I love Thanksgiving! It puts me into a spirit of gratitude, which is “health food” for the soul. (And I love Thanksgiving dinners too!)

For most women I know (let’s be honest here), it’s often a lot of work!  My guess is that you’re not focusing Thanksgiving week on what we might call “self-care.”  Thanksgiving launches a season of caring for others, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. 

So I just want to take a few minutes and personally thank you for taking care of all the people (and pets!) in your world. 

Thank you for bringing empathy, compassion and forgiveness into a world that’s hungry for genuine feelings. 

Thank you for all those times you listened to a friend when she was sad or frustrated.  Thank you for celebrating her promotion or pregnancy.

Thank you for the dress you loaned her for that black tie event.  For being honest when she asked, “Do these jeans make me look fat?”  For telling her she’s beautiful at the very moment she looks her worst. 

Thank you for showing up with food after a funeral, with gifts at wedding and baby showers.  Thank you for being there with warm hugs after her marriage failed, when her boss was unreasonable, when her child was diagnosed with a learning disability.    

Thank you for all those canned goods you donated to the food bank, for all the nonprofit fundraisers you attended (and hosted, and chaired!).  Thank you for serving on boards of directors and committees, for providing your leadership and wisdom. 

Thank you for all those delicious Thanksgiving dinners you cooked!   For all the Christmas presents you wrapped with care and all the Christmas trees you lovingly decorated.  For all the Easter eggs you hid and all the Halloween costumes you made or admired. 

Thank you for showing up at all those soccer and t-ball games, all the gymnastic or wrestling meets.  Thank you for staying up late, to make sure your teenager came home safe.  And here’s a huge thank you for footing those college tuition bills!

Thank you for teaching your employees teamwork and the power of a shared vision.  Thank you for encouraging them to aspire, to learn, to grow and embrace their full potential. 

Thank you for providing jobs for people, for paying your share of taxes and benefits, even when it hurts. 

Thank you for taking care of your customers, for making their needs important to you. 

And finally, thank you for being a fantastic role model for all the young women who are inspired by you (even if you didn’t realize they’re watching), and who will look back one day and tell a friend, “I learned so much from her!”

And (at the risk of sounding like your mother), please do find a few moments in the midst of this holiday season to take care of yourself. 

Thank you.  The world needs all the passion and power in you! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S.  If you can find twenty minutes to yourself this holiday season, enjoy my little gift of gratitude for you – a free podcast called Create a Better Life for You and Yours – which is all about living intentionally and creating your Personal Vision. 

Share the love and send this to women you know who need to hear, “Thank you!” or post it to your favorite social media account.