Who Can You Thank Today?

Seems really hard to believe that another holiday season is upon us, but I am glad it is. I think Thanksgiving might be my very favorite holiday. Not because Christmas isn’t fun, (not to mention central to the whole story and purpose of history) but because it is generally pretty laid back and relaxing.

Now before you throw that turkey pan at me, I understand that if you are entertaining on Thursday you have a lot to do. But here is an idea for you, one I have had to learn myself. Don’t be a martyr about it, ask for help if you need it, and no matter what happens remember some people just want to be miserable, so don’t let one grouch ruin it for you!

This time of year there are a lot of ideas out there about gratitude and thankfulness. An “attitude of gratitude” is much more productive than being a selfish, self-centered, well, whatever (this is a family blog – no bad words allowed) 🙂

But don’t keep it to yourself. Open your mouth and express gratitude too.

All the 12 year olds out there reading this might be surprised, but the world doesn’t revolve around you. Your mom loves you, but she probably isn’t laying her head on the pillow at night thinking “Oh goody, I get to do more laundry tomorrow, and I sure hope little Jimmy doesn’t volunteer to put the dishes in the dishwasher, because then I will get to do it instead!”

But do we adults act any different? I know I don’t all the time. I often find myself taking a lot of what happens around me for granted. I drive on well maintained roads to work every day. Heck I drive a car to work every day. I drive from my heated home, from which I woke up in a nice bed next to my incredible wife. My three kids are safe and sound when I leave, and I food in the house so they can eat breakfast. I have it better than 99.9% of the world, and yet if someone cuts me off in traffic am I more likely to let it roll, or try to roll over him? Do I take half a millisecond to consider what he might be going through, or that people make mistakes, or do I just go off? Kinda silly to think so little can get us so worked up, isn’t it?

I have also found that a little more kindness and a little more gratitude, and a little less “gotta have my way” goes a long way. You know the old saying “familiarity breeds contempt”? Does that ever creep into your life like it does mine? What is it if not contempt to walk by someone every day and not acknowledge they exist? To grab that cup of coffee your spouse made for you and not say thank-you? To shush your daughter when she wants to tell you about what she learned in school, or about the birthday party she got invited too? Guilty.

Being kind is free. It doesn’t cost money to smile. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to say “thank-you” to the barista. Yeah I know they are getting paid to do a job, but so what? Don’t we all need a little more appreciation? Talk to the check-out person. Nicely. You might be the only person who does so all day.

Don’t keep your gratitude to yourself. You have incredible power. You might change someone’s life by telling them how much you appreciate them.

But even better you might change your own life.

And that’s something to be thankful for.

So Thank-You.

If you are reading this in some way, shape or form you are part of the Get Fit NH family.

Of my family.

And for that I am blessed indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Coach Dean