Nope, not today. The only deep thought for now is why it’s so hard to remind myself of these things everyday:
I have a hernia I need fixed, I can’t straighten my left arm all the way, I don’t have feeling in two fingers on my left hand, the bone at the point where my collarbone meets my shoulder socket points 90 degrees up.
I’m thankful for my health!
I became an entrepreneur at the age of 48, with a wife, two small children, 3 dogs, and a mortgage. Some days the pressure of providing for my family weighs on me to the point of temporary paralysis and I uncharacteristically question my decisions and abilities.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to work, to help people become the best versions of themselves, and to control my own destiny!
I lost my sister and my father to cancer. My sister battled to the day she died. I was with her less than 24 hours before she passed helping her with physical therapy, which consisted of trying to bend her knee without screaming in pain. My father was my hero and my best friend. It took almost three years after his death before I could talk about him without breaking down into tears.
I’m thankful I had time to spend with my sister and father! I’m thankful for the life they led and the memory of them I hold so dearly in my heart! I’m also thankful for my living sisters and my mother, whom I love and don’t tell enough!
Over the last 16 years or so, I have had many troubling moments in which I don’t recognize our country. I’ll leave these details for another day.
I’m thankful to live in the greatest country in the world! I’m thankful that I’m proud to say so!
Among us are despicable, cowardly groups who murder, torture, abuse, and discriminate in the name of religion.
Despite this…I’m thankful for my faith in God! I’m thankful that I’m proud to say so!
Sometimes my children aren’t wild. Sometimes they listen. Sometimes they aren’t screaming and running around the house. Sometimes they aren’t jumping on the couch or destroying their rooms. Sometimes they aren’t fighting. Sometimes they eat their dinner instead of begging for candy.
Sometimes I can’t believe that I’ve been given the greatest gift a man could ever ask for: two healthy and happy children!
Sometimes I can’t believe how much I love my wife!
OK, so maybe it got a little deeper than I originally planned. Here’s to everyone finding thanks. Despite our inherent ability to ignore the things we should be thankful for, they’re all around us. It’s ok, be thankful.
Errol Doebler is the founder of Ice Cold Leader, a leadership consulting firm. After successful careers as a Navy SEAL Platoon Commander and FBI Special Agent, Errol founded Ice Cold Leader to realize his passion of empowering great leaders and better human beings. Ice Cold Leader provides executive coaching, keynote speaking, and corporate retreats to individuals and teams across the world.
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