November can be a tough month with the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder. I’ve always wondered if “Thanksgiving” was added to the calendar because too many people were complaining about winter coming and someone finally said, “hey, be thankful, it isn’t that bad!” Let’s eat some turkey and stuffing and be fat and happy.
I’m often impressed when I visit our communities and see our residents and our staff in action. We have some amazing people. Most of the residents I see are positive, or at least they are trying to be. We certainly have some that might want to complain, but most people are doing the best they can, they are staying optimistic, and they are good examples of how to age well.
I’m sure I’ve said before that “choose your attitude” is a saying that has stuck with me for many years. I think this stuck with me when I realized it was true. We all have choices to make, and it may seem easier to complain, make excuses, or blame others, but life it hard enough, and we can choose our attitude no matter the situation. It’s encouraging to see our residents choosing to be happy. I appreciate it and I know your life is better because of it.
As we approach Thanksgiving this month, I want to say that I am thankful for our Bethany staff members, as these people are a great team. Our Property Managers help provide new homes to those moving in and they do tons of paperwork to assure rents are affordable. Our Maintenance Staff and Housekeepers fix things that break and constantly clean everything. Our Dining Services teams and Health Aides provide meals and personal care and support to our residents. Our Nurses and Service Coordinators help guide the way, monitoring residents, making recommendations, and are a listening ear to those in need. Our Bus Drivers get people where they need to go, and our Community Life, Activities, and Marketing team…all do great things to provide for residents and promote Bethany. Administration, Finance, Operations, HR, Development, Bookkeeping, all watching over the bottom line, paying bills, raising money, making sure we are financially stable. What a team. What a crew. I can’t believe how many people work here! I am grateful, and if you are too, please thank our staff when you have the chance.
To be thankful is to be thoughtful. Take some time this month to think about the good things in life and the good people you know. When you choose to be thankful, I bet you will have a good attitude. Happy Thanksgiving!
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." – Viktor Frankl
