The Gratitude Challenge.

This morning, my husband and I rounded up our boys for a formal family meeting. It was time to chat about the TRUE meaning of Thanksgiving. Time to reflect on our blessings and be grateful for what we have. We shared with our boys what our parents - all four of which are immigrants - sacrificed and went through when they first came to this country. Our duty, we shared with them, was to make their hardships all worth it. As parents, we want to give them what they gave us, and then some.

What's most important, we explained, is that we ALWAYS be grateful for what we have and even for what we don't have. While our parents experienced severe hardships -  including having to ride bike to find a bottle for recycling to purchase their daily snack or living in a room behind a gas station with no running water - they were always grateful. And it's important to show that same gratitude and express appreciation every day of our lives, not just during Thanksgiving.

And this Thursday morning, we will assign a very meaningful task to our boys...we will be taking out a sheet of paper and listing ALL the PEOPLE we are grateful for, including their grandparents. We will be listing their family members, teachers, friends, parents of friends, coaches, and all others who make their lives so absolutely wonderful.

Have you ever done this? Literally, take out a paper and start jotting them down. It is a very powerful exercise that will quickly remind you of how truly loved you are.

Take it a step further and send them a handwritten note, a quick text, or email. Remind these folks how much they mean to you and how thankful you are that they are in your life!

Wishing you and your beautiful family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!