This Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving. If you live in the Greater Hartford area your day might look like this:
- Running in the Manchester Road Race
- Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Watching the Football Games on TV
- Settle in for Turkey and all of the trimmings
Here are 4 Reasons to be as Grateful Every Day as Thanksgiving:
1) Family
Granted, maybe by the end of Thanksgiving Day you will have had enough of your family. But, that’s not the point. Be grateful for your family. Make sure they stay close. There is strength in numbers.
2) Health
If you have your health, you are good to go. Nothing else is needed. Unfortunately, it’s only when you get sick that you even begin to think about your health. Don’t take this one for granted. Generally, people appreciate this more as they get older. Oh, one key point, health is not a spectator sport however. You need to participate in this one. This will mean taking care of the basics. Nothing new here, diet, exercise and sleep are right at the top of the list.
3) Employment / Career
OK…this one is a little more challenging. The national unemployment number is around 9%. I know this number is understated. What’s the real unemployment rate? I don’t know. Let’s just agree that it’s more than what the government publishes every month. Face it, it’s tough out there, no question. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, “Getting a job is tough.” If you are employed, be grateful. If you aren’t, you will likely need to increase your efforts to get a job. This might require more networking. Maybe you need to update your skills by taking a class at the local community college. Or, perhaps it’s time to start your own business.
4) You Live in the United States
If you live in the United States you have already won the lottery. No, not the Powerball lottery where you sit on the couch and they send you money every month for the rest of your life. This is the opportunity lottery. Despite all of the challenges we face, it is still by far the best place to live.
ACTION ITEM: Don’t wait for next Thanksgiving to be grateful. There are 4 Reasons to be as Grateful Every Day as Thanksgiving listed above. Please add your own in the comments below.
Thomas F. Scanlon, CPA, CFP®
Photo From Creative Commons
I include friends with family. Together they make an unbeatable combination! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving – happy holidays!
Peter,
I totally agree!
Regards,
Tom