usage Note:感恩场合非常好用，用来表达「我真的很珍惜」。

10. open doors (for someone)

中文：为某人打开新机会、创造机会

Example:

This move to Australia opened so many new doors for me and my family. 搬来澳洲为我们家开启了很多新机会。

Usage Note:比喻用法，非常常用于 career、education 和 life changes。

11. grateful

中文：感激的（比 thankful 更深沉一点）

Example:

I'm grateful for every listener who has supported this podcast. 我很感激每位支持这个 podcast 的听众。

Usage Note:比 thankful 更 emotional、更成熟。

12. reflection

中文：反思、沉淀

Example:

The end of the year is always a good time for reflection. 年底永远都是很适合反思的时刻。

Usage Note:可搭配 personal reflection, deep reflection, year-end reflection。

13. look back on…

中文：回顾、回头看

Example:

When I look back on this year, I realize how much we've grown. 当我回头看这一年，我发现我们成长很多。

Usage Note:非常适合用来开场或收尾年度回顾。

14. overcome challenges

中文：克服挑战

Example:

Every challenge we overcame this year made our family stronger. 我们今年克服的每个挑战都让我们家更紧密。

Usage Note:可搭配 big challenges, unexpected challenges, personal challenges。

15. appreciate the little things

中文：珍惜小事、小确幸

Example:

Living in Australia helped me appreciate the little things in life. 住在澳洲让我更懂得珍惜生活中的小事。

Usage Note:常出现在 gratitude、mindfulness、well-being 的语境。

「the man upstairs」是什么意思？

简单说：

� the man upstairs = 上帝（God）的一种口语、轻松、不那么正式的说法。

它带有幽默、亲切、轻描淡写的味道，不会像 “God” 或 “the Lord” 那么正式，也不会像 “Heavenly Father” 那么宗教性。

很多美国人用它来指上帝，但语气是 casual、略带玩笑、不严肃的。

� 文化味道（为什么这样叫？）

这个说法来自于英文文化中把「God in heaven」想成「上面那位」的概念。

Heaven → up there

God → the man who lives up there

所以就变成了：

“the man upstairs”

它不见得是宗教人士才用，反而蛮多 secular 的、讲话比较轻松的美国人也会用。

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EP109 全英文Episode: What I am thankful for this year

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