“Thankful. Just thankful.” Someone said that to me recently, and it really stuck. That’s also how I’d describe how I feel. Thankful.

Here’s what I’m thankful for (in no particular order):

Faith. This past year has been one full of challenges, testing grit and building my resilience. And, it’s brought me closer to my faith, helping me grow spiritually. This has helped me grow in many other ways, too. I’m thankful.

Friends. Friends come and go over the years, but some stick by you through the toughest times in your life. This last year has been TOUGH. I feel blessed to have several of those friends and am thankful for their understanding, motivation, and their willingness to listen to me as I’ve poured my heart out over the years. We’ve had some bad times together, but more importantly, we’ve had a LOT of great times. So, here’s to many more of those good times ahead. I’m thankful.

Family. I really wouldn’t be here today without the love and support of my family.  I’ve learned many life lessons along the way and they’ve instilled in me the values and beliefs I still uphold today. Family always comes first. This is something that continues to ring true as my wife and I raise our children together. I’m so thankful.

An amazing job. I can identify with Confucius’ quote: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” BUT, jobs you love are still WORK. The work I’m fortunate to be doing in People Experience for O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC (OHM) is not only challenging but incredibly rewarding. I am part of a fantastic team who does great things for our team members, guests, and for the communities in which we live and serve. What we do has meaning and we’re making a difference in people’s lives. We have a lot of fun doing it, too. That’s pretty dang special if you ask me. Thankful.

Interested in a career with OHM? Click here to learn more. 

People who challenge me. It’s not easy to like them sometimes, but I’ve learned to find the positive in the challenge I’m facing. The next time someone challenges you, don’t take offense. Instead, ask yourself, “What can I learn?” Thankful.

Mentors and role models. Mentors have inspired me to be the person I am today.  Even though some of these mentors have since passed, I’m still going forward because of their commitment to my success.  Curious who’s on my list?  My Granddad, my parents, some amazing teachers and friends along the way (Donna, Stephanie, Ms. Welker, Dan to name a few), and wonderful wife are mentors that I’ve learned a lot from over the years. Truly thankful.

Do you have a mentor? Here’s why they’re important.

Freedom. Thanks to our founding fathers (and mothers) and the men and women that keep our country safe, I’ve been fortunate to grow up exercising the freedoms of speech, religion and many others that we sometimes take for granted. My career has taken me to many countries and has introduced me to people that don’t have the same freedoms we’re afforded. I’m reminded that freedom isn’t free. Thankful.

Books. Read any good books lately?  I have.  Whether it’s for personal/professional development or pure entertainment, I’m thankful for the gift of literacy.  My imagination is so vivid thanks to my exposure to reading at an early age.  And yes, I’m a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie. I’m thankful.

Laughter. I’ve been blessed with a sense of humor.  Sometimes that sense of humor is a little weird, but I can typically find something to laugh about every day.  How many people can say that?  Life is too short to be grumpy.  You’ll be amazed at how good it feels to bring a smile to someone else’s face. Thankful for that.

Music. Music can inspire – from classical to heavy metal, pop to country, Latin to alternative grunge, my music library keeps me going every day. Life has a soundtrack.  Thankful.

What’s on your playlist?

YOU! Thanks for reading my blog, commenting and sharing content with your network and helping out job seekers of all kinds. It’s all about paying it forward and I’m happy to see you participating! I’m thankful.

Just thankful. All year ’round. That sums it up nicely.

What are you thankful for? I’d love to hear from you. Please consider sharing or leaving a comment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash