The Power of Gratitude

It’s hard to believe that we have reached Thanksgiving week already-where has the year gone?! This week brings up a bunch of memories of Thanksgivings past… from early years of a house full of uncles, aunts, and cousins at Grandma Stubbe’s house, to hosting our family at the house in Cherokee, to having a quiet meal out nowadays…. the day is always full of great food and making connections with family. The day has changed over the years….definitely quieter, no travel, and less connection.

As we step into Thanksgiving week, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is—especially in the rush of everyday life—to focus on what’s missing-the people we don’t see anymore, the things we wish we had, the jealousy of what others have that we don’t, the opportunities we hoped would show up-it’s a mindset that hits all of us at times, and before we know it, we start measuring our lives by what we lack instead of by what we’ve gained and what we have.

Thanksgiving offers us a reset. It gives us a chance to pause and take stock of what we truly have-be it material things, great jobs, meaningful friends, supportive family, and many other things.

The truth is, we all have far more to be grateful for than we sometimes acknowledge. For example, think of the people who support us, the communities we belong to, the opportunities we’ve been given (like a new coaching job!), or the experiences that have helped shape us. This might even be the challenges that made us stronger than we were a year ago. Gratitude helps us see those things clearly again. And when we shift our focus toward gratitude,I think something powerful happens: we become happier, more content, and worry less.

This time of year reminds us that gratitude is not just a holiday theme—it is and should be a daily practice. It’s choosing to celebrate what is instead of dwelling on what isn’t. It’s noticing the small blessings we often overlook. And it’s recognizing that no matter what we’re striving for, we already have so much right here, right now.

As you gather with family and friends this week—or even if your celebration looks quieter this year like mine—I hope you’ll take a few moments to reflect on the gifts in your life. This includes the people who make your days meaningful. It includes the opportunities you’ve been trusted with. And, it includes the experiences, big and small, that remind us how fortunate we really are.

This Thanksgiving, lets choose gratitude not as a reaction to one holiday, but as a mindset we carry with us long after the food is gone and family members have gone back home. We become better when we appreciate what we already have, and we grow stronger when we recognize the good that surrounds us.

One thing we did at times at Thanksgiving was go around and express what we were thankful for. I am incredibly grateful for all of the amazing people in my world who make my life better every day and keep me moving forward. I appreciate all of you who loyally read the newsletter each week and I am especially thankful for those of you who respond to the newsletters! I wish you a joyful, peaceful, and gratitude-filled Thanksgiving. Let’s never forget how much we already have to be thankful for!

Have a great Thanksgiving week!

Coach K