Welcome to the Week... Thanksgiving Top 10 – Redefining Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving is often synonymous with gratitude, and while expressing thankfulness is timeless, it can sometimes feel like we’re checking a box. This week, I challenge us to look beyond surface-level gratitude and dive into what truly creates meaning in our work, our lives, and our relationships.?

To help frame this, here’s my Top 10 Thanksgiving Reflections.

1. The Gratitude of Action

Gratitude is not just what you feel—it’s what you do with it. How are you turning thankfulness into tangible actions? From helping a colleague to delighting a customer of yours, to helping a friend and / or family member and letting them know how you truly feel about their effort and action. Let’s live our appreciation through service.

2. Resilience in the Face of Challenges

This year, we’ve faced hurricanes, disruption, and recovery. Let’s reflect on how these challenges shaped us. What did we learn? How did we grow? Resilience is the ultimate way to honor what we’ve been through together.

3. The Power of Shared Purpose

Thanksgiving reminds us that no success is ever solo. We succeed because we work together. Recognize those around you who elevate your game.

4. Celebrating Small Wins

While we chase ambitious goals, there’s beauty in small victories. A great customer review, a milestone in sales, or even nailing a new recipe (in our case at Fitlife Foods ) —every small win is a step toward greatness.

5. Honoring Roots

Thanksgiving is a time to think about where we come from. For some of the most iconic brands in America, including 耐克 , 苹果 , 星巴克 and now companies like 英伟达 , as well as small, medium and large local companies a like like BayCare Health System , Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP and great sports franchises like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Rays , it is important to think about the humble beginnings. What’s your organization's personal “root” that keeps you and your company grounded?

6. Gratitude for Growth

Personal and professional growth isn’t easy—it’s intentional. What moments of discomfort have made you stronger this year? Growth is a gift that pushes us to be better versions of ourselves. Ryan Holiday , talks a lot about this. I highly recommend his books on this topic.

7. Turning Gratitude into Grit

Being thankful is easy when things are smooth, but how do you carry that energy when things get tough? At Fitlife Foods, we’ve turned challenges into opportunities—proof that grit and gratitude can coexist. For a great read on this, I always turn back to "Grit," Angela Duckworth 's iconic book and learning on this topic.

8. Owning our Impact

Thanksgiving is a reminder of how we impact others. Think about the team members you work with each day and the customers who rely on you for the value you create. What’s one way you’ve gone above and beyond to make a difference for them?

9. Innovation Born of Appreciation

When we appreciate where we are, we gain clarity to dream bigger. Let’s channel that clarity into innovation—whether it’s in how we prepare meals or how we elevate our connection with customers. Turning anything that is a transaction into an interaction gives it new meaning.

10. Gratitude as a Legacy

Thanksgiving isn’t just about the present—it’s about the future you're building. Every effort you put in today shapes you and your organization for tomorrow. How will you contribute to that legacy? You are on this journey and it will forever be a part of who you are, whether you are on that journey for 10 months or 10 years.?

Closing Thoughts

As we head into this week, let’s challenge ourselves to rethink what gratitude looks like in action. It’s not just a feeling but a force—a way to deepen connections, face challenges, and set a course for where we want to go.

Thanksgiving is about more than gratitude; it’s about what we do with it. Here’s to a meaningful Thanksgiving and a fantastic week ahead and a special time for you with friends and family.?

Go Feed Your Journey,

David