As the Executive Director of the USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education, I have the privilege of submitting this monthly thought piece. My usual objective here is to provide a brief direction or encouragement to individuals and companies that might benefit from the variety of courses and programs we offer. But I’m not going to do that this month. In the spirit of Thanksgiving Day, I’d like to take a bit of a different direction—and I hope you’ll indulge me.
With a new calendar year just around the corner, I’ve been thinking 2018 has been pretty good to me. In counting my blessings, here’s what immediately comes to mind: a household of loving family members, a great job with great co-workers at a great institution, and wonderful friends. But there is something I need to do to consciously appreciate the people and things that are dear to me. I have to be intentionally grateful. Otherwise, when life runs in hyper-drive I’m prone to take these gifts for granted.
Let’s face it: adult life has a tendency to be busy. In managing jobs, home life, and social calendars on a daily basis, it can be easy to forget how good we have it. But being busy isn’t necessarily negative. Ideally, being busy means life is full of activity that gives back meaning, purpose, and reward. And in the midst of our busyness, being grateful becomes a big piece of our physical and emotional wellbeing. Continually giving thanks—before, during, and after Thanksgiving Day—is good for our hearts.
Living with a constant sense of gratitude doesn’t mean pretending that everything’s great all of the time. Life brings highs, lows, and a bunch of mundane in-betweens. And even when life isn’t perfect, it helps to be thankful—regardless. When gratitude is at the center of my being, it’s a healthy acknowledgement of the help I’ve received along the way. I’d like to think I’ve worked hard throughout my career to get where I am, but I’ve also been—and still am—the beneficiary of many caring, generous sources.
In my youth, Thanksgiving Day mostly meant a four-day weekend, a big meal, and parades and football on the television. Those rituals are still nice, but I now try to keep my greatest treasures—those counted blessings—at the forefront of the holiday. I hope you will, too. Soon enough, it’ll be time to resume writing about career advancement and keeping up with the competition. For now, let’s be thankful and appreciate the people and things we cherish most.
