The heart of gratitude: Lessons I learned this year

Lanaby Lana
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In Wednesday Thoughts

November always feels like the perfect time to pause and reflect on the many blessings that fill both my work and home life. This year, that list is wonderfully long — and in the spirit of Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), I’m filled with gratitude.

GRATITUDE AT WORK: 5-star reviews and the joy of giving back
In 2025, nearly a dozen beautiful room makeovers came to life — living rooms, dining spaces, kids’ rooms, even a cozy man cave or two. Each project reminded me how deeply our surroundings influence our sense of calm and joy.

We’re particularly proud of this 5-star review that gets to the core of well-being through interior design. “Lana was wonderful and captured our personalities in each of our bedrooms! … By helping us, she gave us a sense of pride in our home.”

Some of my favorite moments were the words clients shared afterward — when someone says, “You captured our personalities,” or mentions that they still sit and smile at their room months later. Those words mean everything. Testimonials and five-star reviews aren’t just marketing tools; they’re affirmations that the spaces we create together are truly making hearts sing.

And, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how extremely thankful I am for all of the tradespeople and artisans who made each one of these spaces possible. Because of their skilled hands and big hearts, each room went from a figment of my imagination to beautiful reality.

Months after this living room makeover, I received a surprise note from this lovely client who just wanted to tell me how much she is still enjoying the room: “Just thought I’d let you know: I still sit on my chaise lounge and look around at my living room thinking how beautiful it is.”

This year also brought meaningful pro bono design work for the Isaiah 117 House of Johnston County. That project reaffirmed something powerful — that home, at its best, offers dignity, safety, and hope.

One of the most heart-warming testimonials I’ve ever received came from this pro bono project. The 5-star review said, “…We could not be more thrilled with the results! From the very first meeting, she listened carefully to our vision and understood the unique needs of our home…This was more than just interior design — it was creating an environment of peace, dignity, and comfort for some of the most vulnerable in our community.”

GRATITUDE AT HOME – Milestones and creative growth
At home, gratitude looks like celebrating many years of marriage to a wonderful man, special beach trips with dear friends and family, and my mom’s 80th birthday — highlighted by a joyful dinner out complete with a singing telegram.

We had a wonderful time celebrating the birthday girl – singing classic tunes like, “My Girl,” and “How Sweet It Is.“

I’m also thankful that we were able to give our own kitchen an artful refresh — a project that reminded me that authenticity and beauty often matter more than the accepted norm of what a kitchen “should” look like. The positive response to that creative risk gives me confidence as I embark on new kitchen projects.

Taking out a bank of upper cabinets, painting the existing ones, and adding butcher block were out-of-the-box decisions that really paid off in the end.

LESSONS FROM A GRATEFUL HEART – Consistency and gratitude reap dividends
Though my record in consistently showing up and practicing gratitude is far from perfect, I’m learning two important lessons. First, connection grows through consistency — the simple act of showing up, time after time. Whether it’s traveling to see family, regularly attending networking meetings, or volunteering locally, each act of presence weaves another thread into the warm fabric of belonging. What a gift!

We get back to Missouri a few times a year, gathering at the Lake of the Ozarks, or the suburbs of St. Louis for fun, laughter, and continued connection.

Second, I’m reminded of something a pastor once shared years ago — that pausing to give thanks allows us not only to recall a blessing, but to experience the love and joy within it a second time. Another gift, indeed. May your home — and your heart — sing with gratitude this Thanksgiving!

Feeling inspired to take a thankful look at your own home — and imagine what it could become? Let’s chat about how to enhance what you already have and create a space that feels personal and welcoming.

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