What Are You Thankful For?
What are you thankful for? As this blog is being released in the United States, we are on the doorstep of the 2022 holiday season.
Parties and celebrations. Gifts and giving. Food and more food! There are so many circumstances to celebrate.
The holiday season can bring many emotions; happiness and sorrow, excitement and despair, gratitude and loneliness. It is the proverbial side of the coin or the edges of the sword.
For all the excitement of laughter and connection, reminders of difficulty and hardships, live on the other side.
Being thankful in a season when thousands of people have been laid off in recent weeks is difficult.
Yet being thankful is the name of the season.
Conditioning yourself to be thankful when times are challenging is a testament to your perseverance and endurance.
One hardship has hit the doorsteps of homes in the United States. This adversity has been a generational struggle in many other parts of the world. Access and supply of clean water.
Extreme drought, contamination, toxic piping, and unbridled demand for water in many parts of the US have created a real water crisis.
It's been political and polarizing.
When Scott Harrison founded charity: water, I doubt he thought there would be a day when communities in North America would need their services. We aren’t quite there yet, though.
I wanted to share this special blog on behalf of Scott. He was a podcast guest of mine in 2021, and we share numerous connections.
The mission of charity: water is to help bring clean and safe water to every person on the planet.
A big undertaking that can only be met with the contribution of many people. I'm sharing here with you to bring more awareness to their work and to serve a friend.
Why? Because in moments when it can be hard to see past your circumstances, being thankful for the efforts of others to serve and contribute can help align your feelings of gratitude.
I am guilty as anyone forgetting to be thankful.
Last week I found myself scrambling to replace my hot water heater, dealing with frozen water pipes, and trying to balance my responsibilities. I was frustrated to be in the situation but thankful for my ability.
I had the resources and knew how to change out the hot water heater. I could heat and thaw the frozen water pipes and get water to my cows.
I was able to overcome the challenge. I was able to overcome the challenge because I had the resources.
To date, charity: water has funded nearly 118,000 water projects. Those projects have served over 115 million people in 29 countries.
They have provided resources for people to serve themselves and others.
As you prepare for the holidays, take a moment for the resources you have and how they give you the ability to overcome challenges. Not in a guilt ridden way, simply thankful. We can use water to live our lives.
This is not a reality for so many. We can help change that—just one contribution at a time.
Join me this season to show gratitude by contributing to the effort.
