A Seat at the Table: A Thanksgiving Reflection on Home and Family

Here at Next-Nest, we talk a lot about houses. But as Thanksgiving approaches, our thoughts turn to what truly matters—the homes we build within those walls and the families, both given and chosen, that fill them with love and life.

This holiday is a powerful reminder that a home is so much more than a financial asset. It’s the scent of roasting turkey and pumpkin pie, the chaotic chorus of laughter and overlapping conversations, and the profound comfort of knowing you have a place where you belong.

This feeling is one I hold especially close, born from a time when I didn’t have it.

During my college years, money was tight. A plane ticket home for Thanksgiving was a luxury far beyond my reach. The thought of spending the holiday alone in a quiet, empty dorm room was a heavy weight. But I was blessed. More than once, the parents of a college friend, hearing my situation, would not take “no” for an answer.

“You’re coming with us,” they’d say. “There’s always an extra plate.”

And there was. At their crowded, noisy tables, I wasn’t just a guest; I was made to feel like family. They passed me the mashed potatoes, included me in their silly family traditions, and gave me the profound gift of belonging. They taught me that the truest essence of a home isn’t its size or style, but the warmth of its welcome and the generosity of its spirit.

That experience is a cornerstone of why I built Next-Nest. We believe everyone deserves the security and joy of a home—a place where they can create their own Thanksgiving memories. And we believe the journey to that home should be fair, transparent, and empowering, so you can invest more in filling your home with life, and less in the high costs of getting there.

As we express our gratitude for our own blessings this year, let us also remember those who feel that familiar ache of loneliness, who are far from family, or who are facing a table with an empty seat.

It is a small tradition of mine, one I’d be honored to share with you, to end each day with a simple prayer: “I pray for those who have no one to pray for them.”

This Thanksgiving, I will be saying that prayer with a full heart, remembering the families who gave me a seat at their table, and thinking of all those searching for their own place to belong.

From our Next-Nest family to yours, we wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love, warmth, and the joy of coming home.

With gratitude,

Marietta Companie

Founder, Next-Nest