10 Most Important Things You Are Thankful For

KAREN ROACH / STOCK.ADOBE.COM

I couldn’t see…I was in a total fog. No, it wasn’t a stressful day at work. It was…literally a fog. Blame it on global warming and some weather reason for warm air and cold air meeting which created treacherous driving conditions, which gave me plenty of time to think.

Fifteen minutes into my drive, visibility was challenging. I couldn’t tell if it was smoke or fog, but I kept going thinking it had to get better. You know how that is when you have a goal in mind and don’t want to be sidetracked? Part of me was thinking, “Lisa…are you an idiot? Turn around…you can reschedule this appointment.” But I was too far in to turn back. At first, I thought it might be a fire. A massive fire. The fog was so thick and seemed to be just about everywhere I would look. I rolled down my window but didn’t smell anything. Not to say that is the best way to determine a fire, but I didn’t know what else to do.

The fire theory went by the wayside as I kept driving, and this fog kept wrapping itself around my car. This was the most intimidating fog experience I have ever had. It made me think that I could end up in a car accident. Knowing my route would take me to the freeway three-fourths of the way to my destination, I was worried. But, pulling over was not possible. There were no buildings or parking lots for me to pull into and wait it out. This was rural Ohio.

To control my anxiety…I started thinking about what I am thankful for. Here is what I came up with:

• My health—Without it…I have nothing.
• My family—They are the center of my universe.
• My home—I am so grateful to have a safe place to sleep and live.
• My job—I am grateful that I get to do what I love every day and feel good about it.
• My location—Living in Ohio, we are blessed with no floods, fires, hurricanes, and other natural challenges. We also have drinking water. This is a real issue for some of you reading this article.
• My bank account—I am grateful that my parents taught me about how to save money so that in hard times, I can pay my bills.
• My creativity—I love the passion I put into every project, job, or organization that I get involved with.
• My communication skills—I know how to listen and speak so that I can be heard and hear others.
• My bosses—Whether it is the editors I have worked with for 10+ years in the dental field, or my clients, I really enjoy being appreciated for what I bring to the table.
• My commitment to volunteering—Helping others is what defines me.

I write this article to encourage you to start before the holiday festivities begin, to think about what you are grateful for. Take stock in what is going well in your life and be grateful. Most things we aren’t grateful for until we don’t have them anymore. This is a time to remember what you are thankful for.

Email me at diana2@discussdirectives.com and share your gratitude list with me.