Are You Remembering to Give Thanks?

What do you remember about Thanksgiving last November? Was it the family gathering round, the smells of fresh turkey, ham, or other staple in the oven or maybe it was the smell of freshly baked pies? Did you think it was the perfect time to think about the people in your life you are thankful for? Thanksgiving shouldn't be the only time that we stop, give thanks and celebrate the people and blessings we have in our life.

It is very easy to become so accustomed to the people around us being a certain way that we stop really being conscious of the difference they make for us and how uniquely special they are. Without realizing it, we can gradually take for granted those people who make our lives more rich, fun, enjoyable and rewarding.

So who is it that you appreciate? Perhaps those who immediately come to your mind are members of your family or close friends. That's great, but have you told them lately just how much you appreciate them? As I remind my husband Andrew, "One thing you never have to conce
yourself with is appreciating me too much or too often!" (And I wonder why he calls me needy? ;)) Seriously though, Giving Thanks doesn't have to be limited to ThanksGiving.

A little less close to home, I am sure there are people in your workplace you appreciate and enjoy working with, some you may know quite well, others less so. People don't necessarily need to have a significant role in your life for you to take a moment to thank them for being cheerful, helpful, dependable or thoughtful. Of course you may feel kind of corny telling your boss how much you appreciate him or her; but if you've ever had a lousy boss, you know how miserable they can make your life.

Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart once said "Appreciate everything your associates do. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They're absolutely free and worth a fortune." Putting your appreciation into words (as distinct from gift giving) is guaranteed to brighten someone's day; but tomorrow, when you've long forgotten those few words you spoke, you may be leaving them with a memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Words are powerful, and positive words that lift people up are the most powerful of all.

On that note, thank YOU for taking the time to stop and reflect with me what sometimes we take for granted. When you take the time to thank "you," you are taking the focus off of "me." For even just a short period of time, when you do that, you are releasing the pressures of a sometimes very hectic and stressful life and relieving the heavy yoke of being self-centered.

I invite you to take a little extra time today and show your friends, family, colleagues, and even those sometimes that you sometimes are at odds with or don't even know that you do wish them well; take a few seconds to show them you appreciate them. When you say "Thank You," it's hard not to say those words without having a lift in your voice, a twinkle in your eyes, and a smile on your lips. Just maybe they'll turn around and pass those words on. Consider it your good deed for the day! I guarantee you will feel better having done so.