A Thoughtful Thanksgiving: A Tribute to the True Meaning of the Holiday

 

Not only does Thanksgiving mark the kick-off to the holiday season (though many retailers have been advertising for what seems like months now), but it is a unique holiday in that it is not about giving gifts but about giving thanks. Its sole purpose is to bring family and friends together to reflect on what we are thankful for in life as we enjoy the abundance of feast and the harvest of our blessings. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take a step back from your hectic life (and the stresses of holiday planning) and focus on the “thanks” portion of Thanksgiving. Put your pen to paper and make a list of the things you are thankful for this year. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

~Look around you. As you begin your list, start with the most obvious things from your day to day life. (This should be the easiest of the challenges). A few items on my list would be: my loving family, my generous friends and good health. Our lives are so hectic and stressful that many times we take our loved ones for granted; thus, clouding our vision of how truly blessed we are to have these folks in our lives.  Having lost my dad when I was 12 years’ old, I learned early on to truly appreciate my family and those closest to me, and to let them know daily how special they are to me. It may sound cliché, but today is a good day to let those close to you know how much you love and appreciate them.  Life is too short; live with no regrets.  

~Think big picture.  For the next part of your list, consider the bird’s eye view of your life and incorporate the big picture items for which you are thankful. A few things that come to mind for me are living in the United States, not facing persecution for religious expression, and the overall freedoms we enjoy in America. Even though we are constantly exposed to the hardships and tragedy our world is facing through the nightly news, I must admit that it’s easier not to think about how close to home some of these issues are. We are blessed to call the U.S. home and to have the freedom to live out our dreams if we so choose.  We are a blessed nation.

~Live a life of gratitude every day. Thanksgiving should not be the one day of the year you consider the blessings in your life. I challenge you to make gratitude lists not just on or around Thanksgiving, but year round. I know it is easier said than done, but making a weekly list of the things you are thankful for can really have an impact on your life. These lists don’t need to be lengthy or even complete sentences. Just jotting down some of the things you are thankful for each week will immediately impact your attitude and outlook, which in turn can cause a positive chain reaction in your life. On “off” days when things just don’t seem to be going your way, your lists will equip you with an arsenal that you can use to keep things in perspective and put a smile on your face.

As I get wiser in my years, I’m reminded that it’s important to be thankful for everything that has happened in our lives because we wouldn’t be where we are today without the course that history has taken. I think there’s an old Garth Brooks song along those lines… “Unanswered Prayers.”  This Thanksgiving, let’s collectively look past the turkey and football games, and use the spirit of the holiday to reflect on and recognize the things in life that make us blessed. In doing so, I assure you that your Thanksgiving meal will be a lot more meaningful – and maybe even tastier – than it has ever been in the past.

~ Have a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by the ones you love. ~

            For additional Thanksgiving inspiration and recipes for some of my favorite dishes, check out my special holiday board on Pinterest. 

 

Photo Courtesy of OpenClips.

 

Doubly Duty: Being a Parent and a Working Professional

 

Between running a business and being a full-time mom, I’m constantly searching for ways to work smarter, not harder. My husband, who also works long-hours, and I try to create that delicate balance between family (we have a toddler) and work life. We have found that in order to have a good balance between the two, we use as many resources at our disposal as possible. Here are a few things that work for us:
 

                -While traveling for business, use technology, such as Face Time, to stay connected with your family. Our firm has clients throughout North America which requires my traveling to conduct or participate in meetings or events.  With today’s technology, I can Face Time or Skype from my smartphone or laptop, which makes home never feel too far away. Having these Face Time moments with my family during my travel has helped me not miss out on important events, talk about each other’s day as if I were at the dining room table, and has been reassuring for my daughter to see me “on the TV” while I’m on the road. On occasion, I’ll bring back a little memento for her as a reminder that I am always thinking about her while I’m away. This also creates a learning opportunity as I can use the souvenir as a tool to teach her about the place I just visited.

                -Adding the family to a business trip.  I’ve seen many families at the airport this summer with at least one briefcase toting parent clearly ready to hit their meeting upon deplaning. My husband and I recently did something similar during a trip to Canada. A client invited my husband to join in the social activities between meetings, and with the client’s help, we were able to arrange a baby sitter for our daughter while attending work-related events. We had a set itinerary regarding which portion of the trip would be work and which would be vacation. Once I completed the business portion of our trip, it was time to focus on family time. These trips can be cost effective, worthwhile, and fun for everyone involved, if managed correctly. 

                -Identify flexible times in your daily schedule for family. Family schedules can be particularly challenging during the summer months when the kids are out of school attending various summer camps or day camps, or wanting to have a play date with a friend. It takes some planning, but there are ways to assure that work does not suffer while shuttling the kids to that next important summer event.  It is critical that your work obligations do not suffer, so if you are out of the office some during the day, be prepared to check emails after hours to stay on top of things. Being a part of their summer fun can be amazingly rewarding. I had the honor of taking our daughter to her second summer of music classes at TCU. She loved it and I relished the time we shared together during that time each week.  
 

                Everyone’s family dynamic and profession is different, so finding equilibrium between work and family life may be different from ours, but by reevaluating and making some minor adjustments to your schedule, you can get one step closer to life balance happiness. And that, my friend, is worth working toward.

 

Photo Courtesy of: geralt