I love clichés.

We so often try to avoid them, but a saying only gets used enough to become a cliché if it resonates with people.

My doctor’s office has one of  those “chicken soup for the soul” style posters hanging in it. It’s really nothing more than a big list of clichés. In public, or in a hurry, I would probably mock its contents. However, when I end up waiting alone in a room for 20 minutes (as I seem to do whenever I go), I find myself getting all contemplative. It’s almost like being a monk in a cell, except the stupid sheet of crinkly paper I’m sitting on keeps me from completely zenning out.

An all-star in the world of clichés is, “we really should do this more often” or its more sombre version, “it’s a shame we only get in touch when someone dies or gets married.” Trite or not, we usually mean it when we say it.

Today I was fortunate to have a good reason to reconnect with a lot of people.  I announced that I’ll be starting a new job next week. I got lots of nice messages back from people I’ve worked with, and it’s got the cliché-o-meter spiking, so I have to say…

“It’s bittersweet.”

Gack. True though. I’m really excited about the new gig, but very much going to miss the people I’m working with now.

So, it’s farewell rtraction, and hello Sunshine Foundation. Depending on how long you’ve known me, this may seem like an odd move  or an obvious one. All I know is that the new role is right up my alley, and it’s a change I’m looking forward to.

I never have a good answer for the questions “Are you religious” or “are you spiritual.” I definitely have a personal philosophy, though. It’s very simple: be grateful.

Gratitude is a fantastic reality check. It calms me, cheers me up, and puts everything in perspective.

Let’s start globally (and I am not being flippant here). I’m grateful that I don’t live in fear of my country’s police or army. I’m grateful that my home or home town has never been destroyed by a natural disaster. I’m grateful that no one I know has had to go to war and be killed.

On to my life. I’m grateful to have family and friends I love. To be healthy. To work with people I like.

My point is not to give you my inventory but to remind you of how easy it is to generate your own gratitude list. And if you ever have trouble sleeping, instead of running down the list of all the problems you have and expect to face the next day, try running down a list of all the times that day you laughed, or got something done, or did something nice for someone and made them smile. It does wonders for insomnia.

I love Thanksgiving – it is one of the few holidays that most North Americans tend to agree on without getting hung up on too many details. Besides, it gives those of us who don’t go to church a reminder to sit down together and be grateful.