So much to be thankful for. That's the subject of this week's post. I thought a lot about what I wanted to write this week, with so much going on.

It appears at times that life gives you a forward thinking direction when you need it most. Why the challenges that we face sometimes, why the distinct path that makes you reach down deep to find yourself? Well, 'tis the season.

There is really a great deal to be thankful for, at times one must wonder what brings maximum success, what really makes your life go.

I think a great deal has to do with attitude. Perspective. Grit. Tenacity. Hope.

Today an old colleague from Paychex visited me. It brought back many memories of my previous workplace which I will not mention here, but suffice it to say, I saw from my visit with him, that lessons learned from the past never really leave us, they only revisit.

It is so very critical to make your life perspective take a crash course in self introspection. Self analysis, and self realization are tools that must be applied when you take a look at the horizons before you.

Within my present role I have much to be thankful for. We are about to close another deal, a placement I as a sourcer helped my good friend fill, a dear friend who opened the doors and propelled me to where I am now.

Really, do I have any excuse but to be happy? DO any of US? Why droop down in the perspectives of loss and sadness permeating our economy in these days. Can drooping your head lead you to success? Absolutely not.

Today, my Director took time to listen and offer his advice. Every time I speak with him, it is as though a new perspective is unlocked. He is a wonderful professional, and a mentor I dearly respect. I think that for someone to take the time to trully tell you where and how you can improve, and not only that do so tactfully and with humor is a great skill. I am blessed at this stage to have inviduals care enough about me to take the time to push me to where I need to go.

My career has had its victories, challenges, hurdles, and strides. Through it all I have learned that to have a place that invigorates, and re-instigates within you a new desire to put my foot to the gas pedal once again is really what I need.

Do you ever feel that life is a lesson in give and take, that really makes you sit back and appreciate how much you really have? To be trully thankful, one must let go of any negative thought, reinstill within it a new perspective, and open the door to a new day.

Sometimes a paradigm shift is needed. Let me list my thankfulness perspective, and I hope and will let this be my guide for the weeks to come:

I am thankful for: life, breath, my baby girl, my wife, my parents, my siblings, good friends, good colleagues who watch your back, who only want your success, the beautiful sunrises, the beuatiful horizons, the opportunity to improve, the opportunity to help make others happy, the opportunity to have each new day be better than the day before, the magic of this season, the opportunity to let go of the past, and renew the present, the list goes on, and on, and on.

'Tis the season, and 'Tis the Season to make an impact on your community through service, an impact on your work through placements, and an impact on everyone in your sphere of influence, to uplift rather than falter, to rise instead of fall, to climb higher than ever with life's new perspective and a new year just around the corner. This song from the movie raise your voice sung by Hillary Duff means a lot, and I felt these words hit home for me as I turned 30:

I found myself today
Oh, I found myself
And ran away
But something pulled me back
Voice of reason
I forgot I had

All I know is you're not here to say
But you always used to say
And it's written in the sky tonight

So I won't give up
No, I wont break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe
Someone's watching over me

Seen that ray of light
And it's shining on my destiny
Shining all the time
And I won't be afraid
To follow everywhere it's taking me

All I know is yesterday is gone
And right now I belong
To this moment
To my dreams

So I won't give up
No, I wont break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe
Someone's watching over me

It doesn't matter what people say
And it doesn't matter how long it takes
Believe in yourself and you'll fly high

And it only matters how true you are
Be true to yourself
And follow your heart

So I won't give up
No, I wont break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

That I wont give up
No, I won't break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe
That someone's watching over,
Someone's watching over,
Someone's watching over me

If we are thankful for what we have, we will see, that someone is definately watching out for you somewhere: family, colleagues, friends. They all play a role in your life. So give them the gift of yourself, serve, grow the business, help others reach their goals. 'Tis the season of opportunity, even in a down economy, there is hope, opportunity. Be poised, and learn how to add value, and do so with passion as your goal.