Today Is The Day To Plan For More Of The Best Times

Welcome to the holiday season!

During the Thanksgiving weekend, did you get what you needed?

• Where were you?
• How did you spend your time?
• Did you experience some down time?
• Were you able to spend time with people that matter most to you?

As you think about your answers, I encourage you to remember that life is short and precious. And, as we all know, life is happening now. Living your life requires you to be present, as nobody has ever lived in the past or experienced the future before it happened.

With the December holidays on the horizon, I want you to think about your favorite memory from this past holiday. What emotion is tied to that memory? How do you create more experiences like that one, and how can you enhance that emotion?

The holiday season is a time of giving. But, it’s easy to forget the act of giving is NOT about material things, for material things do not ultimately lead us to happiness. Giving is about connecting with others, showing gratitude, expressing love and being of service. It is through these gestures that we can truly experience the holiday season.

We step back to work today for just a few weeks before many of us take a break for the holidays. It is during this time that we, as business leaders, get to put an exclamation point on what has been a truly unique and extraordinary year.

Take the time to think about how to make December the most fulfilling and amazing holiday season for you and those around you. Then, take affirmative action each day to make your vision a reality.

I encourage you to make the most of the time you have, and spend it (in person or virtually) with those who matter most to you. And, finally, remember that gratitude works, gratitude scales and gratitude creates a cycle of more gratitude. So, when in doubt, turn to gratitude to elevate your self awareness and amplify your positive energy.

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” - Johannes A. Gaertner, art history professor, theologian, poet.