Life comes down to one simple thing.

It is the most repeated command in the Bible. It does not cost money, does not take a higher-level degree or even take much effort and most importantly anyone can do it.

Many people who know me, think I am a happy go lucky person. Generally, just a happy person. The problem with happiness is that it is a quid pro quo situation. (sorry, I know you have heard that enough lately, but just had to throw that in here to make it more relatable…) If this happens, then I can be happy.

I was telling my son this week about a situation that happened last week. I was boarding a plane as I do most weeks, heading on a business trip. It was really early, about 6:30 am. The flight attendant greeted me as they do most times.

She said, “Good Morning” and I was eagerly over friendly as I typically am. I said, “it is going to be a Great morning.”

The plane was packed and a little backed up and so she started a dialogue.

She said, “are you going for business?”

I said “I am”, and she said “hope it goes well.”

I said, “it is going to be fantastic.”

She grinned and said “you are one of those…”

I said, “Blessed? I absolutely am.”

Her smile grew and said “I was thinking more of an enthusiastic early bird”

I said, “I am more than that. I am so grateful everyday it just has to pour out of me… today, I pray you will find that same joy. Have a Blessed day.”

She smiles and a tear rolls down her cheek as I start walking to my seat. I have no idea her circumstances and truly believe the Lord put me in her path and she heard what she needed to hear.

Being Thankful and Grateful are so much more important than happy. The Bible says “in every thing give thanks.” That means the bad times as well as the good times. It is difficult to be thankful during those hard times.

I was watching a show on Amazon called Modern Love. In it, a guy gets stood up and he was down in the dumps about it. He meets a woman and she is overly happy and he wants nothing to do with it. She says something to the effect of “I have no idea what you are going through, but when something bad happens you need to try to recalibrate the universe by doing the opposite. If someone cuts you off in traffic, be more generous to the next person. If someone steals your wallet, then go give money to the poor as a donation.”

In life, every moment is a choice. My dad always preached to me, life is 1% what happens and 99% how you react to it. We all have a choice to be thankful, grateful, joyful… I remind myself 100x a day how grateful I am. EVEN and especially on those days that are not going my way. It is easy to do it when the sun is shining, but more important to do it when the skies are gray.

My dad’s favorite Bible story was the 10 lepers. How God healed them all, but only one came back to thank him.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Holiday.  So be thankful. Write down a list of everything you are thankful for. Reflect on it every day.

I am so thankful for my family, my team, our clients and community. Thanks for all you do for me.