My Thanksgiving Treasures for 2019

Thanksgiving -- and a four-day weekend -- does offer us time to stop and reflect each year on the treasures we have in our lives. Some are obvious -- health, family, or good fortune. Some are unexpected -- the taste of homemade chocolate chip cookies; the comfort of an old, worn-out sweatshirt; the ease of super-fast streaming speeds; and the smell of a freshly cleaned house.

Five years ago, I wrote a Thanksgiving post on unappreciated treasures and I thought it could be time for a fresh look, so here goes:

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

1) Mobility -- Not the AT&T Wireless kind.  I mean being able to walk at your leisure, stroll in the park, go for a run or just move around the kitchen and make yourself a sandwich. I see my parents, aunts and uncles getting older each year and losing that basic gift of mobility. My mother with Parkinson's. My uncle with COPD. My dad with arthritis and joint issues. Wheelchairs, canes, aches and pains are probably in all our futures. It's an odd thing, but I cherish movement so much more because of them. I see how frustrating it can be to be stuck in a chair,... run out of breath after a few simple steps,... having to ask for help to do what used to be the simplest tasks. Mobility is a great gift. Don't take it for granted. 

2017 -- Disney Cruise

2) Google Photos -- When I do eventually lose my mobility, I know one thing I will be even more grateful for is Google Photos. I will sit and sort through the friendly faces and favorites on my phone. I will look back at my "albums" of trips and events from bygone days with a simple touch. Today, I love "Re-Discover This Day" messages that pop up and take me back to moments and memories that can put a smile on my face. Many apps on my phone have a practical purpose -- directions, news, weather, finances. But Google Photos is my app for smiles!

Part of my baseball cap collection

3) Baseball Caps -- I haven't played or coached baseball in almost 30 years, but I do love and appreciate a good baseball cap. They aren't just practical at keeping you warm, providing sun protection, or hiding bedhead on a Saturday morning run of errands, they are also great collectibles. Each hat I own has  story about a place I want to remember or a gift from a dear friend.  Graeter's Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio, where we have enjoyed many a cone with my wife's family. Outer Banks, N.C., where our kids and cousins grew up on summer vacations. Saint Peter's Peacocks, my alma mater and forever home in Jersey City.  Give me a curved and bendable brim, a colorful logo and  a comfortable fit any day of the week.

Photo by Tomasz Woźniak on Unsplash

4) Noom -- This year for my 50th birthday, I decided to try and build some healthier habits and lose some weight. I got the app Noom to give me some direction and it's been a huge help with flexible approaches, brief articles and simple tools . I became more mindful and deliberate about what and when I eat, without denying myself everything I love. I got insights about my food triggers and behaviors. And, I also became more committed to regular exercise and movement (see #1 above). I've lost 15 pounds since February and I've made sustainable changes in my habits and thinking. Nothing works for everyone, but I am very grateful this year for Noom and the healthy habits it has helped me adopt.

Fenway Park for 50 with the Old Gang

5) Friendships, old and new -- There has been lots written lately about men and their struggles with friendships. See here on Huffington Post, here in The New York Times and a really good read here on Quartzy with Vox founder Ezra Klein. Friendships can be a struggle for men and have real effects on their health. As we age and stop doing the activities, work or sports that we tend to bond over, it becomes more of a strain. I am very thankful for the friendships I have today. Some are old high school and college friends who still call me Billy and can happily recount our most embarrassing moments. Some are former co-workers whom I have come to call friends over the years; our gatherings and conversations have moved from traditional career topics to more about family, kids and personal struggles. As I grow older, I am more "intentional" about friendships and put in more effort than when I was young. But that effort can make you appreciate your friends and time together even more when you make the investment.

So, those are my Thanksgiving Treasures for 2019.  What are yours?