Gratitude and Attitude

The Holidays are here - and depending upon your current work load or stress level - this time of year is either one you greatly enjoy or a time of additional stress. And yet like everything else in life our viewpoint is a matter of choice.

I had an interesting visit with a couple from Australia last weekend who were here visiting our family during a 'pre-Thanksgiving' gathering. They had never been to the States before so of course this was their first American Thanksgiving and they were very intrigued and wanted to learn more about why we reserve a day for 'giving thanks...'

The most interesting part of our conversation was how our Aussie friends were so taken by the fact that we choose to set aside a day to give Thanks for all we have and enjoy it with the people most important to us. They were aware of Thanksgiving in the States but presumed that it was simply a national holiday that was created to give people time off work or an excuse to go shopping (which is sadly too often the case these days...) And yet they picked up from the conversation through the afternoon and evening that we really do make it a point to express our gratitude for what we have. Their wonderment at our Thanksgiving tradition makes it even more special for me this year.

Certainly there are years when it is difficult to be thankful and filled with gratitude when things in our lives don't go the way we desired or planned. Yet even in those times we can look around and see others who are much less fortunate than ourselves.

Will you choose to be Thankful this Thanksgiving? Will you express it to your family, your co-workers, your friends?

Make it a Thankful day!