What Is Thanksgiving?

As we enter the month of December, the season where we celebrate the birth of Christ, and as we enjoy the season that so many of us look forward to, I want to glance backwards a bit. Those that know me, know I love to pose questions that cause you to think in a different way. I believe one of the keys to a successful life is to ask the right questions. I don’t believe it is critical to have the “right” answer. The act of asking and then pondering the question is the gift, unto itself.

In that spirit I ask you… What is Thanksgiving? If I were to say Thanksgiving… what might come to your mind? I believe the answer most people would give is something like this…

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in America. It is usually the 4th Thursday in November. It is celebrated with a feast, football, family and friends. On Friday morning, even before the “waste” from the evening has been fully discharged… the Christmas season has begun, and the “Thanksgiving” has ended.

As families sit around the table one of the common rituals is for everybody to go around the table and say one thing that they are thankful for. And it is a great opportunity to hear people of all ages and of all “happiness factors” share what they are thankful for. We eat too much, we get a 4 day holiday and we prepare to shop.

What If We Thought About Thanksgiving a Different Way?

I think most people would agree with the previous two paragraphs as a good example of what someone might say posed with the question above. I want you to challenge your thinking and ask another question… What if…

... Click here to read the whole article. Also, see today's Action Plan for more.

If you've graduated from Leadership Awakening, you may have fallen away from doing your daily '5 & 5' writing. Because this exercise includes writing down 5 things you are grateful for, it is an excellent opportunity for you to rekindle your power of gratitude.

Here's another simple one: be sure to say 'thank you' to at least 5 people every day. By expressing your appreciation you create positive feelings and thoughts, not only for the person you thank, but also for yourself.

Can't think of 5 people you want to thank? Rather than require something extraordinary to happen first, find something - any little thing - that you appreciate about the person. For example you could thank your spouse for making dinner tonight. Or, you could thank the person who opens the door for you at a hotel or restaurant. How about thanking the teller at the bank?

This simple act, if done regularly over time will make a surprisingly large improvement in your life. Give it a shot and see what happens!

It's a great day to be alive!! Saying just "thanks" to you and the EmpowerU staff isn't enough. I attended the Leadership Awakening class in April and have sent over 20 others from my company already and there will be many more attendees in the future. It was truly a life changing experience and I am forever grateful to you.

One of the things that I love about Leadership Awakening is that it doesn't matter who you are or where you are in your life or what you have accomplished already... there's SO MUCH MORE! The training reinforced that life is precious and unpredictable so we should all live every day with passion. as if it were our last! When you live your life like it matters. it really does!

Most recently was our Leadership Adventure training in Texas. What a powerful weekend! We didn't just learn about teamwork, we "experienced" it with the beautiful outdoors as our classroom. This class is an absolute must for all Awakening graduates and the experience will bring the entire team special memories for the rest of their lives!

"LIVE IT" and make a difference in the world, one day at a time!

Thanks again!!

Steve Balbierz P.E.
Vice President
Wood Rodgers, Inc.

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