The month of November is when we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States.  This a time of family getting together and being grateful for whatever has happened to us during the year.

The holiday supposedly originated way back in the early days of the United States when the pilgrims got together with the local natives to celebrate a good fall harvest.

Since so many of us no longer work on farms, we may have forgotten the origin of the holiday.  And, with families spread all over — whether across town, across the US, or around the world — sometimes, it is hard for everyone to get together at the same time.  It’s also hard for some people to spend time with relatives they may only see once a year.  Others place great store on the "tradition" of whatever is served for a special Thanksgiving meal and are thrilled to see their favorite relatives — if only once a year.

Corporations and businesses often take this holiday as a time to be grateful for all the good things that have happened during the year as well.

This year, there are many reasons to be grateful and there are many reasons for some people to feel less exuberant than they might in other years.

No matter your situation, there are always things to be grateful for.  People can choose to focus on the good things in their life or they can focus on all the things that are "wrong" or "not good."

What ever you focus on, expands.  So if you focus on the good things and really appreciate whatever is good, then you will notice more good than bad.  If you focus on the bad things or "lack" of things, then those things will be what you notice.

Every day, every hour, every minute is a conscious choice – do I focus on the good things I already have or do I focus on what I don’t have?

The sun does shine every single day somewhere.  

The air that we breathe surrounds us every single day.  

Most of us reading this have shelter to keep us warm at night — a home, an apartment, a room — a place where we can feel safe and secure. 

Most of us have friends that we are in touch with on a somewhat or regular basis.  

Most of us have some type of "family" — our birth family or people we feel are our adopted family.

If we have a business or a job or a career or a pension that brings us money regularly, we are very blessed.

If we have family we love, we are very blessed.

If we have friends we care for and who care for us, we are very blessed.

If we have food to eat regularly, we are very blessed.

If we have shelter most of the time, warmth when we need it or a place we can call our own, we are very blessed.

This month, take some time every day to notice what you feel grateful about in your life.  Once you start making the list, it will tend to grow and you will notice even more things to be grateful for.  If you take the time to write it down, you will notice how quickly the list grows.  

For managers, supervisors and executives, this month be sure to take time to say "thank you" to employees for their work in your business.  Without them, you would not be as successful as you are.

For employees, be sure to take time to thank supervisors, managers or executives for the effort they make to keep the business running.  Without them, you would not be as successful as you are.

Everyone: take time to thank your co-workers for the work they do.  Without them, you would not be as successful as you are.

Everyone: take time to thank your customers and clients for doing business with you.  Without them, you would not be as successful as you are.

Everyone: take time to thank the people who provide services to you or your business.  Without them, you would not be as successful as you are.

Everyone: take time to thank your family and friends.  Without them, you would not be as successful as you are. 

The more you are able to feel and express gratitude, the better you will feel.  And, the better you feel, the better those around you will feel also.  Being grateful and expressing gratitude is a "magic formula" that takes a tiny bit of effort and pays huge rewards.  Try it and find out for yourself.

ps: For anyone who is struggling to find a way to feel gratitude this year, take some time to read over stories of the Chilean miners who were rescued after being trapped for 2 months, or the story of the plane that landed in the Hudson last year, or any other story of "miracles."  The news is full of them if you look.  

THANK YOU, readers, for coming back again and again, and for giving feedback on our newsletter.  And, THANK YOU, to all who have bought our book, Income Without a Job, this year.  Without you, we would not have constant incentive and inspiration to continue every month.