Thanks

What Are You Thankful For?

/ Kirsten Flory / Leave a comment

I awoke this morning much earlier than I intended to.  With our family not arriving for the Thanksgiving festivities until much later in the day, I had planned to sleep in (as long as my kids stayed in bed).  When my husband’s alarm clock went off this morning, we both were already awake.  Thanksgiving Day makes most of us reflect on what we are thankful for, and my early rising today gave me a head start.

When my family has hosted the Thanksgiving festivities, we ask our guests to write down what they are thankful for on a slip of paper.  We then each draw out a slip of paper and read each others words of thanks.  Family always is at the top of everyone’s list, including my own.  Family, to me, is more than those who are related to me by blood. It is those special people who have graced my life with their presence, and make me a better person.  So many of us are lucky to have been born into a loving, caring, amazing family that is with them through thick and thin.  Others don’t have that connection.  Whether you were given a family at birth, or created your own, we need to nurture those family relationships to grow them into the ones we cherish most.

Today, and every day, I want to give thanks to my family.  My husband, kids, parents, in-laws, siblings, the crazy crew of extended family that is going to show up at my door later today, dear friends, and my work family.  You all fill my cup with blessings each and every day, and I am thankful to have you in my life.

A Day to Celebrate

/ Kirsten Flory / Leave a comment

I have had the fortune to become friends with someone pretty special.  We met about twelve years ago, and through the years, our lives have changed dramatically.  We both became mothers, our careers have grown, and just this year we became business partners.

Today is a special day for her, as it is her birthday.  If you have developed a friendship with someone like this, then you will appreciate what a rare find this is in life.  The qualities that I admire about her are endless, but the best thing she brings to me is her ability to push me in directions that help me grow.

Allison Moore – you are a genuine, compassionate, loyal, trustworthy, hard working, giving, inspiring, loving gal that gets up at the crack of dawn to work out so you can give your best self to others.  You married your soul mate, and together are raising some pretty amazing kids.  You continue to look more beautiful with each passing year, and can not only rock a pair of four inch stilettos, but light up a room with your smile.

Today I celebrate you, dear friend, and hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are!

An Attitude of Gratitude

/ Kirsten Flory / 2 Comments

I received a thank you note yesterday.  This wasn’t a typical “thanks for the ___” and then a signature.  It was a description of how I had touched this person’s life in a way I could have never imagined.  The gift that I helped to provide wasn’t significant, but made enough of an impact at a time in this person’s life that made an exemplary difference.  This woman, a public school teacher, who is a gift herself to her students, staff and parents, brought me to tears by her gratitude. 

 When was the last time you said “thank you?”  Now, you may say “thank you” when someone opens the door for you, or a waitress fills your water glass at a restaurant.  Have you thanked the people in your life that support you everyday, through the good times and the bad?  We take for granted our support systems of spouses, friends, family and co-workers.  We often expect certain actions and responses from them, because that’s just what they do and that is the kind of people they are. 

 Take a moment today to write or email someone who has made a positive impact on your life.  What part about them or their actions helped you, and you most admire?  Living each day with an attitude of gratitude not only strengthens our relationships with others, but makes us more aware of the gifts given to us on a regular basis.