The holidays are upon us, yet one more time in the year of COVID 2020 where traditions and rituals will be significantly altered, perhaps changed forever. I am fascinated by how our perspectives are radically changing, as accepted ways of doing things, once seen as intractable, have evolved in ways that we never thought possible. Sports without fans, learning and working from home, the rise of telemedicine, even new ways of greeting each other or celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.

Change is hard, volatile, and stressful for sure. It creates uncertainty and ambiguity that’s impossible to ignore. So it is, as we come upon this season of Thanksgiving. Like millions, this is my favorite holiday of the year. While we will go small, heeding the experts’ advice, I find myself better prepared to embrace Thanksgiving’s most important calling – to give thanks. Eleven months into what feels like a cursed 2020 has actually instilled more than a fleeting, occasional feeling of thankfulness, but a regular practice of gratitude. It has become my go to, something within my control, that I have come to rely on as times have grown increasingly more challenging. That need to find a silver lining, to appreciate the goodness that surrounds us in big and especially small ways, has become a regular antidote for navigating a pandemic, facing a second virus driven by racism, processing a contentious election season and coping with the ever present worry about the well-being of my parents, my kids, my workmates and my friends. What I have learned in the age of COVID is that gratitude is truly a well seasoned recipe for well-being. Our Zoom/Facebook Live show, REfresh, is something I look forward to weekly, as it is a gathering of people seeking to lift spirits and be lifted. The gratitude is palpable as we learn together, connect and ultimately just feel better for being together. The lessons focused around gratitude have been many throughout these many months. I am grateful for these enduring lessons and to those who have taken the time to share them with us. Deb Levy, a certified business and life coach who taught us coping skills during chaotic times, reminded us to pick three things to be grateful for everyday.. EVERYDAY. Sanyin Siang, founding executive director of Duke University’s Coach K Leadership & Ethics Center encouraged us to live a life of unbridled gratitude. And to allow a moment of joy in each day. Dr. Olenda Johnson Professor of Strategic Leadership & Leader Development, U.S. Naval War College, taught us to be grateful for opportunities that allow us to explore more of who we are. Erica Dhawan, CEO/founder of Cotential, keeps a gratitude journal and writes down 3 things each morning that she is grateful for as a reminder that gratitude is one thing she can control. Donna Deegan, a three-time cancer survivor and Chief Eternal Optimist with the Donna Foundation & 26.2 With Donna, shared that the simple act of being alive is something to be eternally grateful for. Jeannie Diffenderfer, the Founder & CEO of courageNpurpose, reminded us that solace and gratitude go hand-in-hand. So, this THANKSGIVING will be different just like so many other things in 2020. While there is no going back, next year I do expect to be watching the parade wind through the NYC streets while awaiting family and friends to fill our home. But for now, the notion of being grateful and the act of giving thanks has crystallized into a year-round discipline. A daily dose of gratitude is truly an elixir for our souls. This is a change that I so welcome. #Gratitude for the sun that rises, for the waves that roll, the health of my parents, for Lola and Tigerlily, the laugh of baby Helen, the Kitchen Cabinet, the girls from Jersey, the Birthday Club, the ability to connect with others in the service of others, our healthcare workers and all those on the front lines, for our Generation W family, our Generation WOW girls, for you, for us, for my family and for the simple pleasures of laughing, loving and living. Enjoy your holiday, the simple pleasures, and resolve to be thankful not just in this season but in every season. Stay healthy, xoxo Donna