Grateful

It is Thanksgiving week in the United States. The official arrival of the holiday season always gives me pause; it forces us to slow down and reflect.?

Last year in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, I shared with you what I was grateful for. When I wrote my list last year, I was thinking about gratitude in the context of?Accelerant #4, Examine Expectations. So in the spirit of tradition, I want to share another list of what I'm grateful for this year. As I drafted my list earlier this month, I thought about gratitude's role in?Accelerant #7, Be Discovery Driven.??

What does it mean to be driven by discovery??To go anywhere, you need fuel. Discoveries are the fuel that will take you up the S Curve. When discovery drives you, you don't passively wait for waves of information and opportunity to wash over you. You are alert, eager to discover what is next. To be driven by discovery, we must approach the world with an intentional yet child-like curiosity. Gratitude in itself is a critical component of curiosity, as it fuels open-mindedness.?

As I thought about what I'm thankful for, I noted that I am grateful for the people who support and drive me. I also realized that I am thankful for things that allow me to discover and other disruptors whose curiosity drove them to create wonderfully useful and creative products and ideas. I am grateful for my curiosity and the curiosity of others.?

What I am grateful for (in no particular order):

• Haribo sour gold bears: I love treats; they make me happy.?
• Eye doctors and glasses: The tools that allow me to learn and discover through sight.?
• A treadmill: moving my body fuels my mind.?
• All the apps that fuel my curiosity: Picture This app tells me the names of flowers I see on my walks. The Come Follow Me app features a verse of the day and a 5-minute daily devotional.
• My constant personal growth.
• Keith: Our handyman who can fix anything in the house.?
• My team: A group of individuals who bring their hearts and minds to the work we do.
• Emma McAdam: She does brilliant work about processing your emotions.
• Hint Water: It keeps hydration interesting.
• My faith and belief in God.
• Homemade hot fudge: sugar keeps me going.
• Whoop: Technology that supports my health and fitness.
• Speaking and voice lessons: They give me an opportunity to get better.?
• My office: It's decorated in a way that brings me joy.
• I learned how to invest in my 20s and 30s, a skill that continues to pay off.?
• My body: It's healthy and strong.
• My family: My relationships with my husband and two children fuel me.?
• Korean Dramas: Including?Mr. Sunshine?and?That Winter When the Wind Blows.
• The S Curve of Learning.
• My home: I love living in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
• Airplanes: The technology that allows us to magically travel from one place to the next.
• Intentional dialogue: My family shares our "sweet, sour, spiritual, and surprise" with one another at the end of each week.?
• Freedom to live the life that I want to: The privilege I have is so big it often feels unfair.
• The many, many people who are so generous to me and help me be successful.?
• My mother: For giving me a Tony Robbins' book when I was in college and modeling grit and determination.
• Cheese enchiladas from Red Iguana.
• Experiences that make me uncomfortable and awkward.

This reflection was in itself an act of discovery. I identified things that I take for granted, and it allowed me to take note of the people, experiences, and things that play a meaningful role in my life. Perhaps above all, I am grateful for the chance to learn continuously, constantly moving up new S Curves.

Regardless of whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, I urge you to spend 10-minutes reflecting on what you're grateful for. Ask yourself, "What drives me to discovery?" "What in my life empowers me to keep learning?"

In what ways can you express gratitude today??

What discoveries have you made for which you are grateful??

How has the curiosity of others enriched your life??