This week I have been thinking about all the things I am grateful for, and at the top of my list is a new career opportunity. (Alright, my first grandchild is at the very top!)
There is a lot of talk these days about being more grateful. Studies show that we are healthier, happier, and more productive people when we practice gratitude. (I know you are asking, “What does this have to do with nonprofits?” Just give me a minute.) I don’t know about you, but I can make a list, look at my list, add more to my list, but actually “tackling” the list is another thing altogether.
I have a friend who is posting something every day on Instagram, followed by the hashtag #yearofgratitude. Friends of ours ask their children every night at the dinner table to talk about one thing they are grateful for that happened that day. (Wish I had done that!) What if we didn’t just make lists but acted on them? What if we chose one actionable expression of gratitude each day that brightened the day of a staff member, a funder, a client, a family member, or a stranger? Vu Le, writer, speaker, and Executive Director Valley Corps has written an article and posted to his website on “Being Thankful is Not Enough.” He lists some pretty interesting and challenging ideas about showing our gratitude.
What if being grateful inadvertently changed our work environment? What if showing appreciation affected staff retention? What if a note of gratefulness to a funder got you an extra $10,000? Don’t leave this page without downloading this article and printing it off. This week I am making my gratitude list for the year. No, it is not a New Year’s resolution but a Thanksgiving resolution. I hope you will join me--let’s don’t just talk about it, let’s do it!
“Being Thankful is Not Enough”