For those of us who reside in America it is natural to consider the topic of gratitude during the month of November since the fourth Thursday of the month is celebrated as a National Holiday under the banner of “Thanksgiving.” The theme of this holiday, which is set aside and celebrated in remembrance of the pilgrims who founded this Nation and in order to give thanks, carries emphasis-weight throughout the entire month.
Gratitude (i.e. thankfulness) is also a leadership quality that plays well throughout the year and in every setting….we so choose. And,
Gratitude is - first and foremost - a choice.
It is an attitude.
Yes. That’s it. Gratitude is A Choice. It must be. Because it is no secret to most people, and certainly no surprise at all to people in leadership, that life is challenging; even difficult. Even so, we all have the ability to choose how we will respond to life’s challenges – we have the power to make choices – regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves or the obstacles thrown our way.
And maybe most importantly for those in leadership, gratitude, which is an attitude, can set the pace for those around us. Therefore with gr-attitude, we can and do set the pace for our tribe. We lead.
“Let me count the ways…” Is there any end to the list of people, lessons-learned, places visited, mistakes redeemed…any possible end… of those things for which we can choose to be thankful?
Maybe the choice to be thankful is not all that hard, even at those points in time when all around us is.
No doubt about it…gratitude is an attitude. A leadership attitude.
For what are you thankful today?