Who are you thankful for?

Who are you thankful for in your life?

This month, we’re talking about gratitude for our True Character lesson of the month. Remember, gratitude means, “I’m so thankful.” Or for older students it means appreciating, recognizing, and being thankful for what we have.

People I am thankful for

Now, I know I’m thankful for quite a few people in my life.

I’m thankful for my kids. I’m thankful for Master H. I’m thankful for all of our staff, Mr. W., Ms. Lola, Mrs. Bush, Gabba, Ms. Dawn.

I’m thankful for all of our students for being here and dedicating themselves to this art, coming into class and giving us their best.

I’m thankful for our Association. I’m thankful for our Grand Master. I’m thankful for all the parents here in the studio, for trusting us with their kids and for letting us be part of their family’s life.

Thankful for teachers

You know what else I’m thankful for that I think all of us really need to remember now?

I’m thankful for all the teachers out there.

The teachers out there have really had a tough year. We’ve all had a bit of a tough year. But as an educator, I can say sometimes it’s a little bit tough. We’re really doing our best to teach the kids and I know all my kids’ teachers are really doing their very best. It’s a difficult situation. We’ve all had to do things that we’ve never done before. But I’m very thankful for all that effort they’ve done and everything they’ve done for it.

So, for kids right now, especially coming to this time of year — coming to the holiday time of year — please really show your appreciation to those teachers.

Maybe you’re able to see them in person and show it. Or maybe you haven’t seen them in person in quite a while and you’re just seeing them on Zoom through video. Either way, really reach out and try to give that thankfulness to them for everything they do for you.

You can do it with a drawing. Or you can do with a gift. Sending them a gift card, letting them know that you’re thinking of them, letting them know that you really appreciate everything they’ve done in very difficult times — these are all good ways to give them thanks.

Remember the people you’re thankful for

Let’s remember, especially in this season, all the people around us that we’re thankful for.

And let’s give a challenge for everybody to reach out to as many people as they can and let them know you’re thankful.

It doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Sometimes just that little bit of recognition that you’re thinking of them and you’re thankful for everything they do is all it takes.

One good thing that you can do is something like I’m doing in this video and article right now. Very quickly, you can record a quick thank-you message that you can send to all those people in your life.

I’m sure as a teacher, you would love to get a little message from your students saying how they really appreciate everything that you’ve done.

So, let’s remember everybody in our lives that we’re thankful for, and keep them in more than just our hearts. Let them all know in a way that only you can — in some way that really makes them feel special.

Remember, the word of the month is gratitude.

 And we will see everybody on the mat.
-Master Helsdon