November is a beautiful reminder to slow down and think about what we are truly thankful for. But gratitude shouldn’t be something we practice only once a year. It can become a way of living, and it really can change everything.
It is easy to feel grateful when life is going well. The greater challenge is finding something to appreciate when plans change, doors close or life takes us in a direction we never expected. This is the gratitude I have been practicing, as I believe the universe has changed my direction to protect me from something else and trusting the outcome. Those seasons often teach us the most about ourselves. They reveal our strength, remind us who is truly there for us and help us recognize blessings we may have overlooked.
As I look back on my own life, I am grateful for so many things: my husband, our four children, their spouses, our six beautiful grandchildren, our friends and all the memories I had with my parents, which I still hold always in my heart. I am thankful for the lessons my parents taught me and for the love and wisdom they left behind. I’m even grateful for the difficult moments because they helped shape the woman I am today.
I am also thankful for the work I get to do. After 19 years on the radio, I still feel blessed every time I sit behind the microphone. Through my radio show, business mixers and CONNECT community, I have met so many wonderful people. I’ve watched friendships begin, businesses grow and people walk into a room as strangers and leave feeling supported.
Sometimes we become so focused on what is next that we forget to appreciate what is right in front of us. Gratitude brings us back to the present. It reminds us that success is not only measured by what we accomplish, but also by the people we love, the lives we touch and the kindness we share along the way.
This Thanksgiving, take a moment to look around your table. Notice the faces, listen to the laughter and appreciate the simple gift of being together. Tell people why you are thankful for them; don’t assume they already know. Take it one step further and ask, “What do you need from me that I haven't been giving you”
Life may not always be perfect, but there is always something worth appreciating. When we choose to look at the brighter side of life, we begin to see more of it.
That is the power of gratitude—and the brighter side of life and business.
Kim Pagano
Radio Host | Business Cheerleader | Connector
Tune into the brighter side of life and business with Kim Pagano Saturday mornings 7-8 to start your day in a positive way. Download Kim’s podcast, The Kim Pagano Show. Sign up for Kim’s newsletter https://link.kpshow.org/widget/form/0kQyz3s5K0GUTcSK46qp and next business mixer at https://breakthroughtoyournext.com/0225-reg.