Greetings!,

Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving (even though the Lions lost)? I know the holiday was last week, and most of country is already focused on Christmas, but I wanted to revisit the start of the holiday season.

The following was sent to me from our contact at Jackson National Life. I received it too late to share with you last week. However, I felt the message was appropriate for so much more than just the 4th Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving is essential to our JOY! Not the holiday of course, but the actual thoughts and feelings of gratitude!

Appreciation can help us transform the external and circumstantial emotion of happiness into the internal state of joy, independent of events around us! In contrast to what the world may popularly want us all to believe, it is far more important that we focus on what we are, as opposed to simply what we do. We are human "beings," not human "doings" after all!

While we can be predisposed to focus on what is missing or going wrong in our lives (none of us needs to watch the news for any more reminders there,) a spirit of serving is born from a feeling of abundance – having more than enough. It’s when we appreciate how full our cup truly is, that we are prepared to serve others from it. I mean, who would argue that if we all did a little more of that; the world would not only be a better place, but we would all feel a little better about ourselves as well! 

We need only expand our awareness beyond ourselves to appreciate how blessed we are, which may be as easy as shifting our thoughts just a bit on how we currently think about something like scarcity. Consider perhaps, that the opposite of scarcity is NOT abundance . . . but rather, simply ENOUGH! My hope for all of you (who are actually still reading this) during your time relaxing this Thanksgiving, is that this small change may be helpful in truly feeling and experiencing JOY in your day . . . and of course, still find happiness in what you may be "doing."

Here are a few additional Thanksgiving quotes for reflection:

-The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. - H.U. Westermayer

-As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not utter words, but to live by them. - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

-For each new morning with its light for the rest and shelter of the night, for health and food and love and for friends. - Ralph Waldo Emmerson

-We can only be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. - Thorton Wilder

-Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. - Seneca

-A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. - Cicero

So while these sentiments may cataloged for Thanksgiving, I hope they kindle in you and burn not only for the coming season, but all seasons going forward.

As always, thanks for reading.



Bernie & Chad