Over the past several weeks, many opportunities for expressing gratitude have presented themselves professionally and personally, all of which I am grateful for and humbled by.

“Tis the damn season,” thank you, Taylor, for that lyric in which I probably overuse.

And remember, expressing gratitude provides many personal benefits including improving mood, and physical and mental health overall.

Gratitude for Professional Opportunities

1. Non-profit organization board position — I am on a board now that is making real differences in lives of others. I was recommended to serve on it. Having conversations with existing board members of that board has me so inspired, and I hope to share more in Q2 2026. There’s a process and I’m practicing patience.
2. Networking organization board position — An organization in which I have be a member of for a year is redefining its vision and mission. It is shaking up things a bit. Beginning in January 2026, I have been nominated and accepted to serve on this board too.
3. New client prospects — We have been referred to a growing business that is merging with another company to help them rebrand and develop a marketing plan for their new brand. In addition to this, we are pitching a professional services business in a category we love. Wahoo!

Gratitude for Personal Celebrations

1. My Daughter — She continues to bring so much joy in my life. She is into the performing arts, and will be on stage in November after a few months of rehearsals and valiant efforts. Her soccer season is coming to an end. And the goalie and leadership skills of this one on the field have made me so proud. “Where did she come from?” I often ask myself, amazed at her skills.
2. My Son – He has found a job that brings him opportunities for learning that align with an industry he’s passionate about. That’s a win-win. I am so grateful that he shares his work experiences with me. Often, we get to converse over numbers, trends, opportunities and more.
3. My Neighborhood Community — Coming off such a fun Halloween night where we gathered, added to our tribe and covered another mile or two. It was the best night in a while. So grateful!

How To Express Gratitude Professionally or Personally

1. Verbally — I hope I have taught my kids this. When someone does something for you, just simply say, “Thank you.” Also, you can elaborate on this and tell them specifically about the thing for which you are grateful.
2. Handwritten thank you notes — It is a lost art. But the impact is huge for the receiver and for me, the writer.
3. Cards or notes just because — It doesn’t have to be because someone has done something for you. Just sending a note of gratitude to those that enrich your life in some way means a lot.

Just a Few Additional Things for Which I am Expressing Gratitude

1. The Front Porch Marketing team — The best!
2. Our clients — We have the best and smartest.
3. Our Front Porch advocates — These extraordinary people continue to support our team and business. The tribe sends new connections our way, recommendsing us to make other brand’s rock and so much more.
4. This collaboration — Read more here
5. Our therapists — Times are challenging and each of my family members are coping with things. In addition, my daughter, who is autistic, needs support for communication and social skills in addition to sensory processing and self-regulating.
6. The Porter pets — I am grateful for Petunia who continues to make appearances on Teams and Zoom calls. And for Cale, the biggest fella, who is so patient and needy at times, but really is the best dog.

What are you grateful for? There are many things we would love to celebrate with you. Remember, “Tis the damn season.”

Finding joy is the overarching theme at my daughter’s school.

It is perfect as children are good at finding joy in the simplest of things. It is also a reminder to find joy throughout the day. Yet, in the busyness of our professional lives, practicing gratitude often takes a backseat. As enter the Thanksgiving season, what if we took the time to find joy in the most miniscule of things each day?

Practicing gratefulness is particularly important for business leaders in challenging times.  Research shows that an attitude of gratitude can mean fewer sick days and higher job satisfaction rates. It is easy to appreciate that both of those things help the bottom line.

Start by finding the positives.

Was that presentation you’ve worked on for a month canceled at the last minute? Great! Now you have time to connect with a coworker or to make the call you have been putting off.  Was a meeting called unexpectedly?  No problem.  Now you can grab that extra cup of coffee while you listen to a presentation.  

Uplift yourself. Each day give thanks for one very small thing or accomplishment. Start daily and increase from there, consistently giving thanks for things that may seem miniscule.

Show simple appreciation.  We all like to know our time is valued. Give thanks to your team for simple things. This can include changing the copy paper or hopping on a call at the last-minute.  Pay attention.  Check in with your team often to let them know you care. Celebrate any and all successes, no matter how small. If they are out of sorts one day, drop them a quick note to let them know you appreciate their work.  Circle back often.

Soon, you’ll notice the culture of your business is more positive.

Why wait for Thanksgiving? What is one small thing you can find joy in today?