11/22/2011 - By Gregory Nicoll

It seems like every year there is a new normal. Anyone in the green industry today has something to say as each year passes; record high temps, record rainfalls, droughts, bankruptcies, foreclosures, job loss. This past year, we have seen, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and yes, even earthquakes.

What is there to be thankful for? It’s been a real tough time for many.

Thanksgiving is here, it seems to arrive quicker every year but I wonder if that's just a sign of me getting older. It’s my favorite holiday, a time with close friends and family and when I can reflect on who I am as a person and how I can improve. How can I be a better father, husband, friend and co-worker? How can I improve as a person? Typically, my answers are pretty simple: be happy, be grateful, be thankful.

I have had the opportunity to meet and connect with many folks who are having difficulty in their careers, with their health, their marriage and addictions. It’s a tough time with plenty of reason for anxiety.

During the holiday season we hear many words of encouragement, but I truly feel it’s a perfect time for reflection. We often hear “No matter how good or bad you think your life is, wake up each day and be thankful. Someone somewhere else is fighting to survive.” Ultimately, there are many things in our lives that we simply cannot control, and many put the added stress on themselves. A man was quoted as saying “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.”

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never have enough.”

By Greg Nicoll, VP of Sales and Marketing, Golf, Harrell's LLC.