It has been a very trying few weeks.  I’ve been working extraordinarily long days, six and seven days a week, feeling a lot of pressure on a couple of projects I’m on, and consistently finding myself behind the eight ball at the end of the day.  I’m not sleeping well.  OK, I’m exhausted.  And, if that’s not enough, I’m putting a little bit of weight on, because that’s what I do when I’m stressed. 

I struggled to focus on gratitude.

My husband, perhaps trying to give me an “out” from my writers’ cramp (gratitude cramp?), told me to stop trying.  “You don’t have to write something every single Thursday!  Maybe there just isn’t something to be thankful for today.”

Wha-a-a-a-at?

Today, I am thankful that every day there is something to be thankful for.

I started to compile a list of the usual – family, health, home, food, comforts.  But really, every day, it comes down to just one thing:

Simply being alive.  

My husband called his Dad later in the day to see how he was faring. We were happy to hear that one of Dad’s neighbors came over with a snowblower and cleared his sidewalk and driveway.  At the age of 79 and suffering from emphysema, clearing snow from a corner property is not what Dad should be doing on his own.

Dad’s neighborly “snow angel” reminded me that being of service doesn’t have to be through a non-profit organization,  or a community group, or any other coordinated effort.  Each of us can be of service to our fellow human being, if we open our eyes to see the need and open our hearts to fill it.

Here are simple ways we can all be snow angels.

Shovel a neigbor’s sidewalk, clear their steps, chip away any ice build-up.  If you have children, make it a family affair.  Think of the important lessons you will teach them kindness and compassion through your actions and enthusiasm.

If you are going to the grocery store, check if your neighbor needs anything. While you are talking to them, ask if their heat is working and if they have hot water, especially if your neighbor is elderly or in poor health.  Leave your phone number with them, just in case.

If you see someone struggling to push a shoppping cart through a slushy parking lot, give them a hand.  When you are done shopping, or perhaps when leaving work at the end of the day, you might have to brush or scrape your windshield before driving.  Take a moment to do the same for the car next to you.  It only takes two minutes to make someone’s day.

Imagine the possibilities if there were more snow angels, like my father-in-law’s neighbor.

I like to collect sayings on different topics.  You never know when a little extra inspiration might be needed!  Below are a few of the items I’ve pinned to my “Positivity” board.  Enjoy!  (Then, go set up your own Pinterest account and start pinning!)

Tuesday Tidbits are weekly messages I send to my leadership team. They are generally short & sweet, often focused on leadership or teamwork, always positive and, hopefully, motivational. I hope you also find some meaning in them.

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

And, I would add…mix well and share generously.  Happy new year!

Time for New Beginnings - by Taylor Addison

This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.

As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,

Remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained.

Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.

Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.

Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.

And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.

I have the great gifts of an amazing family and a small, but mighty, circle of friends.  I have a network of professionals I respect and admire and an unending network of fabulous people I’ve only met in cyberspace.  I’ve been blessed with overall good health, as have my husband and children.  I have a job I enjoy, co-workers I adore, and a hobby I love. 

I seem to have a gift for helping people find peace in the most trying situations, and for that I am humbly filled with gratitude.  I’ve been told on more than one occasion that my willingness to simply listen, my compassion for the suffering, and my sometimes peculiar way of looking at the world has helped another through a dark time.

I love learning and have been blessed with many opportnites to do so.  I’ve had wonderful teachers, coaches and informal mentors.  I am thankful for the lessons taught to me by the words and example of the people I work with.  I love, love, love books and am fortunate to own many of them supporting my learning; my leadership library is one of my prized possessions.

Of course, not all is perfect.  But, by standing firmly in gratitude I am able to embrace challenges and see opportunity ahead, accept pain as temporary and seek possibility through healing.  Sadness comes and goes, but I always strive to get through it to the joy that I know waits on the other side.

I can’t possibly quantify all that I have to be thankful for.  I just hope that I honored those blessings enough in the past year, and that I never, ever take them for granted.

I hope all of us have a happy 2012; even, perhaps, a year filled with nothing less than joy and gratitude.  Happy New Year!

Why wait until a gift is given to be thankful? In the spirit of “Thanks-living,” I am filled with gratitude for gifts already present in my life. These gifts don’t come with ribbons and bows, are not wrapped in silver and gold, silver and gold, and they are not shared only on December 25.

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but I don’t have to wait for friends to be there. I encounter them everyday at work, online, or at various gatherings throughout the year.

It’s not the reindeer up on the housetop that I need to wait for, it’s being thankful that I even have a roof over my head. I have a wonderful home in a very nice house in a great neighborhood and know that many others do not have even the most basic shelter.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, but it is also fun to drive to my daughter’s nearby home or hop on a plane to visit our son farther away. It’s wonderful to spend time with our daughter and son-in-law; we are lucky they are close by. We are fortunate that we can afford to travel to see our son and his family. Many others can’t – either due to finances or poor health – leave home.

We may sing praises of a long ago baby away in a manger, but technology helps me enjoy the new baby in our lives; our first grandson, just born last month. There is nothing like getting a quick snapshop in a text from my son. Our daughter-in-law sent a video last week of the baby cooing and smiling. We can skype or facetime with the entire family.

If we are lucky enough to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, I am blessed with a great husband who will go walkin’ in the winter wonderland with me. He may not be quite as excited about some of the small wonders and joys of life as I am, but he indulges me! I think, in his own secret way, he has learned to appreciate them, too.

There are many reasons to be a jolly, happy soul – every day of the year. Don’t wait to find the presents underneath the Christmas tree; look around you for the gifts you already have.

What gifts do you have today? What are you thanks-living for? Please add a comment and share your joy!

Success

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

What would you add to the above definition of success? 

Tuesday Tidbits are weekly messages I send to my leadership team. They are generally short & sweet, often focused on leadership or teamwork, always positive and, hopefully, motivational. I hope you also find some meaning in them.

First, there is the natural curiosity and innocence of the very young.  Then, boundaries are stretched as independence is tested.  And, at some point, before you know it, your little one has grown up.  As parents, we have to shift from being involved in nearly every move they make to watching from afar hoping they stand strong on their own.

I think I’m on target when I say that all of us hope that our precious little children evolve into joy-filled, productive and caring adults.

Most parents work tirelessly to give their little children strong roots.  Things like personal values, integrity, and compassion; an appreciation of what is right in the world, the intolerance of what is not, and the courage to try and change it.  We hope our children will work hard and then be rewarded.  We want nothing less than happiness and peace for our children, though we know that sadness and unrest are sure to come along.

In the spirit of Thanks-living, today and every day, I am thankful for the woman that my little girl has turned out to be.

My daughter, Heather (aka @prTini), is a successful entrepreneur, president of Geben Communication.  She has a heart for those who have all kind of disadvantages; for example, she has served on the board of an organization helping battered women and last year she journeyed to Haiti to learn how the people are overcoming the tragic earthquake of a couple years ago.  Heather generously shares her knowledge and experiences with public relations students at local colleges and industry peers across the country. She inspires many with the courage of her convictions, the passion she brings to her work, and the kindness of her heart.

Heather is also  a lot of fun to be around.  She loves sports – especially her New York Yankees!  She loves politics – Election Day is her favorite day of the year.  She is a spark in a crowd; a great conversationalist and a kind listener.  Sit down and share a glass of red wine with her and you’ll instantly want to spend more time getting to know her better.  Heather is also married to a man who couldn’t be a better match for her, nor a better son-in-law and member of our family.

Tuesday night, I had the privilege of attending her first company holiday open house.  The theme was fun, the atmosphere was light, the food and decor festive.  As my husband and I stood across the room and observed her happily interacting with her employees, her clients, and her vendor contacts, we couldn’t help but smile with happiness and gratitude.

Our  precious little daughter has grown to up to be that joy-filled, productive and caring adult we prayed, hoped and dreamed she would be.

For example, I am a past board member of The Ohio Business Week Foundation, my Mom has Alzheimers, my Dad died of cancer, my son is a veteran and my daughter supports specific women’s organizations.  As a result, I tend to pay attention to those non-profits or to charitable organizations that serve those populations.

It is very easy, however, to be sucked in by groups that don’t use donations in the way they advertise, or don’t use dollars in the most efficient manner.  Unfortunately, many people also fall victim to fake organizations preying on the holiday spirit of giving and generosity.

Charity Navigator is the solution, offering valuable and reliable information about thousands of charities, ranking them based on numerous categories.  The post below originally ran in 2009 but the information is just as valid today.  Before you give, take just a few minutes to investigate.  You work hard for your money; make sure your gifts are put to good use.

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There are so many ways to contribute time, money and other resources toward the greater good.  For several months now, Sunday Service posts have spotlighted very worthy causes, but I’ve just barely scratched the surface.  This week, instead of a particular organization, I am sharing a very useful resource to help all of us make good decisions about how to best invest precious dollars.

The Charity Navigator bills itself as “your guide to intelligent giving.”  According to the website,

Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,300 of America’s largest charities.

You can choose a certain category to explore, such as charities related to animals, the environment, arts, human services and more.  You can research which charities are the most fiscally responsible.  You can see which new charities are up-and-comers.  You can be alerted to charities that are in deep financial trouble.

If you set up a free account on the website, you can also:

• Create a personalized portfolio of charities to watch
• Share charity recommendations with family and friends
• Perform side-by-side comparisons of charities
• Post comments about charities
• Suggest additional charities to be watched

In today’s economy, your dollars are more precious than ever.  However, the need is also greater than ever.  Continue to give, but let the Charity Navigator help you make the best use of your funds.