An Essay on Gratitude

Forgive me, this one was supposed to go out for Thanksgiving but given that I post on Thursdays, I refused to give up even a minute of my Thanksgiving for a LinkedIn post. I'm certain y'all get it, but buckle up because this one is a little touchy-feely.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I like the food, I like that my family comes together, I like the weather, and I love what the holiday stands for.

✨Gratitude✨

Gratitude is my hack to maintaining a positive outlook on the world. Every morning when I'm in the shower I like to think of 3 new things I'm thankful for; I've been doing this for a few years so they get a little weird. This morning it was I'm grateful for my eyes that work, I'm grateful to be raised in America, and I'm grateful that I am loved by the people around me (I think).

When it comes to the bidness, S1 Technology has given me a lot to be grateful for. We have wonderful customers; the businesses we serve recognize our value to them. They actually tell us about the difference we make in their business - that's cool. I'm also super grateful for the team we've built; the backbone of S1. Our people who give 100% every day. That's not just a figure of speech either. I fully believe that the folks we employ at the company give everything they got and constantly level themselves up so they can give even more. It gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

I used to struggle with a lot of anxiety. It wasn't the kind you'd normally think of like the acute anxiety that causes stage fright; it was more of the existential worry of whether I will be enough or if will I live up to the expectations of my parents and the expectations I set for myself. The single thing that helped me to overcome this years ago was this daily gratitude practice. It's now something that my wife Haley and I call upon daily to help us stay grounded.

Gratitude is so powerful because it's quite hard to be anxious, depressed, or angry when you keep in mind the blessings that have been bestowed upon you. When you frame a potentially bad situation against what could've been a worse situation, your oh so big problems lose their muster.

It's also become apparent to me that the people I admire the most hold gratitude close to their hearts. The folks who take their lives for granted and take it out on the world are simply no fun to be around. Thankful for all the good Lord's given me and all that He has in store.