Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is always a time when we list all of the people and things for which we are thankful. Sometimes these lists are focused on the past year, other times they are more general thanks for people and happenings over a lifetime.

Earlier this year, in conversation with someone, I shared that I have been focused on maintaining an “attitude of gratitude”. For me, it really is the little things that make me happy and I try to acknowledge my gratitude for those things whenever possible -- like a quiet night at home after a long day of coaching, facilitating or travel. Other times, it might be going to Trader Joe’s and the shelves being stocked with everything on my list. Sometimes it is the joy I hear in a client’s voice when they share good news or progress they’ve made. Other times, it is simply getting to spend time doing something pretty simple with my Mom – like going to the mall – which is often challenging and complicated for her. There are an endless number of #littlethings for which I am grateful.

This Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for all of the people who work on Thanksgiving so that we all can travel and spend time with our loved ones. The toll collectors, transit workers, cab drivers, pilots, flight crew, airport staff, TSA officers, first-responders, doctors, nurses, caregivers, grocery store staff, chefs, wait staff, restaurant hosts, movie theater staff, news reporters, sports teams and staff, announcers, stadium employees and vendors and so on… There are so many people who contribute to our individual and collective Thanksgiving experiences/traditions that we may forget to thank them for the role they play in making it so.

There are lots of little things for which I am grateful each and every day and one of them is YOU! I hope you and yours have a most wonderful Thanksgiving, and wishing you a year-round “attitude of gratitude”.