I am writing this from a nice little hotel in a suburb of Tijuana Mexico. I'm here this week with my family, friends and clients. Five years ago we started our annual trek to a very impoverished community in Tijuana called Valle Verde. We travel down here to help the people of Valle Verde by building homes, building a community center, and doing some needed repairs.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and as we all remember to be a little more thankful, I am struck by the people I know who live with this attitude daily. I’d like to tell you about a couple of these people who have inspired me.
The first is a friend named Hector, who lives down here in Valle Verde. In his earlier years, Hector raised five children in a one room shanty and rode a scooter for transportation as he looked for work. There is no way for me to do his story justice here, but what I want to share is that he is a man who has known what it is like to have very, very little.
Hector is unequivocally the most grateful man I have ever met. Last night our entire group of 20 men, women and children commented on his joy and thankfulness. One of our friends has been here and worked by Hector’s side for each of the last 9 years. He said he has never seen Hector grumble, get frustrated or even melancholy. He is incredibly joyful and grateful, and we always leave Mexico inspired by his attitude. In a situation that many of us would find bleak, Hector is thankful each and every day.
Next I’d like to tell you about a dear friend of mine by the name of Greg Salciccioli. Greg and I started an organization together ten years ago called Ministry Coaching International. Its purpose is to coach leaders of churches, schools, and other not for profit organizations in the same way Building Champions coaches business leaders. Greg has served as the president since its inception.
If you have met Greg, you will agree that he stands out from the crowd. The first thing you notice is that he is the tallest guy in the room. He is something like 6’18”. The second is the way he shakes your hand. You will lose your hand in his grip as his hand completely envelops yours. The third is his huge and contagious smile. Greg is always smiling, and you just can’t help but feel happier when you are around him. Most importantly, when you finish a conversation with Greg, he will always let you know that he appreciates you. He has been telling me this in our conversations and by his actions consistently for the last ten years.
Take time to think about the people around you this Thanksgiving. Who do you know that is constantly thankful? Who makes you feel better by just being around them?
The challenge for each of us in this season is to reflect on our own attitude and actions. How do we make the people around us feel? Do we let them know how thankful we are for them, or do we take them for granted? Are we truly thankful for relationships, more so than for things and experiences?
May your life and leadership be defined by a heart of thankfulness.
I am thankful for you,
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Tags: Gratitude, Mexico, Ministry Coaching International, Thanksgiving
Great post Coach. My daughter is someone that is naturally just full of joy and thankfulness. I’m so amazed by this character trait in her. She is only six years old and yet she inspires her daddy so much to have a heart of joy and to be thankful for the blessings in life. Listening to her pray at night, thanking God for the smallest blessings brings me joy. Thanks for asking the questions you did in the post. It made me reflect on the special people in my life that I need to share my thanks with.
I love it Dan!