Last week, I wrote about Abraham Lincoln and the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s worth noting another fun fact about Lincoln: He’s the one responsible for making Thanksgiving an official national holiday.
A month prior to giving his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln gave a speech declaring that the fourth Thursday in November would from that date forward be considered an official day of thanksgiving (lowercase) in the United States.
While Thanksgiving is typically thought of as honoring the harvest meal between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, Lincoln’s declaration came as an expression of gratitude and a way of honoring the Union army’s victory at Gettysburg—something he felt the country should be thankful for.
We often use Thanksgiving as an occasion to recognize the blessings for which we are thankful. When you’re part of a team, there are certain overlooked blessing for which you should be thankful, including:
1. Someone holding you accountable
2. Having a role to play on your team
3. An opportunity to selflessly use your talents for the greater good
4. Being a part of something bigger than yourself
5. Experiencing fulfillment
6. A chance to invest in others
7. Someone recognizing your contributions
8. Fighting for something you believe in
9. The joy of making shared memories
10. Discovering the courage to overcome challenges
If the above are present in your life, consider yourself blessed. If they are not, consider why they are not. Maybe acquiring them requires a change in your attitude or a change in your approach. Either way, be thankful that both of those options are always at your disposal.
From our team to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
