Thanksgiving Metaphor for The Real World

This Thanksgiving, I found myself thinking about a simple trip to a big-box store—a place known worldwide, a place we all visit without thinking. I went in early, just to pick up a turkey. Something simple. But instead, I was told I couldn’t enter until 10 o’clock because I didn’t have the “right” tier of membership—even though, in life, I am an executive in ways no card can measure.

They called over a guard. They told me it was “policy.” They asked if I wanted to upgrade. I said no. So, I waited outside, and in that moment, I started seeing clearly: the shrinkflation, the upsells, the subtle ways they train people to accept less while paying more. People herded like Pavlov’s dogs toward convenience, toward brand loyalty, toward whatever keeps the money flowing upward.

Corporations act like they are divine entities—untouchable, almost holy—but at the end of the day, they’re just humans making choices. And some of those choices are driven more by greed than by service.

But here’s the Thanksgiving truth—the real metaphor:

One pencil breaks easily. Two are harder. Ten together are nearly impossible to snap.

People are no different. Alone, we’re told to wait outside. But together, we can walk through any door.

This holiday isn’t just about gratitude for what we have—it’s about humility, awareness, and the power we share when we look out for one another instead of feeding the greed machine. If we choose wisely—if we stand together and refuse to be manipulated—those who profit from control and scarcity will be the first to lose their grip.

So, this Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for clarity.

I’m grateful for community.

I’m grateful for the reminder that humility builds, while greed breaks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

And thank you—for the support, for the awareness, and for standing as unbreakable pencils in a world that needs strength.