All About You FRIDAY – Show Me the Hand

When I think about the 22 years I’ve been in business, there are many things that warm my heart. The people I’ve met. The lives changed. The lessons learned. But one of the most heart-warming things is a tradition that has stood the test of time: Thanksgiving Hand Turkey time.

That’s right. Every year, when my staff sees an orange sheet of paper on their desk, they know it is time. Time to pull out the markers and stop for a few minutes to creatively jot down the things that matter most to them. We purposely don’t write our names on them and then we tape them on the wall. We encourage our patients to read them and try to figure out who’s turkey belongs to who. (If you look closely, you’ll see a unique word pop up on several of them: FRATIENTS. Those are our patients who have become friends.)

Sometimes, we are so busy that it initially feels like a nuisance. But a magical thing happens as you put marker to paper and write down the things for which you are grateful.

You can tell who’s left-handed and who’s right-handed and some people are more artistic than others. But it doesn’t matter what the turkey looks like. This isn’t an art contest, it’s a gratitude brainstorm. As I read each turkey, the person becomes more real in my mind. More whole. It reminds me of the life people live outside of work. And that’s a good thing.

Because we are more than our jobs. We are living, breathing humans who love, laugh, worry, cry and dream. I think its good to be reminded that the person working beside you and with you is all that and more.

Practicing gratitude is healthy. It reduces stress, boosts immunity, and improves sleep. And grateful people are more likely to help others. The Thanksgiving Hand Turkey is a win/win. And its zero calorie.

So, pull out those markers…

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Hand a piece of paper and some markers to your family members and co-workers and make some turkey art. Don’t forget to hang them up for all to see. And then feel the magic happen…in your heart and the hearts of the ones you love. I promise, you will be thankful you did.

It’s been a long week. Don’t forget to celebrate.

Until next time…