It is time to be more thankful, even if you have less!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Historically it is a holiday where people gather and give thanks for all the blessings in their lives. Unfortunately, and possibly consistent with the adage that we are all victims of our time and place, the Thanksgiving spirit does not seem to be as prominent as in years past. Instead, too many people seem to be focusing on what they do not have or what they can not do this year because of no job, less money, etc. rather than recognizing all their blessings. It leads me to question whether it is easier to give thanks when you have an abundance of "stuff" or when you have less than what you had hoped for but still plenty to forge ahead? My belief is that it appears easier to give thanks when things are going well. However, it is when things are not going so well that you need to be even more thankful.

Despite the ever-floundering economy, bleak job and housing market outlook, and overarching sentiment that we are in some of the worst financial times in our country's history, I am more thankful this year than ever before, and it has nothing to do with how much or how little "stuff" I have. While I am not insulated from any of the stressors or pressures facing others, I am choosing to be thankful for what I have. So I will be giving thanks because I am married to my best friend, my wife and I are healthy, my family is doing well, my friends are the best, and I am challenged and rewarded everyday professionally. Granted I face challenges daily, but not one, let alone all of them together, can detract how thankful I am for my family, friends, and the opportunities presented to me thus far in my life. Call it strange, but I am also thankful for the less favorable times, bad breaks, or unexplainable, shitty situations presented to me throughout my life. Simply put, I am thankful for the way things are because it offers something very powerful - perspective. I am a big believer that you do not enjoy the highs when you have not experienced the lows.

Ultimately, I am more excited for the present and the future than I have ever been in my life. I see nothing but opportunity in my professional life. I am more involved civically and philanthropically than ever before, and I fully intend to continue to be so. I am in control, and while the economy and outside influences may be distracting and somewhat limiting, they will not be prohibitive. I undoubtedly will face dissapointment, failure, and downright heartache as my life moves forward, but I will continue to be thankful. All the while, my goals will not flutter, and I will achieve them all.

So I challenge you to be more thankful this year than you have in years past. Do not take things for granted and do not ever feel a sense of entitlement. If you fail, be thankful that you will have a chance to succeed in the future. If you have succeeded, be thankful for the opportunity to do so. If you think you have nothing to be thankful for, drop me a line and I will help you brainstorm.

As Dicky Fox said in Jerry Maguire, :

Hey, I don't have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I failed as much as I have

succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. And I wish you my kind of success.