This past week was filled with many moments of Gratitude that I would like to share with you. Living a life of gratitude is so fulfilling, so easy and brings others joy as well. I am bursting at the seams with gratitude as I write this blog post! So much so, that my mind is going faster than my hands can type. I think I will highlight three things that I am grateful for. It will help my fingers from getting tangled.
As many of you know, I work at Lake Forest Academy (okay so I am highlighting a fourth thing I am grateful for – GO CAXYS). It is an international boarding/day college prep school and everyday is a treat to be a part of this amazing environment. On Monday, we had a guest speaker for our All School Meeting. The author of A Chance in the World, Steve Pemberton came to our school to talk about his life. He talked about his hardships growing up, but the man has an attitude of gratitude for every lesson he learned from his horrible childhood in foster homes. He is thankful for his life and every encounter he has had and shows his gratitude in everything he does. What a wonderful role model! Later in the evening, we gathered in our Theater to watch the movie adaptation of his book. Steve endured horrific events in his life and still finds the good in every encounter. I read his book prior to meeting him and I highly recommend it. Meeting Steve, reading his book and listening to his eloquent talk to our school, I am a better person for this brief meeting. Thank you, Steve.
On Tuesday, once again at Lake Forest Academy, I had the honor of presenting to my fellow peers, a talk on The Power of an Inner Circle. Peggy Vasquez is an amazing Admin, author of Not just an Admin and Speaker who speaks on this subject and offered her worksheet for my presentation. She offered . . . I didn’t ask. Peggy just offered to send me the link for her hard work to better my presentation. Almost a week later, I am still speechless on how grateful I am for my friendship with Peggy and for the lessons she teaches me daily that she is unaware of. Thank you, Peggy, for your unconditional friendship and fantastic worksheet!
And if you are counting, this is my last highlight. Believe me when I tell you there are many more things that I am grateful for this week, but these needed to be highlighted. On Wednesday, I received an email allowing me to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you, Ike Saunders and your wonderful organization REACH!!! (If you are in the Chicagoland area and an Executive Assistant, you really need to check Ike and REACH out) This time I asked if I could extend this opportunity to others in my community and was granted permission. If you do not know the magnificent Vickie Sokol Evans of The Red Cape Company, you need to!!!! She is the author of 100 Life Changing Tips Using Microsoft Office for Windows, a speaker and a trainer. Vickie, like Steve and Peggy, has touched my life in so many ways by being the extraordinary human that she is. Vickie is the real deal and I am so very grateful for her kindness and gifts she shares with Admins across the globe.
Having an attitude of gratitude is a choice. A simple choice that bears wonderful benefits such as improving your mental and physical health, self esteem and makes you a person others want to model themselves after.
Here’s to an easy choice! Cheers
Jackie