Why giving thanks makes so much sense

Probably because I'm not cool, I don't spend my days Twittering, reading blogs, instant messaging my BFFs or checking my RSS feeds. I'm happy if I can make it through my inbox and half my daily to-do list.

Probably because I’m not cool, I don’t spend my days Twittering, reading blogs, instant messaging my BFFs or checking my RSS feeds. I’m happy if I can make it through my inbox and half my daily to-do list.
But there’s one e-mail I look forward to receiving each week and you might like to take a look at it too. It’s the Monday Morning Memo from Roy H. Williams, the self-proclaimed Wizard of Ads.
Based in Texas, the unorthodox Mr. Williams runs an advertising agency specializing in small businesses. Over the years, he became a de facto marketing consultant to the retail businesses he helped with advertising. He gradually formalized his insights into the Wizard Academy, a non-traditional business school that offers practical courses of value to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The classes are taught by experts who are every bit as colorful as Mr. Williams.
I don’t think too many academy attendees have been financial advisers, but the Wizard’s unusual take on running a small business probably would be helpful.
All of this is a roundabout way of getting to my point: an interesting snippet I read in this week’s Monday Morning Memo. Talking about Thanksgiving and the concept of giving thanks, Mr. Williams referred to an insight from psychologist Dr. Richard Grant Jr., who believes that the opposite of depression isn’t happiness, but gratitude.
Like the Wizard, I think this concept is profound. Being thankful for what we have — and not dwelling on the things we don’t have — leads to a kind of satisfaction that is deeper and more long-lasting than happiness, which tends to be fleeting.
With the economy still in disarray and everyone knowing several people who are suffering, happiness would be a little too much to ask for. But gratitude is something we all can muster.
The simple fact of being alive and of sufficiently sound mind and body to read this column is just one reason to be grateful. (Forget going ga-ga over my writing; I’m asking you to be grateful for your health and sanity, so work with me here.)
Despite the challenges and the market’s tumble, advisers also should be grateful for being in a business that enables them to help people achieve their life goals. That sounds hokey, but it’s true.
It also makes sense to be grateful for your clients — the wealthy ones, the less wealthy ones, those who are a joy to deal with, and even those you want to unload. Without your clients you wouldn’t be in business, so be thankful for each and every one.
Gratitude for colleagues, co-workers, employees and, of course, family and friends should be a given. But we often forget to appreciate those closest to us — maybe because they sometimes annoy the hell out of us. This wouldn’t be a bad time to be grateful for them too.
In that spirit, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you, the readers of InvestmentNews and InvestmentNews.com. Without you and our advertisers, I wouldn’t have a job.
So thank you all, and a very happy (and grateful) Thanksgiving.