What are you thankful for in 2020?

As I sit here gazing at my Christmas tree, a thought pops into my head. Once Halloween has come and gone, we often skip right over Thanksgiving and head straight into the Christmas season. Radio stations start playing Christmas music on November 1st, retailers begin their sales seasons earlier and earlier (although it’s possible we can blame some of that on COVID), trees and wreaths and lights start going up (guilty as charged), and Thanksgiving becomes something of a side show to Santa and his Reindeer. When you think long and hard about 2020, it may make your blood pressure rise, but in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, there’s still a lot to be thankful for. Here are a few things that come to mind for me…

Technology: I’ve always been a huge fan of technology. Maybe not as much as this guy, but I’m definitely a big fan. This year, technology has become a bigger part of everyone’s lives than we’d have ever thought possible. Being able to see the face of someone you care about during this time of quarantines and lockdowns, is a big deal for mental health. And from a workplace perspective, technology has allowed a lot of companies to shift their workforce to a virtual platform to keep them working. A lot of industries aren’t compatible with the virtual concept, so if you’re able to work from home, that’s definitely something to be thankful for this year.

Loved ones: It’s been a tough year for many, and personally I’ve never been more thankful for the people I care about than I am this year. A lot of times we can easily take those people for granted, but 2020 has made me really appreciate my favorite people. If there’s someone in your life that you’ve put on the back-burner, give them a call and let them know you care. It’ll be good for you and it may be just what that person needs right now.

Nature: There’s always something calming about spending time in nature for me. Taking a walk down the road, going for a drive in the country, or hitting up my local disc-golf course always leaves me feeling refreshed. There are a lot of problems in the world right now, but fresh air and the majesty of the great outdoors aren’t two of them.

If you’re stuck at home right now, hopefully you’re not alone, but if you are, find some things that make you smile and use that technology to connect with your loved ones during these hard times. I can’t promise it’ll be soon, but I’m thankful that there are better days ahead.