Reflection: Today, as I often do, I started my day with a morning walk along the river. It was chilly, breezy, and snowy out there. All the better to clear my head!

It seems, no matter what the weather, when I walk outdoors, my mind putters. It dusts off the cobwebs, rearranges the shelves, empties the garbage, beams a light into the back corners of my brain, generates new ideas, reminds me of things I’d forgotten, and generally puts things in order.

This morning, as I walked, my mind was on you – my Pause readers. Some of you are new to the fold. Some of you are have been following my ramblings right from the beginning of the ezine some seventeen years ago. And some of you joined in at other points along the way.

No matter how long you’ve been with me, what I realized this morning is that I am exceedingly grateful for your presence in my world. You see it’s in my nature to notice things, to think about life, to make connections between A and B and C. If I didn’t have you to share my observations with, I’d probably be walking along the river just mumbling to myself. BTW – that still happens on occasion any way!

So what I really want to say to you today is this. I am deeply grateful that you have granted me a platform from which to share my ideas. It’s a true gift to have an attentive and appreciative audience. I also know from your feedback that often those ideas land in your life at just the right moment – and that many of you actively share these ideas with others who need to hear them, too.

It’s Thanksgiving week in the lives of our American friends. I’d like to borrow that occasion for today’s inspiration which is to simply say ‘A Heartfelt Thank You’ to each of you for your ongoing presence in my world.

Action: My experience – and recent research, too – tells me that gratitude is one of the best ways to lift our own spirits as well as the spirits of those around us.

So feel free to share some appreciation in your own way with members of your circles at work, at home, and beyond.

Is there is a person or a group in your world who might benefit from a giving of thanks from you?

Now would be a fine time to deliver.

Quotes Of The Week: Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. – William Arthur Ward

Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. – Fred de Witt Van Amburgh

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. – G.K. Chesterton

Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise—then you will discover the fullness of your life. – David Steindl-Rast

Resources Of The Week: I’ve got a trio of resources for you this week.

Here’s a fine article by Jeff Weiner, CEO at Linked In. He makes some great points about the impact that sharing appreciation on workplace relationships – and how to improve your skill in this area. It’s well worth a read.

Those of you who are familiar with the Five Languages of Appreciation, might be interested in this article that suggests ‘a person’s primary language of appreciation is often the language in which they are most easily offended’. Read more about how to avoid giving offense.

You might also check out this book by Robert A. Emmons: The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and WellBeing by Giving Thanks.

Gratitude Offer: As an expression of my gratitude for your Pause readership, I’d like to help one lucky client, colleague or friend (could be you) encourage a charitable group that matters to you.

I’ve just reprinted the booklet, Take A Bow – 67 Ways To Pause For Applause, Celebrate Your Success & Keep Your Spirits High. I will ship a gift bundle of 150 booklets (at my own expense anywhere in Canada) to a charity of one reader’s choice. The booklets make great gifts for volunteers, Board members, staff, business partners, and anyone else who could use a lift and a reminder to celebrate their contributions.

Here’s how to nominate your charity of choice. Just send me an email with the subject line, Gift Of Gratitude. In your message, share the name of the group that you’d like to receive the booklets. Include a paragraph that describes why this group matters to you and others, and what makes them such deserving recipients.

Submit your entry by November 30. The winning entry will be announced in the next edition of Pause on December 6. Good luck and thanks for paying it forward!

PS – If you want to learn more about the Take A Bow booklet, this link will give you more information.