Tom Brady & Gratitude

I know the kids just are getting back to school, but is it too early to start thinking about Thanksgiving?

I LOVE Thanksgiving and everything that goes with it.

I love getting together with family and friends.

I love the cooler temperatures, the football games, and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on TV.

I love the food. I mean seriously! Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade rolls, and pie- what’s not to love?

But the #1 thing I love about Thanksgiving is it’s overall theme – THANKS giving.

There’s just something about looking for and focusing on all the blessings in my life and thanking God and others for them that just makes me, in the famous words of Phil Robertson, “happy happy happy.”

Lucky for us, we don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving time to be experience that happy grateful feeling.

I believe Heavenly Father understands this and that is why He gave us the commandment to “be grateful in all things” (D&C 59:7)

ALL things, meaning the good and the bad.

If you don’t think it’s possible to be grateful for the bad stuff life throws at us just read this quote from football star Tom Brady. He posted it on his Instagram account just days after his team lost the Super Bowl:

“There are many emotions when you come up short of your goal. And they are all part of learning and growing in this journey of life. Learning turns everything into a positive. And the number one feeling I have had the past 4 days is gratitude. Gratitude to my teammates for the incredible effort given all season regardless of the challenges we faced. Gratitude toward my coaches for the effort and sacrifice they make to put us players in the best position to win. Gratitude to the NEP organization for supporting us on our very challenging journey. Gratitude to the Philadelphia Eagles team and organization for bringing out the best in us and being gracious winners (as well as congratulations on winning the championship). Gratitude toward our fans who showed up every week to cheer us on and commit their time and energy and love and support to what our goals are. And gratitude to my family and friends who continue to love and support my dreams.”

Tom Brady didn’t choose to sulk and feel sorry for himself, he chose to “be grateful in all things”.

He chose gratitude.

And we can too!