Giving Gratitude

Hello Argyle Boot Campers,
I couldn’t let the day excape without expressing my sincere gratitude to you for making your health, fitness and well being a priority. You are in the minority of people who are taking care of yourself and ultimately not only will it bring you better health, but more of life’s greatest pleasures. I am grateful for your loyal business and am committed to coaching you into the best shape of your lives throughout this holiday season. I am also greateful to be working with a team of qualified, enthusiastic and professional coaches in partnering with Jamie and Brad and I am thrilled with the intensity they share in getting you in shape for life.
I just returned from 5 days of a jungle adventure with my family and friends. I realize with each passing moment that it’s being in the present and making the most out of every single opportunity that I am the most grateful for. I don’t want to live with any regrets and my intention is to be in the best possible shape to enjoy all life has to offer. While away I read a book called the Metabolic Plan by Stephen Cherniske which was just relseased last month. Over the next 3 weeks I will be sharing with you the golden nuggets for slowing the aging process, longevity, increasing strength, stamina and immunity as well as how to reduce fat, combat disease, enhance memory, restore a healthy glow and more.
Great things are to come and I am thankful to have your attention for the remainder of what has been a great year – even though every year has its thorns, we grow from those experiences as well.
Please continue to send your testimonials as to how camp has helped you get from where you were, closer to where you want to be. I never get tired of receiving yoru success stories.
There are three weeks of camp left beginning on Monday. I would like to see perfect attendance from everyone. Plan to make every workout to combat holiday stress, shed excess fat, boost your immunity and look great at holiday parties. It’s not too late to have a friend or spouse join you at camp for the 15 remaining sessions.
Below you can read some ideas surrounding the theme of gratitude. I invite you to spend a few minutes every day showing gratitude to those who have had an impact on your world.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend – including sleeping in! I look forward to having everyone back to camp energize on Monday morning.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli

It’s Thanksgiving
time in the US, a time for reflection on the blessings that make our lives worth living. Over the years, Lifehack’s writers have has a lot to say on the topic of gratitude, giving thanks, and – of course – Thanksgiving.
The Power of Giving Thanks
Change the World, One Thank-You Note at a Time
When Esquire writer Tom Chiarella decided to send handwritten thank you notes to friends, acquaintances, and even strangers who had touched his life in some way, he found a personal reward he wasn’t expecting: “I began to look at the day as a series of opportunities for thankfulness rather than obligations to a calendar.” Read Craig Child’s comments and then click through to the original Esquire story.
Power of Gratitude
Vishal Rao sees gratitude as the key to keeping a positive outlook – and thus the force behind powerful change. “The power of gratitude works on the brain, he writes. “It helps release the negativity in our mind.”
Universal Values to Be Grateful For
We are nothing without the values we choose to live by, says Rosa Say. Expressing gratitude for the values that shape our relationships, or careers, and our lives is one step in “taking possession” of those values and making them a clear and conscious part of our approach to life.
How to Be Happier with What You Have
Does wanting more mean you have to be unhappy with what you have? Scott Young believes not, and shares tips to help us appreciate what we have while working for our dreams. Have a lot of interests, so a setback in any one won’t mean you lost everything; experiment with different ways of filling your time to find the way that works best for you; and don’t worry about living up to other people’s standards.
The Importance of Thank You
Chris Brogan highlights the meaningfulness of expressing gratitude to the people who help you on your way. “Thank the people in your life who add value,” he writes, “and make sure you spread a little good karma that way. Be kind and generous in your thanks, and the results will almost always be favorable.” To make it easy, he offers a set of tips on giving thanks simply and effectively.
A Powerful Thanksgiving
Reap Joy from this Thanksgiving Holiday
Another post on giving thanks from Rosa Say, who finds American Thanksgiving to resonate well with the Hawaiian concept of mahalo. Instead of decrying the artificialness of a day when we’re supposed to be thankful, Say embraces the forced gratitude of the day, sending notes and emails to friends around the world and thanking them for being part of her life. What a great (and yes, joyful) way to make a difference in the lives of the people you’re closest to – and your own.
Thanksgiving and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
My contribution to Lifehack’s pool of Thanksgiving-themed posts focuses less on thankfulness and more on what we can learn from how the Thanksgiving story – the Pilgrims, the Indians, the shared feast – defines us as a people. Stories, I argue, shape our lives in profound ways, even when they’re not true, or not true yet. Real change, then, might well start with changing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and about the world we live in.
Thanksgiving How-To Guides
A quickie post linking to Thanksgiving-themed how-to guides on eHow.
TIme Management on the Turkey Day
When we talk about Thanksgiving, we emphasize the relaxed day with our family, watching the football game or the Thanksgiving Day parade, and of course we pay homage to mom’s pumpkin pie or Aunt Louanna’s special stuffing. We tend to forget the tremendous tactical effort it takes to get all that food on the table at 4:00, hot and steaming. Leon Ho links to a post at FoodieView that offers a few tips for those facing the holiday from the kitchen counter.
Top 10 Things to Do for Mom’s PC Over Thanksgiving
For the techie among us, Thanksgiving is more than just a day for sharing good food and good times with your family – it’s also the day we will be called upon to service our parent’s computers. Leon’s post links to a list of good ideas for souping up Mom’s (or Dad’s, or grandma’s, or whomever’s) while you’re home for the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans, and to everyone else, thanks for reading. I hope you find a moment or two to be thankful on this and every day.