Another Thanksgiving is upon us and it’s another opportunity to list some things that are most important to you. Here are some of my reflections on this day:

1. I’m thankful for Mary. She has entered my life like a whirlwind of energy and she makes me so thankful to be alive. She is the most wonderful person I know and I can only hope to be as supportive to her as she is to me. You know how there is that person in your life that you look to for every emotion you are in need of. That’s Mary! I’m not sure where I would be without her holding my hand in life. I love you Mary.
2. I’m thankful for my boys, and Mary’s boys too. These young men challenge me daily to be a good mentor for them and they teach me so many things about them and myself everyday. I’m thankful that I can be some small part of making them into great men one day. Peace out boyz.
3. I’m thankful for my job. This one might not make most people’s list but it does mine. I am honoured to work with and for the customers and staff of my company. We make a difference to people and I am thankful that I can represent their passion for greatness. I am so thankful to have tremendous partners who make this business a joy for me daily. There are more good days than bad every year, for sure.
4. I’m thankful for my Dad, brother and sister. I don’t get to be with them enough but they are the people who have made me who I am today. They remind me of all the things I need to be in this world. Love you all.
5. I’m thankful for my mom. She is in a better world now but she was the person who shaped me. She was always there for us and her ability to communicate has inspired me to be better than ever. Those who knew her, will always remember knowing her and that’s a hell of a tribute. Love you Ma.
6. I’m thankful for basketball. It was and remains one of the singular moments of joy that I have experienced. Nothing feels like the joy of winning and the pain of a loss. I still play weekly and stay involved in the game to pass that joy along to others.
7. I’m thankful for my health. Like us all, we put ourselves through stupid pain and suffering. We should treat our bodies as temples but beer and wine taste so damn good. Hopefully I can drag another 50 years out of this body but I’m thankful for where it’s got me so far.
8. I’m thankful for Calgary. This city and it’s people have given us a home and family. It’s a tremendous city that is underrated amongst the best. There are better cities in the world but not one that means as much to me. Thanks 403.
9. I’m thankful for sports. The world of sports has given me so much joy since I was a young boy. Even though my beloved Celtics, Steelers and Blue Jays have lost far more than they have won in my life, those championships have been so sweet. I’m thankful that they continue to grab my heart and my imagination.
10. I’m thankful for commerce. Where would the world be without effective commerce driving decisions on how we manage our finances through buying and selling. Commerce is a good thing and we should all thank our forefathers for the creation of the free-market system.
11. I’m thankful for the internet. I know it has it’s warts but man this thing is awesome. We totally take this for granted but name the things you couldn’t live without in this world. Food, water, shelter and internet. Nuff said.
12. I’m thankful for Mexico. And the Bahamas, and Jamaica and Hawaii and everywhere where the temperature makes us forget the world of winter. I am so blessed to be able to get a break from the cold during the winter and I’m thankful that these places exist.
13. I’m thankful for Sirius Xm radio. I get so much joy from the eclectic variety of music and talk radio that I absorb everyday. It is quickly creeping into my Mount Rushmore of things I couldn’t live without in my life. Thanks Yacht Rock and Mad Dog Radio.
14. I’m thankful for those slow moving moments in bed on Sunday mornings. As the kids have found a need for additional sleep in the morning, I now enjoy those slow moving Sunday mornings more than ever. They are a great replacement from a long week or getting up too early.
15. I’m thankful for the gym that gets me out of bed the other 6 days of the week. Without that purpose, I would struggle to keep weight off and struggle to get my ever-stiffening Achilles tendon from functioning. Mostly, I get to spend 45 minutes a morning pulling myself together for the race that today represents.
16. I’m thankful for family photos. Thos reminders of how far we have come. Although Mary and I continue to look like we are getting older, so are the people around us. It is a fascinating look back in time to days when your kids or your parents were younger too. Take a half hour and look at them someday.

I could go on and on with more things but ultimately they lead back to one thing. I’m thankful for today. I can’t say that everyday but I probably should. Everyday that goes by is one that I can’t get back and I am choosing to genuinely be thankful for the gift/challenge/struggle/joy/beauty (sometimes all in one day) that the day brings. Happy Thanksgiving 403.

Marco