Gratitude can look different for everyone. For some, it’s found in family traditions and treasured memories; for others, it’s in the simple everyday moments that are easy to overlook. We asked some residents to reflect on what they’re most thankful for.
Gordon and Michelle Reese, owners of Gordon Reese Design Build.
For Gordon Reese, gratitude begins with family. He is especially thankful for his wife, Michelle, their daughters, grandchildren, and the supportive team around them, all of whom give their work purpose and grounding.
He has also learned to appreciate the quiet moments in the morning, sipping a fresh cup of coffee, taking in the East Bay air, and reflecting on what matters before the day begins.
As a family, the Reese family enjoys picking a new destination each year to spend time together and create new experiences.
If given the chance to share a meal with anyone, Reese would choose his parents.
“I would love to share a meal with them today to thank them for the core values and work ethic they passed down to me, and to show them the family and legacy we’ve built over the years,” he said.
Dr. Maryna Vityuk, board-certified family physician, founder of Vialta Direct Primary Care.
Vityuk is most thankful for her family, especially this year as she took a major professional leap by opening her own medical practice. Through the excitement and uncertainty of starting a business, her husband and daughters have been a constant source of support.
For Vityuk, the opportunity to build a practice that reflects the kind of physician she wants to be, and to be more connected with the Walnut Creek community.
She has also learned to treasure quiet moments at home. Family trips are another source of gratitude, creating memories through everyday adventures and shared experiences.
If she could share a meal with anyone, she would choose her parents to thank them for the opportunities, values, and sacrifices that helped shape the life she has built.
“I think as we get older, we understand our parents differently and appreciate the sacrifices they made in ways we couldn’t fully understand as children," she said.
Karel Smid, president of Commander Moving and Storage.
Smid is thankful for the people around him—his family, friends, employees, clients, and the professional community that has supported him and his business over the years.
He has learned not to take simple conversations for granted, whether it’s having a cup of coffee, talking about life, or simply checking in with someone.
Growing up in the Czech Republic also gave him family traditions and memories that keep him connected to his roots.
“When you move far away from where you grew up, you develop a different appreciation for those moments. Things that seemed completely ordinary when you were younger become very special later in life,” he said.
If given an opportunity to share a meal with someone, Smid said he would do so with those who are no longer here, and whom he never had the chance to thank properly.
Teresa M. Christian, clinical psychologist and the founder of Main Street Psychology.
For Christian, her husband and three children are the biggest source of joy, keeping her grounded and focused on what really matters.
Christian has learned to treasure simple moments, like a warm cup of coffee and the sound of her children’s laughter, knowing she may miss them someday.
The holiday season holds a special place in her heart, especially now that she gets to experience its magic through her children’s eyes and create little moments.
If she could share a meal with anyone, she would choose her late mother.
“I would just want to be with her. I would want to hug her, listen to her talk, hear her laugh, watch her with my children, and soak up every minute of having my Mom there,” said Christian.
Helena Ezmeen Mohamed Salleh, educator.
Mohamed Salleh is deeply thankful for her family and the new chapter of life she is experiencing. After 13 years of raising her son as a single mother, building a career, and learning to be independent, she now treasures the joy of being married and creating a blended family with her husband, son, and stepchildren.
She has also learned to appreciate life’s ordinary, peaceful moments—from a morning cup of tea and coming home after a long day to sharing a meal, laughing together or simply enjoying a quiet evening.
“I think as we get older, we realize that happiness isn’t necessarily about having a perfect life; it’s about recognizing the blessings in the life you already have,” she said.
If she could share one long, unhurried meal with anyone, she would choose her mother, whom she would thank for the sacrifices and quiet acts of love that helped shape the woman she is today.
Special thanks to Blooms ‘N Bliss, Petal and Platter Design, Yellowcake Desserts, and Elegance Party Rentals for the beautiful picnic setup.