The Technical Manager

Be thankful year-round

With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us here in the United States, it serves its purpose well by reminding us to consciously recognize the many blessings in our lives—most importantly, the people in our lives.

If you believe in a Greater Power, as I do, then you likely also believe that there is purpose in every person who crosses our path throughout our lifetime. The most powerful influences often come from those we consider family and friends—but what about the people we work with?

We spend considerably more time with colleagues than with many of our friends and relatives, making our workmates a significant influence on our daily lives. Because we generally don’t get to choose the people we work with, we naturally get along well with some (hopefully most), while others may be more challenging or even confrontational.

It’s easy to feel thankful for the coworkers we enjoy. But what about those we don’t? Difficult colleagues can bring stress into our lives—especially when they happen to be our managers. Yet they also introduce adversity, which pushes us to think differently, solve problems, and grow. To be clear, if you are being bullied or if the relationship is toxic or abusive, you must take action to resolve it or remove yourself from it—that, however, is a topic for another blog. The point is that we learn about life and about ourselves even when dealing with people we struggle with, and those lessons are something to be thankful for.

So let’s be thankful for everyone in our lives, not just on Thanksgiving Day. Whether you pray or not, take a moment each day to intentionally recognize the good in your life—and above all, the people who fill it.