I enjoy everything about Thanksgiving. In my part of the country, the change in weather is refreshing after a hot and steamy summer. The air feels cool and crisp (ask me in February, though, and that same “cool and crisp” leans more toward “cold and gray”). There’s a sense of anticipation in the air, because Thanksgiving is not only a wonderful time to share with family and friends, but it’s a gateway to the entire Holiday Season.
Thinking back to my childhood, it seemed like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas took f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Now, it seems to rush by too quickly and I must force myself to slow down and be in the moment. Somehow, though, I do manage to remind myself at important moments to just sit and savor that piece of time. It might be while listening to my granddaughter tell me a story about her new friend, or sharing a memory with my daughter about something she did while growing up. But it’s having the freedom and sense of place to let those moments “be” that make me appreciate this time of year most.
Another thing I’m thankful for around now is to be back in the office. From the early spring to late fall, I do a lot of traveling for business. Now don’t get me wrong – I enjoy travel and the opportunity to spend time with our agencies, learn and experience new places and things. My role as the leader of Home Helpers Home Care makes travel both necessary and possible. But by mid-November, my work travel is pretty much done for the year. I can go to the office and re-connect with my staff. It’s a pleasure to be in my office and hear the muffled conversations, punctuated on occasion with the big group laugh. Yep, that’s my team and they respect each other and enjoy being together.
Being back in the office also reminds me to be thankful for the extraordinary, dedicated group of professionals that we’ve put together at Home Helpers® Home Care. While our office owners will always be laser-focused on providing Exceptional Care, our staff is always just as focused on supporting our owners in our joint mission. This means a lot of change as we work to provide everything from new technology solutions to how we support owner services and marketing. I won’t bore you with the specifics, but it’s a lot of work with some unique challenges. I’m thankful for a team that’s not only willing to step up and meet those challenges, but also look for the next one. It’s truly an extraordinary group and it’s a pleasure to lead them.
Of course, I can only speak from my own experience, so thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts with you. What sent me down this particular path was the following quote from Oprah Winfrey:
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
What resonated with me is that I found that I already think this way. Making a mental note to “be in the moment” and appreciate all that I have. My family, my faith, my friends, the owners and staff, everyone with whom I share so much time, energy and passion to be good at what we do and strive toward excellence. As usual, Oprah is right – if you focus on what you don’t have, you’ll never have enough.
I’m thankful, and appreciative, for all I have. I hope as Thanksgiving approaches, you feel the same.
