Thanksgiving in our home is marked by fun traditions — food, family, and football. Cooking is an “all hands on deck” endeavor, with all generations pitching in to peel, chop, bake and wash. Our Thanksgiving table is an assortment of flavors from multiple continents and cultures, and the spread we come up with always makes me smile. After dinner and homemade apple pie, we choose a movie for all of us to watch together. As you might imagine, the process of picking the movie is just about as long as the movie itself! We tune in for two big football games during Thanksgiving week: the Lions on Thursday and the Wolverines on Saturday. Gathering and cheering together makes the games even more fun to watch.
One family tradition we have is for each of us to write something we’re thankful for on a sheet of paper and put it into a bowl. The kids take turns reading the statements out loud (sometimes in very funny voices), and we collectively guess who wrote each one. I love this tradition because it makes us laugh, smile and experience so many of the things that bring us gratitude and joy.
As I think about our collective AASM family, there is so much about our community and the work we do together that brings me gratitude and joy: The AASM members and centers who commit to the care of patients with sleep-wake disorders every single day. Our countless AASM volunteers — serving as ambassadors and committee members — who share their time and talent to strengthen the Academy and advance our field. The AASM’s collaborators and partners who share our dedication to innovation and discovery in sleep medicine. The AASM’s incredible staff, whose creativity and commitment to the Academy propel our collective efforts to achieve the vision that sleep and circadian care is fundamental to health care. AASM members, volunteers, collaborators and staff working together, with a shared sense of purpose, in service to our patients and our field. The magnitude of this collective commitment is humbling and inspiring, and I am truly grateful to be a part of it.
I hope this season of giving and gratitude brings you many moments that make you laugh, smile and connect with those who bring you joy. Thank you so much for all that you do.
With respect and appreciation,
Anita
Anita V. Shelgikar, MD, MHPE
President
