What are you thankful for?

This past weekend, I and all my Canadian friends and colleagues celebrated Thanksgiving. Now, I know that a lot of you are American and celebrate next month (being further south than most of Canada — except Windsor, Ontario ;o) — your harvest is later than ours, hence, the later Thanksgiving date.

To people beyond North America, the concept of “Thanksgiving” is unfamiliar. Their forefathers didn’t celebrate the harvest the way we do, though I suspect that each country and culture has its own way of bowing their heads and gratefully acknowledging their blessings. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.

So let me ask you this — what is it that YOU are grateful for in your life?

In my live sessions, I often talk about how you control your own attitude and what a huge difference that attitude makes to how you communicate with others, and yourself! It begins with a sense of gratitude for what you have. That acknowledgment becomes the foundation of an attitude of gratitude. 

Even when things go awry, and they do, what’s the “gift”? What do you learn? How did you grow? What side of yourself or strength did you discover that you never really thought you had? How can you use this new knowledge and skill in the future?

Here’s the challenge: Name 10 things you’re grateful for in your life, right now. 

Go ahead, write them down. OK, I know that you might not have time to actually write them, so just count them out on your fingers. FAST! 

If you can’t think of 10 things off the top of your head, that’s your homework. Pull them to the surface. Let them bubble up. Mull it over, think about it, then jot them down. Keep them close at hand and revisit them every day. It will change your perspective forever.

As we wind down our Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations and our American friends get ready to celebrate theirs, let’s all take a moment to be grateful. It’s that attitude of gratitude that will set the tone for all your interactions — and THAT’s something to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

PS: Post your list of 10 on my blog and see what others have on their lists. Bet you’ll see some similarities … and ideas you may have overlooked.