As Thanksgiving 2024 approaches, I find myself reflecting deeply on gratitude. There’s so much in life to be thankful for, yet we often overlook these blessings. Instead of focusing on what we lack, let’s shift our perspective to the positives and appreciate the good in our lives.

Recently, I’ve been learning profound lessons about gratitude and faith from a new friend in my Master’s program. We decided to become peer coaches, and this partnership has been incredibly enriching. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made because I’m learning so much from her, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

She has been facing some challenging times lately, and during one of our recent sessions, I found it hard to coach her. She was understandably feeling down about her situation, and as much as I wanted to help, I didn’t have any clear answers or solutions to offer. All I could do was encourage her to fight for what she wanted and remind her that I was here if she needed support. She said to me,
”Listening to me and your support is meaningful. Sometimes just taking the time you need to listen and being present is powerful in empowering others to make the change they need in their lives.”

Today, she shared some good news with me, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She fought for what she wanted, kept her faith, and now things are starting to turn in her favor. Seeing her resilience reminded me of an important lesson: no matter how tough life gets, we can’t give up on the things we truly want. Whether it’s landing a new job, earning a promotion, or finding the right person to share our life with, we have to keep the faith and take action.

Reflecting on this makes me feel even more grateful—not just for my own blessings, but for the success and happiness of those around me. It’s so fulfilling to see friends and family persevere and achieve their goals.

If you’re feeling stuck or discouraged right now, take a moment to think about what steps you can take to move closer to your goals. Did you follow up on that job interview? Have you applied for the loan you need to keep your home? If not, don’t wait—make the call, send the email, and ask for what you want. Taking action can open doors to opportunities you didn’t even know were there.

As we celebrate this season of gratitude, let’s commit to staying positive, fighting for what we believe in, and appreciating the progress we’ve made. Here’s to your success, your faith, and the many things we have to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

Here’s to your success!

Wishing you joy and fulfillment,
Rene