Every night when I lay down to sleep I say Thank You.  Thank you to each and every member of my dedicated, loyal and do the best they know how staff.  I get to go to bed at night because they are working, so I do not have to.  For that I will be forever thankful and I remind myself every night that I get to sleep because of their commitment and dedication.

On October 1, 2011 we continue into our 16th year in business.  Many times in the past 15 years I’ve had to stop and remember all the things I am grateful for as a business owner.  The odd time when the going became a struggle the only way to keep on keeping on was to sit down and find several things to be thankful for.  My most vivid memory of this was the time I reflected deeply enough to realize I had time freedom!  WOW, “Time Freedom”.  Today I often remind myself and our leadership team that the beauty of working in a 24/7/365 operation is that we can have a day off during the week, we can switch a shift at the last minute, we can work lots of days in 3 weeks and have a week off without losing any holiday time, we can make a hair appointment or doctor’s appointment without taking time off…Time Freedom!  Recently I’ve entered two fundraising golf tournaments!!!   

During another period of reflection about all the things I was grateful for as a business owner; I appreciated all the requests we get for help.  Often I am unaware of the multitude of amazing projects and events that the many volunteers of our community are either building or contributing toward to make our community the outstanding place it is to live, work and play!  It is indeed a privilege as a business owner to have the opportunity to contribute.

Years have passed … an entry from my gratitude journal… August 7, 1998: “Great employees who care and try hard.”  September 26, 1998: “Grateful for the opportunity to attend the CAM-X convention; Grateful for employees that cover for you in a crunch.”  October 30, 2002: “Laid my van on its side this morning on the way to work…grateful for Cheryl who covered at the office because I would be late getting to work, grateful I was not hurt and that only 2 drops of my coffee jumped out of my cup onto the ceiling of the vanJ.  Grateful for Ron from Canadian Forest who stopped and asked if I was ok, then waited for Stovey and Teddy who came, and they all got me out, then pulled my van back on its wheels.  Grateful for laughs with my friends when Lorna asked if I would need a really big and long sign to cover the whole side of the van as Drayton Valley was just preparing to host the Scotties, and we planned to use the van to transport a team for the week.” January 12, 2004:  “Grateful for Sheena and my staff.”  4:32 pm June 9, 2009: “Today I am thankful to Bruce Clemmer for donating to Serenity House; my dad was issued a bed there today. Thank you.”

For me when I hit the wall; I sit down and write in my gratitude journal or simply reflect on several things I am thankful for.  I climb over the wall or go around and move on.