Today I'm Grateful For [Blank]
- Nov 14
- 2 min read
By Avital Ungar
Every week, my team gathers for our huddle. It’s a fifteen minute check-in before we dive into the day. Everyone takes a turn to share four simple things:
How they’re feeling
A personal or professional win
Their top priority for the day
Gratitude for someone else on the team
It might sound small. But it’s magic.
The first three shares are practical. They let us know where everyone is at that day, help us align on goals, and keep communication flowing. But it’s the last one, the “I’m grateful for…” that is especially important to me.
Some mornings, we’re all in good moods, and the huddle feels light and fun. Other mornings, someone’s tired or stressed or struggling. That’s when the gratitude lands even more deeply. “Thanks for having my back yesterday.” “Thanks for listening to me vent!”
Gratitude shifts the energy of a company. It reminds me and my team that every success, no matter how big or small, is collective. Someone designed the deck. Someone booked the tour. Someone hosted the experience. Every win is woven together.
When I first started Avital Food & Drink Experiences, I thought leadership was about vision and drive. And yes, those matter. But over the years, I’ve learned that leadership is really about recognition. People do their best work when they feel seen. Gratitude creates that visibility.
In a world that celebrates productivity, gratitude slows us down to see the humans behind the work. There are plenty of tools for better management, like systems, platforms, processes. But gratitude is the simplest one I know. It costs nothing and transforms everything. It creates a foundation of trust that allows for hard conversations, creative risks, and resilience.
I lead a company that designs interactive food and drink experiences across the country. But the real experience I hope we’re creating is one of connection. Connection to food, to culture, and to each other. Gratitude is where that starts.
Avital Ungar is the founder of Avital Food & Drink Experiences. Since 2011, Avital Experiences has been designing thoughtfully-curated Interactive Food & Drink Experiences, including food tours, interactive meals, virtual events, and more to bring people together.
Connect With Avital
@avitalexperiences
@avital.ungar
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