A Year of Appreciation: What We’re Grateful For at Civility Partners

As we approach the holiday season, our team at Civility Partners is taking a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect on what we’re most grateful for. 

Our mission has always been clear: to partner with our clients to help them create a positive workplace environment. This year, that mission has been strengthened by the clients who trusted us, the colleagues who collaborated with us, and the communities that shared in our belief that workplace culture can and should be better.

That said, we asked our team members to send us something they’re grateful for – some are already off for the holiday or perhaps didn’t have time, but here’s what we collected. 

Might we also suggest asking your team to submit their list to you, too, and send it out once you’ve collected something from everyone. You can also find tons of other ideas and activities for creating a positive work environment in the book, Navigating a Toxic Workplace for Dummies.

Gratitude fuels connection, and connection fuels culture. We hope our reflections inspire you to explore your own moments of gratitude and celebrate the people and experiences that shaped your year.

Catherine Mattice

Founder & CEO

I’m so thankful for the people I get to walk alongside every day. That includes our clients and partners, and the HR and business leaders who are willing to lean into tough conversations, challenge the status quo, and model what healthy leadership really looks like. It certainly includes my team, who make Civility Partners what it is – we wouldn’t be where we are without you. And my advisors and mentors, who let me feel the tough emotions, remind me I’m strong, and guide me through the challenges.

And, to be honest, I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve earned after years of hard work. So, “I want to thank me. I want to thank me for believing in me… for doing all this hard work… for having no days off… for never quitting… for always being a giver and trying to give more than I receive… for trying to do more right than wrong… for just being me at all times. (Yep, I borrowed Snoop Dogg’s infamous Hollywood Walk Of Fame speech! Indeed, I’m acknowledging myself for once!)

Rebecca Del Secco

Chief Operations Officer

This year, my heart feels especially full. I wasn’t born and raised in San Diego, and I don’t have family here, so the people I’ve connected with along the way have truly become my chosen family. I’m deeply grateful for the love, support, and joy they bring into my life. I’m also incredibly thankful for my partner – for everything he does to support my dreams and for the fun, laughter, and grounding he brings to my days.

Having someone who believes in me so fully is something I never take for granted. I’m grateful for the communities I’m part of, professionally and personally, the spaces where I learn, grow, laugh, and feel connected. From the work I get to do to the people I collaborate with, I’m humbled by the networks that give me purpose and keep me inspired. And, while I am truly driven by the work we do at Civility Partners, I am so energized by the team we have created here and the joy they bring to our organization.

Lastly, I’m grateful to myself, too. For the chances I’ve taken, for saying yes to growth, and for doing the hard work that comes with becoming a better version of who I’ve been. It’s been a year of stretching, learning, and stepping into new possibilities, and I’m proud of that.

Bob Berk

Consultant, Facilitator, and Mediator

I feel a little creative, so I decided to write a haiku of what I’m grateful for:

Bonds of trust are strong

Our shared efforts bring meaning

Grateful thanks I give.

Connie Thornton-Reed

Organizational Development Consultant

As we approach our annual day of thanks-giving, I reflect on so many things to be grateful for.  My family, my friends, my co-workers and all of the people who make my life abundant.  The work I am gifted to do with Civility Partners–such an awesome group of caring professionals who work every day to co-create with our clients workplaces that thrive with meaning, respect, trust and humanity.  I have to pinch myself sometimes as a reminder of how lucky I am to be at this place in my life.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Stephanie Lott

Strategic Data Analyst

I am deeply grateful for the renewed health of my father. His health issues this year have been challenging, but they have also brought my family closer together. I’m also thankful for a new place to live in the mountains of Asheville, where I can gaze at the stars and soak up the wildness of this beautiful nature.

I’m grateful for my yoga community that gives me such a sense of belonging and for my friends who have been so supportive and loving through a somewhat difficult year. I’m deeply thankful for the work that Civility Partners does, and I am honored to work for a strong women-led organization. 

Jenny Areola-Estudillo

Marketing Manager

I’m grateful for the opportunity to work virtually and for the team I am working with. The flexibility has allowed me to travel, discover new places, and even pick up new hobbies: trail running and junk journaling. This year, I was able to see my favorite artist, SB19, perform three times in three different cities. I’ve never felt more refreshed showing up to work. That’s because I am part of a team that understands how deeply personal well-being fuels professional productivity.

I’m thankful for the music that helps me unwind each day and for the friends and family who keep me laughing, grounded, and supported. I’m especially grateful to my husband for encouraging me to pursue what I love as an individual. I’m also deeply appreciative of our clients and the trust they place in us to help make their organizations healthier and more respectful. And above all, I’m grateful for the growth we’ve experienced this year and for the impact we’re making in workplaces around the world!

Em Rose Apple Bacas

Client Care Team

I recently got engaged to my long-term partner, and I am deeply grateful for his unwavering support and the effort he puts in, even while working overseas. I’ve had the joy of traveling and discovering new places, and I’m so proud that my brother has finally stepped into his dream job. I am also grateful for my work at Civility Partners, which has given me countless opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.

The confidence and support from our CEO and COO have empowered me to accomplish things I once thought were beyond my reach. I’m endlessly thankful for my amazing colleagues, whose laughter, collaboration, and sense of connection make work feel like family. I am also grateful to our clients for the trust they place in us, and I look forward to continuing to help organizations cultivate positive, meaningful impact in their workplaces. This year has reminded me how lucky I am to be surrounded by love, support, and opportunity at every turn.

Closing

Pause and consider what you’re grateful for this year. What habits, relationships, or moments helped you grow? What strengthened your resilience or reminded you of what truly matters? Whatever your answers, remember to move through the world with kindness, respect, and above all, civility.

If you’re looking to bring more of these values into your daily life or workplace, we invite you to download our Civility Resource Bundle. It’s filled with tools to help you elevate communication, strengthen culture, and infuse civility into your organization.

Here’s to gratitude, growth, and a more civil new year ahead!