Lifeplan Institute | 10 Million Teenagers in 10 Years: Gratitude for Love, Family and Purpose

November brings us that time of Thanksgiving when we gather as a family, an Ohana, a group of friends or extended family, to share for a moment the treasured feelings of gratitude for the large and small gifts in life.

In this wintry season of my life my feelings of thanks for gifts large and small become more salient. In the Lifeplan journey, young people are invited to think where they want to be in 15 years. whom they are with, where they are living, what they are doing and how they are making a difference to positively touch this place while they are here.

Thanksgiving is one of our cultural traditions that invites all of us to stop for a brief moment to reflect on the gifts in life. For some the gift is a speed bump that has challenged the very best in us to navigate. To view life with the lens of faith, hope and determination assures each of us the chance to thrive in the moment and appreciate all that comes our way.

In Lifeplan we share some secrets to live by. They are not new, yet they deserve all the attention we can bring to them:

• Be thoughtful.
• Be honest.
• Care about others.
• Be connected to family and community.
• Save a little each month.
• Be generous with your positive spirit.
• Make a difference --and believe you can make a difference.
• Learn from the speed bumps.
• And finally, one of my favorites Kate always shares at graduation, "Be warm despite the challenge of living in a world that would want you to be cool."

Happy Thanksgiving!

All the best,
Andy