If ever you’ve experienced a lapse in self-esteem, the holiday of Thanksgiving provides a great backdrop upon which to take stock of your image. And it costs you absolutely nothing to do so. When you consider what you are thankful for on this holiday, be sure to revel in all of who you are: your soul, your intelligence, and your whole body, from your hair follicles to your toenails.

The holidays can put so much pressure on us to be ‘perfect.’ It’s more important to communicate, behave and to dress for the best parts of who we are now and not become overwhelmed by our big, long term goals. It’s just like when our parents told us to put our ‘best foot forward.’

Last Thanksgiving my partner and I were in Chicago, enjoying the holiday with my sister, brother-in-law, stepfather, and mother. It was to be Mom’s last Thanksgiving, and her final night out. Close to death, she looked only at living. She could barely eat a morsel, but she managed a way of smiling and enjoying the moment.

I’ll always remember her energy, her spirit and her smile from that night. And a year after that Thanksgiving, I’m remembering and still learning from her shining example. At the end of her life, how she lived and loved herself encapsulates life’s fragility and its beauty.