Today is Thanksgiving: a day of gratitude, and a day of thanks for all of the gifts we have, and that we continue to receive.

For those who do not have, those who are hungry, those with sick children, relatives, and family– all those who are suffering– what do they do today?

I read this quote about leadership, yet to me it defines the idea of gratitude in the race of challenges and difficulties.

To try, to fall, to fear, and yet to keep going.

No matter who we are, no matter how bad it is– we can be grateful, and we can find the gifts that we have, versus all of the challenges that we are facing.

I have a friend who owns gyms and restaurants– two businesses that have been decimated by the current pandemic. I said to my friend, “Tell me the truth… how are you really doing?”

He looked me right in the eye, and with full sincerity, he said, “Truly, I’m great. I’m broke, but I’m great!” He went on to tell me his children are well, he has a roof over his head, he is fed, an all that good that he has in his life.

Gratitude is so much more than an expression of thanks; it is a mindset, and it is a perception. Gratitude is our way of seeing life as the glass being half full.

Many of us are victims, and many of us have reasons to fear, to worry, and to be sad. The questions I ask myself when these circumstances befall me are: Will it help to be sad? Will it help to worry? What can I be grateful for? What is good, and what can I appreciate?

Please do not get me wrong– I do not always succeed. Many times, I sit in my sadness, my worry, my fear, and I do not judge anyone for doing this. Yet, it does not help! If it did, I would encourage it, because sometimes life is really tough, and times are really hard.

This week, let’s take 2 minutes out of every day, and write down what we are truly thankful and grateful for. Let’s focus on what we have, instead of what we don’t.

Accountability, Community, Unconditional Love

Asher