Deb Ross, the Publisher of Kids Out And About and Beyond the Nest, and I were talking about the editorial she planned to write this week on the topic of people who create obstacles vs people who create opportunities. She’s obviously the latter.  Somehow, we got on the topic of past actions and achievements.

She said something I’ll  never forget: “No one can ever take that away from you.” 

I’d never really thought about that before, at least, not in those terms.

If you think back over your lifetime of activities and achievements…and even over your failures…they have undoubtedly become part of  the foundation of who you are at this very moment. They have brought you rewards and awards, joys… and sometimes sorrow…but each has brought some amount of learning and growth that can never be taken away. They are core to your very being.

If you’ve been wise throughout your life, most of your activities have probably enriched you, at least in a personal sense, if not monetarily. On the occasions you haven’t been wise – and who hasn’t had a lapse of judgement? — hopefully you’ll have learned important lessons, which in the long run also enrich you.

So as Thanksgiving approaches, I challenge you to think about, and  even write down five things you’ve achieved of which you’re most proud, or activities you’ve undertaken that have brought you the most joy. For good measure, also include five people you’re most thankful to know or have known…the individuals most responsible for shaping who you are today. Take a few minutes to really think about how they have contributed to making you the person you are today.

Then enjoy a moment of thankfulness that these people and achievements are part of you and can never be taken away.

Image by Kristin Eisner from Pixabay . Post in tribute to Deb Ross.

Originally published in the November 14 issue of Beyond the Nest’s free weekly newsletter.