Thanksgiving Hope

The next several days will be a blur of travel, great food, family, wonderful fellowship, and yes, football. While Thanksgiving impacts each of us in a unique way, there is one aspect that is universally agreed upon. This represents a time to give thanks and to pause in reflection, regarding the spirit of gratitude. To be sure, all of us are experiencing some sort of difficulty or challenge. Yet in the tests we grow thru, an inspiring testimony is birthed. Thru difficulties, comes a new determination to see it thru. I want to extend my hopes that you have a Thankful Thanksgiving and offer just a few nuggets to consider as we navigate thru this season of thanks. We are very fortunate. Each of us has enjoyed success in our careers. We have families who love us, friends who respect us and teams that look up to us. It is easy to discount these things in our pursuit for more. However, I encourage all of us to take a pause to really reflect on how much we have to feel gratitude for and towards. Perhaps, we can consider the following.....

I know we are rushing to get home or wherever our ultimate destination might be. However, be compassionate on the road. Let someone in and slow down so that everyone gets there safely.

You may run across someone who is down on their luck and perhaps asks for money. In this season, give them something even if it is only a smile or word of encouragement. Don’t ignore them or look away with scorn.

Let someone ahead of you in line at the grocery?store.

Speak to one another in places where you might normally have your head stuck on your phone.

If you are in an elevator, use these few moments to smile and say hello to a complete stranger. For once, don’t focus your attention on the lights blinking to represent the floor you are on.

Express gratitude to someone you may have had difficulties with in the past. This is a perfect time to break down those walls of Misunderstanding in an effort to re-build trust.

Someone has really been working hard behind the scenes to make you or your company look good. Make sure they fully understand how much you appreciate them. Better yet, get them out of the shadows and give them some front and center praise.

Blended families can have their own set of challenges. The holidays have a way of exposing that especially when involving kids. Perhaps a truce can be enjoyed even if only for a brief moment.

Just for a moment, stop worrying about things, especially those you have absolutely no control over.

Embrace your present circumstances. They may not, on the surface, be ideal. However, they are merely a stepping stone towards a much better outcome.

Stop beating yourself up. The decision was already made and you are carrying out the consequence phase. It is over and our job is to be prepared to make the next decision. Learn from it and keep it moving.

Let the past go. Replaying those scenes will not change the outcome. Also, the cast of characters have moved on to the next scene.

I hope each of you has a Thanksgiving that is both epic and enlightening. We have one shot at this thing called Life and I, for one, am grateful to still be a active part of it.