I want to take a break from our textbook today to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and to share a few thoughts on gratitude. 

"Thou hast given so much to me, Give one thing more - a grateful heart. Not thankful when it pleases me, As if Thy blessings had spare days, But such a heart, whose pulse may be Thy Praise. " George Herbert.

One of the disciplines Jim taught me about was the attitude of gratitude.  In fact, I keep a gratitude journal.  I sit in my chair, and consciously think of blessings. Its' items are serious, silly, full of people, travel spots, universal things, and things that only pertain to me.  But when I sit quietly, away from the hustle and bustle of the life of a coach, my mind can really begin to crank out the blessings  -- it changes me.  This week, I urge you to get alone with your teams for 10 minutes.  Bring them a sheet of paper with the numbers 1-50 listed on it.  Title it Counting my Blessings.  Find your favorite quote on gratiude and make the sheet fun. And have them sit quietly, and do just that.  Fifty will seem like a lot to them, so start the list for them.  Toothpaste, snow, laughter, my Momma, our loss to UNLV...  Tell them you will not be taking it up, it is their private list.  It will be slow at first, but then they will, "take off".  Some years I discuss them, and some years I just head to practice.  Just see where your heart leads you.  And remember, this concept is actually not one that Jim made up! It's biblical: 1 Thessolonians 5:18.  IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS...

Next week we will continue with Chapter 9, learning to live without avarice  (another fun, classic, word).

Have fun counting your blessings.  It's a discipline we can learn and do every week, not just the week we will be having turkey.

Keeping the Faith

Jane