For many people, this year has been the worst, with the economy in a disastrous state, finances in a flux, and jobs lost everywhere! I think there may be a few people out there who might say that there is nothing to be thankful for this year. It has been a stressful year, as uncertainty does create anxiety which develops into all kinds of other issues, including health problems, family quarrels, and job problems. But, this Thanksgiving we should think about the great things that have occurred this year, and for the this day where we can choose to be thankful and move forward. For those employees who were laid off this year, they can be thankful for the free time, the time now spent with family and friends. This forced free time created the opportunity for people to learn new hobbies, exercise and get healthy, and some even found new loves and better jobs than they had before. For the employees who kept their jobs, they should be thankful. They got to keep things the way they were, when so many others were struggling to find new work. Many people set their priorities straight this year, putting family and relationships first, and should be thankful for that. A lot of kids got their parents back, with more quality time spent and less time lost at work. Finances went awry this past year, so just about everyone had less money to spend. Be thankful that we got creative, we thought outside the box, and made it work financially. We spent less time in the malls, at restaurants, and traveling, and more time with our friends, families, and neighbors. We had fire pits and barbeques, instead of big trips and lavish events this year. Thank goodness for that! We talked to our friends over coffee, instead of 30 broken texts, and we listened and cared for each other, instead of just passing one another in the hall. We learned about ourselves and about others, and about how we deal in the face of adversity. Most of us figured out who our true friends are, and who had been there only because the dollars were there to be spent. We downsized this year with homes, cars, and luxuries, and for some, we downsized what we once thought were necessities. Now we know what we can live without. Many people lost relationships this year, relations that perhaps were not that great in the first place and the stress of difficult times was enough to finally drive them apart. Thank goodness for that too. Those losses have opened the doors for many who have found new loves this year. We still breath clean air, drink pure water and eat good food (especially on Thanksgiving). We are alive and we have a promising future, and have the strength to bounce back from a tough year. We learned a lot, and grew a lot this year. There truly is a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
-- Sharlene Massie is the C.E.O. of About Staffing Ltd., a dynamic personnel agency specializing in direct-hire and temporary placements. Questions for Sharlene? Visit the About Staffing website at www.aboutstaffing.com, and click on the link under the Sun logo. This article may be reproduced or transmitted if done so in its entirety, including this copyright line: Copyright 2009, by About Staffing Ltd., all rights reserve.
