A dear friend of mine sent this to me last night. At this special time, please take a little time … to embrace the “space between the notes” and give thanks  … enjoy.

Gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness have been on my mind, lately. These are ingredients in the soup of kindness. A simple introduction to my annual message – appreciate life – family, friends, health, progress, success, opportunity, what we have, the future and the wonder of nature. As a parent, partner and colleague, appreciation for those with whom I live or work, and care for, is a critical underpinning of who I am, and a cornerstone of my leadership and a key to building successful relationships. Taking time to acknowledge the good we each bring to life every day, in whatever role, is tantamount to breathing. I recommend this way of living to all; it will make the world a better place. Think about how your outlook changes when you know you are appreciated.

On the times…In 1898 in a speech by British statesman Joseph Chamberlain, he said -“I think that you will all agree that we are living in most interesting times. I never remember myself a time in which our history was so full, in which day by day brought us new objects of interest, and, let me sayalso, new objects for anxiety.”Well, looking around 121 years later, I would not be surprised if I read those words quoted from a speech given yesterday. Read the papers, listen to the news – I don’t care if you lean towards Fox on one end or CNN at the other – it is easy to lose perspective, to forget our history of innovation and perspicacity, to ignore progress. Appreciation for what and who we are, where we have come from, along with a healthy dose of positive wizardry, especially in darker times, collectively is the fuel driving us to better outcomes. Be positive!On goals and success…A favorite poem of mine is the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. One of his most quoted quatrains reads:The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon Turns Ashes – or it prospers; and anon,

Like Snow upon the Desert’s dusty Face Lighting a little Hour or two – is gone.There have been lofty writings about the meaning of this particular passage, but I have always thought this was the author’s metaphor for “success, if achieved, is fleeting, with its euphoria often followed by a sense of emptiness.” We work so hard to achieve something, seeking the satisfaction and recognition that comes when we “get there,” only to be left immediately afterward with the emptiness of “what’s next” or “what now.” Perhaps the real joy of success lies in tasting its sweet nectar nested in the way stations along the path. Appreciate all you assimilated, the information learned, and those things experienced that will always be with you. Stop and smell the roses! You might just be overwhelmed at the pleasure of the bouquet.On living…The real excitement of life, family, work or projects is in the journey rather than the endpoint – revel in the small victories, the milestones, the stopping points. A road trip from New York to Los Angeles has a pretty clear objective – to see the Pacific Ocean, say. Imagine missing the wonders that are experienced along the way, moments to be savored, sights to be seen, places to be enjoyed, all to be appreciated and remembered.

I often think that we are so anxious to get to the end, to reach that goal, we lose sight of the progress we make and miss the small joys we experience along the path to our success or a good conclusion. Appreciate life!On gratitude…Building a habit of appreciation should be natural, but also intentional. Make sure “Great job!” and “Thank you!” are regular parts of your vernacular; it is vital to creating an appreciative culture at your work, in your home, with your relationships. Too often, we assume gratitude is implied. However, studies show that the neurological effects of gratitude not only benefit the person on the receiving end, but they also help the gratitude-giver feel more engaged and satisfied, too.As for the recipient of gratitude, I came across this tidbit in my research for this year’s message. Glenn R. Fox, PhD, of the USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute, says, “When the brain feels gratitude, it activates areas responsible for feelings of reward, moral cognition, subjective value judgments, fairness, economic decision- making, and self-reference.” Feeling gratitude for our work or in our daily lives makes us more competent thinkers with a better sense of self. Give gratitude!In closing, I aspire to practice active appreciation and gratitude every day, though at times I fall short.

This Thanksgiving, I am going to rededicate myself to the habits of appreciation, gratitude, being a positive wizard, “stopping to smell the roses,” and human kindness. Join me, and let’s make it a movement!Happy Thanksgiving!