November this year is a busy month. We had national and local elections, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving. Forgive me if I have missed any other recognizable event.

My apologies for not posting in October. I had serious back surgery which took me “out of pocket” for a while with writing, but I am on the mend and will be back with monthly blogs.

I want to focus on Veterans Day for this blog.

Most people recognize our military and have had family members serve our country. I come from a family of those who have served, including my husband who was in the Air Force for 29 years. His father and mine served in WWII. I could go on about more family, but instead, I wanted to share what Travis Hadwin (Steward Partners and Raymond James office) emailed me about this service member.

“We were inspired by the story of Lieutenant Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian American woman and first woman gunnery officer in the U.S. to teach Navy pilots air combat tactics. The Department of Defense recognizes Cuddy as a barrier-breaker, unwavering trailblazer, and successful pioneer for women and Asian Americans in the military. She, like many veterans before and after her, gave commitment to her country in its entirety.”

Along with Veterans Day let’s be thankful this month for all our blessings. An author friend sent me this. (Credit goes to Amanda McKoy Flanagan)

“The Greater Gratitude List

Grateful: List 5 things you are grateful for.

Attributes: List 5 attributes (what you like about yourself).

Feelings: List 5 feelings you are experiencing.

Stills: List 5 behaviors you still do and don’t want to do anymore.

Do this every day, for as many days as possible, with no repeats.

No repeats is the hard part! It forces you to get down to the nitty-gritty of things to be grateful for. Like the chair you’re sitting on, the soap in your shower, even things you don’t like but are grateful for anyway.”

I just loved her recommendations for gratitude AND I never knew about the items listed past Grateful!

Let’s appreciate our active-duty military, our veterans, and those who have gone before us and gave their lives for our country.

May God bless you and may you take time to be grateful this month.