I want to send you a short note to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I include “weekend” because I love the concept of the holiday so much that I hate to limit it to only one day a year. So even if you had to work Friday or Saturday, I hope you were able to make it a multi-day celebration.

Why is Thanksgiving so important to me? Since you know how much I like to be SELF REFLECTIVE, it is probably no surprise that I see Thanksgiving as a wonderful opportunity to truly be THANKFUL. Yes, many people have issues, difficulties, and incredible challenges (just thinking of the terrible issues facing the people in Ukraine). However, taking time to be thankful for what we have, and importantly, what we can do for those less fortunate, is what I believe we are all called to do as citizens of this world. Regardless of our individual religious beliefs, I believe this is what is required to make the world a little better each and every day.

Of course, every day is a challenge, and unfortunately, many individuals don’t seem to “get it.” They don’t treat others in a way consistent with living in harmony. When I run into these people, I often find myself musing over what grade they would have received on their kindergarten report card under the famous topic of “do you work well and play well with others.” 😉

I am often asked by Kellogg students and executives if I can offer a simple way to explain what we could all do to make the world a little more harmonious. I usually respond with an ENTHUSIASTIC YES!!!

My “go to” advice are the simple words in the “Prayer of St. Francis” that I try to recite every day. Regardless of your religion or faith! I think it rings true, especially on THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!!

Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

—Peace Prayer of St. Francis