GRATITUDE

 This being Thanksgiving, I see a lot of commentators reflecting on the concept of gratitude, especially in this strange (and let's face it, awful) year.  It seems weird to ponder gratitude while there is so much suffering.  However, I feel it.  My wife and I just celebrated one of those milestones of parenthood when our daughter graduated from college.  She had a rough start to her college career, through no fault of her own, and to see her bounce back and finish strong (cum laude – dad brag) fills me with pride and yes, gratitude.  

 

            I've also been thinking this week about a conversation I recently had with a  client.  She thanked me for some advice I gave her, probably 25 or more years ago, when she was a young songwriter just starting out.  She had been offered a deal with a company I knew to be less than reputable, and I advised her to pass on the offer.  I didn't hear from her for some time after that, but when I started working with her again on some new matters, she reminded me of that first consultation and how she appreciated the counsel.  I was genuinely thrilled to hear that.  Lawyers try hard to make a positive difference in their clients' lives, and when one can actually see tangible proof of that effort and acknowledgement, there's no better feeling.  So my Thanksgiving wish for everyone, to paraphrase writer, Brene Brown, is to "Stop and celebrate one another and our victories … we need to celebrate our accomplishments right now".  I can think of no better way to end 2020.

 

Or to quote Paul McCartney: https://tinyurl.com/y68g4lfz