This past weekend we had a family event with Elaine’s cousins at our lake house. Many of the people who attended are a little older than us and most are retired. I was having the retirement conversation with Michael who is one of the greatest guys in the world and who has been retired for some time. I expressed that retirement scares me and he and I discussed what it was like for him.

It does. It scares me to think I will not be doing what I love to do, which is selling hotels. This morning I woke up a little earlier than normal and started thinking about all the things I had to get done this week and the meetings I am going to in other states. Then like a hammer, I remembered the conversation with Michael yesterday about retirement and how he missed the work and the people he worked around and how it was a major adjustment for him.

On the way to the office today, I paused to be thankful for work and the ability to be involved. Thankful to be around other people doing the same thing and what a gift it is to be able to participate. I was thankful for deadlines, spreadsheets, clients and conference calls and all that goes with the business. I also realized that last week I was just doing what I do because it is what we do every week. Today was different because I have an appreciation that I didn’t have last week.

From time to time God puts people in our paths to give us that needed attitude adjustment and many times it helps us be thankful for what we already have. Being thankful and full of hope for the future are perhaps two of the most silent gifts God gives us that enables us to face the future with expectation. KT