November feels like a pause between seasons. The harvest and Thanksgiving are behind us, the holidays are ahead, and as the days grow shorter, this quiet space is an invitation to turn to one another. What if we thought of November as the Season of Togetherness: a time to gather, share, and plant seeds of connection to sustain us through what could be an isolating time?
Having warm connections with other people is one of the keys to our longevity. It’s not just pleasant, it’s essential. Research shows that people with strong social ties enjoy better health, live longer lives, and have a stronger sense of purpose. In fact, social connection is as beneficial for health as regular exercise or a balanced diet. When we gather over food, stories, or play, we nurture not only our relationships but also our resilience. November gives us a natural space to collect ourselves and set a template for togetherness in the winter months ahead. Here are some simple ways to gather, share, and plant seeds of joy.
“There is something profoundly satisfying about sharing a meal. Eating together, breaking bread together, is one of the oldest and most fundamentally unifying of human experiences.” –author, Barbara Coloroso
Enjoying a meal with other people is one of life’s great pleasures. Studies confirm that communal meals lead to better nutrition, healthier choices, and greater life satisfaction. I’ve always enjoyed potluck lunches or dinners because they give each participant one dish to focus on and offer everyone an opportunity to shine. Not a baker? You can take on a side dish of your choice. Not a cook at all? You’re still invited even if you pick something up at the grocery store, or you can play host. Or each participant can host it, whether it’s once a week, every two weeks or once a month and if you like, you can create a theme for your potluck.
The best thing about this way of sharing food in my opinion is the casual nature of it. It doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated: family favorite recipes are often what’s appreciated. Plus, there’s sometimes a good story to accompany these dishes, and that just enhances the meal. What matters is the ritual; even something like simple tea and cookies can turn into a meaningful gathering when our intention is to share with others.
“Play is the highest form of research.” – Albert Einstein
I never imagined Albert Einstein as a playful person but clearly, he played around with all sorts of ideas to land on his theory of relativity, which changed how we understand energy and mass. He makes the point that play is about exploring the world and learning about it in ways we wouldn’t experience if we sat on the sidelines. Somehow, we’ve picked up the notion that play is frivolous, idle or a guilty pleasure, but far from it. Play helps with creativity and problem solving. It provides space for us to be present in our lives and that’s often when we receive ideas that help in other areas of our lives. So, thanks to Einstein we all have full permission to play. Let’s be clear, we are all children at heart, aren’t we? Games provide connection, laughter, a little lighthearted competition, and they keep our mind sharp. Research shows that playing cards and board games is associated with better memory and lower dementia risk. Anyone for a game of Solitaire or Scrabble?
To keep things interesting, you could try a rotating game get-together. It could be cards one week, then Scrabble or trivia the next week, and so on. The addition of snacks, music, or themes keeps things sparkling.
“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” – author, Philip Pullman
Do you have a favourite story to tell? Is there something unique in the way you grew up that would make for a good story? Did you grow up in a small town? Was your family transferred around the country like mine was? What was that like? What was your favourite thing about it? We’re all carrying a library of experiences and sharing our stories helps to make us feel seen, heard, and valued. The truth is that sharing our stories can boost our emotional wellbeing and strengthen our unique identity. A story circle could be focused on a theme like your first job, where you grew up, a memorable holiday or a time when you took a risk and called on courage to help you navigate. Others may not want to watch your holiday movies but if you have an interesting experience to share, that would be perfect. I learned early in my television career to always keep the audience in mind, so remember that when you’re thinking about what would make an interesting story for them.
Here’s a suggestion: we visited Australia/New Zealand recently. If I was invited to share stories from that experience I would happily do so and I’d bring along one of my favourite snacks, New Zealand golden kiwi, to give everyone a taste of what is now one of my favourite fruit. The story circle should be informal, perhaps in someone’s living room with snacks and refreshments (back to the food sharing idea). It’s important to remember that we’re never finished with learning. Allowing others to tell their stories as well as having the courage to share our own, keeps us connected and curious in this season of togetherness.
“Gratitude is riches; complaint is poverty.” – Doris Day
Regardless of the time of year, gratitude is always in style. Gratitude itself is powerful medicine and using it regularly has been shown to improve sleep, reduce depression and increase happiness. It’s very easy to incorporate gratitude or appreciation into your day by writing down in a journal three to five things you’re grateful for when you start or end the day. You can create a gratitude jar where you write down what you’re grateful for, pop it in the jar and when you need a pick-me-up, go back and read what you wrote. You can create a wall of appreciation, using post it notes to express what you’re grateful for; you can send notes of appreciation to others who may have helped you or whom you admire. You can start your story circles or potluck meals by asking everyone to share what they’re grateful for. However you choose to incorporate gratitude into your day, know that you are strengthening your feelings of abundance, resilience and belonging.
“The best is yet to come.” – William Shakespeare
I always have something on my calendar to look forward to. It could be lunch or coffee with friends, visits with family, a brain-storming session for a work project, a movie date, you get the idea. Our feeling of connection is reinforced when we have something to look forward to and research shows that anticipating positive events boosts our well-being. November is the perfect time to map out winter gatherings; let’s call it our calendar of joy because it offers everyone something bright to anticipate after the holiday lights fade.
“Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.” – researcher Brené Brown
Togetherness is a choice we make, season by season. By leaning into the quiet invitation of November, we give ourselves the gift of belonging. Pot-luck meals, game nights, story circles, and simple gratitude rituals remind us that joy multiplies when it’s shared. Let’s step into the Season of Togetherness, and plant seeds of connection that will flourish through all seasons.