Why Australia Needs Its Own Thanksgiving

What if the secret to calmer kids, stronger families, and better mental health was free—and we’re the only country ignoring it? In this episode, Justin and Kylie make a bold case for bringing Thanksgiving to Australia… minus the turkey. Discover the neuroscience of gratitude, why it’s a proven buffer against anxiety and depression, and how one simple family ritual can transform your year.

KEY POINTS

• The surprising research: gratitude can reduce mortality by 9% and dramatically improve mental health.
• How gratitude rewires the brain—calming the amygdala and boosting emotional connection.
• Why Australians struggle with vulnerability, ritual, and expressed appreciation.
• How a simple gratitude practice can shift your home from reactive to relational.
• Easy, meaningful ways to host “Australian Thanksgiving” without any fuss.
• The power of modelling gratitude for kids (and why lectures never work).

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“We can’t control what happens to us, but we can control where we place our attention—and gratitude changes everything.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Harvard gratitude research (2024)
• Neuroscience findings on the ACC, medial prefrontal cortex & amygdala
• Kylie’s gratitude journal practice and gratitude tree idea
• 6 Science-Backed Benefits of Gratitude [Article]
• How Gratitude Can Make Your Family Happier [Podcast Article]

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Start a family ritual this week—one to three things you’re grateful for.
2. Keep it kid-friendly: a gratitude tree, backyard dessert night, or paddle-pop party.
3. Record your gratitude in a notebook or on your phone to revisit next year.
4. Model vulnerability by sharing something meaningful, not just the generic stuff.
5. Make it small, simple, and doable—the ritual matters more than the menu.

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