The Heart of Thanks

Today, across America we recognize a single day focused upon giving thanks for what we have. Thanksgiving is often thought of as the doorway to the holiday season for many; Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa are a few celebrated here in America.

But it is set aside from the rest of the holiday celebrations as its core theme has remained intact, resisting most commercialization; it remains a day to celebrate blessings and care for those in need.

A Child’s Perspective:

As a child, I remember the smell of turkey and dressing, the deep red of cranberry sauce, and a cozy warm house. I was blessed, truly. As with all children, the innocence, magic, and even true purpose of holidays were stripped away – eventually being replaced with a focus around things instead of relationships.

Many fall victim to this trap, and never realize that which they are truly missing. Everything we do impacts our relationships – either strengthening their bonds or tearing them apart.

With the sudden failure of our economic engine, we all found ourselves turning our attention to the economic climate (or hiding our heads in a proverbial hole) – feeling alone and unsure of the world around us.

What was there to be thankful for? I know those who remain unemployed feel this ever so pointedly, which often seems to make posts like these seem insulting. With that acknowledged, the clarifying fact remains that thankfulness is simply a perspective one has which is often mistaken for  a set of circumstances. While it has become so very cliche, it could indeed always be worse.

Wouldn’t it be so very wonderful to have a child’s perspective on thankfulness?

Practicing Thankfulness:

Thankfulness might not always be on the tip of your tongue. In fact, if you ask a group of individuals to name five outstanding customer service experiences, a rare few can make it to five. However, ask them to name five negative experiences, most will have at least one for every finger on both hands (and possibly all ten toes as well).

You  have to practice being thankful. A friend of mine, John MacInnes (President of Print Audit), once shared a wonderful way in which he encourages his team to always frame their day and week: In their weekly meetings, they must cite one good thing that happened to them in the previous week and verbally praise another team member for something they did.

Wow! Do you go through your week consciously looking for good things like that?

American football legend and FOX NFL Sunday personality, Terry Bradshaw, told an expectant crowd at the recent Goodwill Industries’ Champion Tribute,

“If you can’t think of one good thing that happened to you, then you are wasting your breathe, friends.”

Giving Thanks:

I suppose there is a reason it is called giving thanks. It does take some effort, but it really does become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more you seek to be thankful, the more truly thankful you become.

I am thankful for:

• A deeper spiritual relationship, which has given me a broader perspective on what life should be spent focusing on (certainly not the stuff).
• The gift of and a richer and more meaningful relationship with my wife, whom I’ve shared the last 15 years of my life with.
• A true blessing, my daughter who was given to us on Thanksgiving Day six years ago this week.
• Even though they may be scattered across the country today, I am thankful for my family without which I would not be half of who I am today.
• All of my wonderful friends who I am honored to be counted among.
• The team with which I work; truly there has not been a finer team I have served with.
• Finally, all those whom I may or may not know that will challenge me to be better than I am today – and often without even knowing it.

I am a person full of thanks. While my circumstances may never be perfect, I can honestly say that I wake up each day (with the help of some strong coffee, mind you) thankful that I have another day – not to live – but to be alive!

Image courtesy of Saxon*.

Ken Stewart’s website, ChangeForge, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology in an information-centric world. Ken serves on the board of the new Managed Print Services Association, an international industry organization seeking worldwide best practices for the managed print services industry. He is also the founder of Seeking the Son. He is always interested in connecting with you.