When I think Thanksgiving, I think turkey (and napping) family time, lots of laughs and a time of comfort. As we look back on the past year, perhaps some of the time felt like it was somewhat thankless: unemployment, depressed housing, war, and the like. While the tough times seem to stick into our minds above the good, this Thanksgiving I give you good thoughts about remembering the good things…
While your IRA or 401(k) may have reduced in value, do you still have retirement assets? What goes up sometimes goes down, and what goes down will eventually, with a little luck and good planning, go back up. Imagine how your life would be if you did not have what you do have. Let’s remember all the fantastic years the market has had…not just the downturns.
Revisit the best times of the past year. Did you take a vacation, have a new Grandbaby, receive a present, make a new friend, shoot the lowest golf game of your life (or get that elusive hole in one?) Did you make a new business connection or open a new account? Did you meet that special someone? C’mon…think- you know you had some great times this past year to be thankful for.
Is your estate plan in place? Just knowing that my family is provided for in the case of a catastrophe gives me great comfort. How about you?
Think philanthropy. Think about all of those that are a bit less fortunate than you. As tough as it seemed last year was, let’s remember to be thankful for what we have, not what we think we missed. The adage of “one man’s garbage is another man’s gold” shows that while we all reside on this great globe, each of us sees life in our own way, with our own values. Our job is not to judge, but to support. To truly give thanks, give it to someone who needs it. It may just be the best Thanksgiving feeling of all.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday.
