Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day10)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Ten.

I am thankful for you, the folks who read this blog.  While I am not famous, and this blog is not part of the "A-List", there are amazing people who come here often or just stumble past one time. 

I love to write, and it is therapeutic, but without someone reading their words, a writer is never complete.

I am grateful.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 9)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Nine.

I am thankful for my being optimistic and being one who can find the good in most situations. I usually see the world as full of opportunity (although I do get stressed out and lose my way from time to time). I appreciate that I learned young to choose to be happy... even when other choices might be easier.

I normally try not have a negative reaction to situations. I encounter people all the time who too quickly think that others are out to "screw them over" when there a parting of opinions. While I have known some who have taken advantage of me, most of the time misunderstandings are minor and most people I have worked with want to see a mutually beneficial solution.

I am very grateful for knowing so many people who want to watch others find success, and who do not look at the world as a zero-sum game. Those who enjoy knowing everyone can win are the best people to be around!

When I see those who get angry fast, harbor jealousy, or hold grudges over small things I feel bad for them. I am thankful that I discovered that few people are purely "bad". Even in adversary situations I am happy I try to seek understanding.

Anytime I deal with other humans I try to remember that everyone has "there own stuff". We cannot know their entire back-story or intuitively guess what they are thinking and feeling. Yet too many jump to conclusions and this brings problems (I know this because of first-hand experience where I interpreted the exact opposite of reality).

I know it might seem weird that I am thankful for this, but it really does bring me peace of mind (and that matters - maybe that is it... I am thankful for peace in my mind).

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 8)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Eight.

The experiences we have throughout our lives deeply shape who we become. I am thankful for all the experiences, good and bad, that have allowed me to get to this spot today.

As I thought about the power of experiences the big ones in my life came to mind:

*Getting married

*Having children

*Traveling

*An auto accident

*Writing my first book (and then eight others)

*The highs and low of a lifetime of working / career

*My mother's death

*Appearing on two game shows

*Buying a house

*Kate's surgery

*High school and college

*etc....

I could write volumes about how these major experiences have impacted me. I am grateful to have lived through my own life and would not be silly enough to desire to trade places with any other person.

However it is not just the milestone experiences that are important. The small things also matter. A smile from you spouse, a giggle from your kids, approval from your parents / siblings, sharing a beer with a friend and hearing about their life, a chance meeting with someone who becomes a mentor, and countless other things that may otherwise go unnoticed. They all matter.

I appreciate those things that I know I am too busy to notice.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 7)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Seven.

I am thankful to live in a country and a time in history where creativity can reign.  Not everyone on earth has the ability to achieve their goals and dreams, and throughout the ages there have been may obstacles that have limited  people from creating their own path.

I have had the ability to work for some amazing companies (and some that sucked).  Over the past three years I have made my own business and my family is able to share interesting experiences as we grow this company.  We are aware that we are fortunate in the adventure, and I am honored to be in the time and place that is allowing us to live a self-made life.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer 

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 6)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Six.

I am thankful for people who volunteer in our communities.  No one person can do everything necessary to save the world, and without the participation of those in our villages -  the world would be a mess.

Some give time, some give money, and others send "good vibes" to causes that serve the greater good.  We often forget the community volunteers and public servants who forgo the monetary rewards to contribute to our society.  This includes, but is not limited to those who help the children, the elderly, those in poverty, the environment, animals, etc.... 

Also most of our elected officials are giving of themselves to make the world a better place (I say most, because we all know that some of them are not helping much!).  I appreciate that there are people willing to serve in these leadership positions, as while it is fun to knock our political system.... it is the best around!

At different times in our lives we have differing abilities to jump in to the mix, roll up our sleeves, and volunteer.  It is not always the right time to be the person giving, but we should always be aware and grateful of those around us who are silently doing the unseen tasks that lift us all up.  I am fortunate to know many people who freely donate to their communities, and I do not think they are ever appreciated nearly enough.  

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 5)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Five.

I am grateful for my health, and that of my family.  We recently lost a friend to a long battle with cancer and another died suddenly of a heart attack.  Many people do not think about such things until life and death issues hit close to home.

My modified vegan diet over the last nine months has taught me much about health.  While I have not kept totally vegan since the end of Lent (I was strict for nearly 2 months in February - April), I now eat about 70% less meat and 90% less dairy than I ate in the past. These choices also eliminate much of the junk food that crosses my path.  I also find when I do indulge in something with meat or dairy, I eat less than I would have a year ago.  Making the right dietary choices is not easy, but over the long haul I feel fantastic.

I am conscious that my health is a gift that I cannot take for granted, and I am enjoying this stage in my life, as I know as I get older there will be bumps in the road.  I try to get to the gym two or three days a week (I come up short here sometimes), and know that I must keep up the exercise along with the diet to prolong my health into the future.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 4)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Four.

I am thankful for the opportunity to live in Austin, Texas. Twenty years ago we moved here with the intent of staying for 3 years. We did not intend to discover a growing community that would turn out to be such a wonderful place to raise a family and launch our careers.

Austinites have an unnatural love affair with their city. While most parts of Austin have changed a lot over two decades (it has nearly double the population), there is still a culture of openness, entrepreneurship, encouragement, and friendliness that has welcomed us and made this our home. The people are special and the opportunities are limitless. I wonder if I could have had the same success in a different location?

I often say we ended up here by accident, but it turned out to be just the right place. Every time I get a glance of the expanding skyline I feel a kinship to Austin and I am happy to have grown up with the community over the past twenty years.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 3)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Three.

Author Jim Rohn had a great saying:

 "You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with in your life".  

Think about that for a minute..... you are, in regards to your character.... and your soul.... the sum of the five people you spend the most time with in your life.  Wow.  If that is true, I am a very lucky guy, as my friends are amazing people.

I am fortunate that I have had always had associations with great people.  I am thankful for the people I call my friends.  They have always been there for me in good times and in bad times.  They have provided shoulders to lean on and have shared celebrations.  I understand and accept their quirks....and they do the same for me.

While over the course of a lifetime people will come and go, I have ongoing relationships with people I have known in all stages of my life journey.  (I only have one close friend with whom I had a bad ending and I regret that situation).  I appreciate the long-term and mutually beneficial connections and I openly honor the love of these people who are my friends.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 2)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day. Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day Two.

I have spent the last three years earning my living as a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant. While working as a "solo-entrepreneur" is difficult (and sometimes lonely), it has been a highlight of my eclectic and interesting career path.

I am grateful for the friends who have supported my efforts and referred me into their companies, law firms, and industry associations as a resource for training and speaker. This is a word-of-mouth business, and this experience has taught me more about the power of business relationships than I ever could have imagined. Those who took the time, effort and risk to refer me as a speaker or sales trainer into an organization are the cement in the foundation of my success.

I am appreciative of the clients for whom I have had the honor to serve. I have worked with great people who have made me feel like part of the family in their internal and external events. The meetings industry is not a cookie-cutter place. Each event, conventions, users conference, seminar, luncheon, sales meeting, training session, networking gathering, and trade show is different. The goals, needs, and expectations of every planner are not the same. I have loved working with everyone of the people I have met over the past three years.

I know how fortunate I am to have addressed audiences both large and small. I delivered over 150 presentations in the past 36 months and the organizations who have hired me have forever touched my life in more ways that anyone will ever fully understand. But I understand.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ten Days of Thanksgiving (Day 1)

Thanksgiving and the focus we give to appreciation should be more than one day.  Really, it should be everyday.

I am going to post about things I am thankful for each day for ten days to keep the feelings of gratitude going.

Day One.

I am thankful for my family.  I had great parents (mom is gone, dad is 97) who showed me the meaning of unconditional love.  I have three older brothers who have each contributed to my life (in good ways, for the most part),... and their families are delightful.  I married a wonderful woman who works hard to make our house a home.  And the kids.... wow, I am so grateful for my kids.  No words can describe it.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer