Thanksgiving is a holiday from the heart. Where tradition counts and blessings are shared. I just returned from Tokyo, Japan where I spent five days visiting a client and meeting up with my youngest son to watch his college baseball team, Vanderbilt University, play four exhibition games against the top four college teams in Japan. I now have the holiday weekend to enjoy the rest of my family.
- I am thankful that we are able to travel the world in a day. We left Tokyo on Thursday at 7pm and returned to KC on Thursday at 7pm.
- I am thankful that we have diversity in cultures so each travel experience is unique and fascinating–a chance to learn.
- I am thankful that the world is (mostly) a friendly place–eager to share and include, open to visitors and traversing the language differences.
- I am thankful that Christmas in the USA has meaning and is so much more than the commercial aspect (although sometimes hard to find). It may not be surprising that Japan celebrates “christmas” –the commercial aspect–with trees, lights and gifts. Something to ponder about how we convey the meaning of Christmas.
- I am thankful that we can count so many blessings in our lives as they are a reflection of our attitudes–adding up what we have and not focusing on what we want.
- I am thankful for cooked food.
- I am thankful for the health to enjoy this opportunity.
- I am thankful for the next six weeks to ponder what really matters in life, and in business and prepare for the year ahead. As I read recently, if we fail to plan we plan to fail. I wish all of us a well balanced, productive and well planned year ahead!
- Mostly, I am thankful for people–the ones that I love, the ones that I do business with, and the ones I look forward to meeting. The world is a big place but it is also a personal place that comes down to two people enjoying the opportunity to know one another. Thank you to all my new Japanese friends. Blessings to my American friends.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Margaret
