What do I have to be thankful for in 2020? Answer: A lot.

Some of the best advice that I've ever received in my life seems to pop back into my brain each and every Thanksgiving.  It usually happens as I'm trying to think of things that I'm most thankful for.  Growing up, when I used to have Thanksgiving dinner with my mother's side of the family, it was a tradition to go around the room and recite some things that you were thankful for in front of all my relatives, so I got into the habit of being prepared with what I was going to say before dinner was served.  However, I would imagine that this year....this demonic, possessed, cursed and evil year.....that people are really struggling to come up with a long list of things to add to their thankful list.  

The advice I received was this:  "No matter what happens in our lives, we have much to be thankful for.  No matter how much pain we've suffered, there has been a more than equal measure of joy to counteract it.  The people who don't think so are blind in one eye - their good eye."

As I sit here today, on the day before Thanksgiving, that advice resonates with me more than ever.  It would be easy for me to dwell on all the negatives that 2020 has created.  I won't be seeing my parents tomorrow or anytime in the near future, for that matter.  I lost the best job I ever had.  My current household income is exactly $0.  The job market is thin, and the surging Covid cases aren't giving me confidence that companies are going to go on a hiring spree anytime soon.  I feel somewhat isolated these days.  I miss seeing my co-workers in person and the friendships that I made.  

But to not see all the good in my life while surrounded by all the bad would mean that I'm not using my good eye.  I have not lost anyone to Covid-19.  I am healthy physically, and more importantly, mentally, better than I've felt in a very long time.  My wife and kids are healthy.  My parents will get to see all their grandchildren tomorrow thanks to the magic of Zoom.  Some of my life-long friends will be getting together on Friday night for a virtual game night with our spouses.  I've reconnected with people who I haven't spoken to in years, I'm meeting new people and talking with other radio professionals in similar situations on my new podcast (shameless plug:  find it at dollabilltre.buzzsprout.com)  And I'm able to look back on the past year and the past decade and be proud of everything I accomplished with my most recent job.  I have the memories and the knowledge that I made a difference in people's lives.  Human Resources can shut off my keycard and delete my login and password and they can label me "Terminated", but they can't take back the memories and they can't erase anything I've done.  It will always be preserved in my mind.   

I just remembered one more piece of advice that I cherish, and I've made it into a kind of mantra in my career and my life:  "Shape your life in a way that, here or long gone, people will be grateful to you." I've always tried to do that, and I'm reminded of it when you show me support by reading this blog, or by listening to my podcasts, or just writing an encouraging message.  

Happy Thanksgiving, and Thank You, too.