SURVEY SAYS – What are YOU Thankful For?

November 25, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) -  As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I asked readers to share what they were thankful for.

You’ll want to check these out – and I’d just like to say that I’m thankful for all the good folks who said they were thankful for what we do here.   

But IMHO, these are ALL worth being called “Editor’s Choice! 

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Here they are:

 

That I still have a job. That I have my health. That my family is well. That I'm still able to pay my bills.

"Living in a free country. Family. Freedom to worship. The US Constitution. Free enterprise."

I know I should be thankful that I have a job, but it's hard to feel that way when it's sucking the life out of me.

My family, of course, DH and I are both gainfully employed, our health, freedom to worship, a loving, mostly functional extended family!

All of God's blessings.  A wonderful family, good health, a good job, and a country where we are free to speak, worship, and gather in peace.

I work for the Federal Government and have for over 23 years and that I have less than 7 years to go before I qualify for retirement at 56.  I plan to work an additional 6 years if health allows.

Family, good friends, good times and that my husband and I are both currently employed.

Family, friends, and I work for a great company that has weathered these volatile times very well.

I'm thankful for my faith, family and job!

God, My Family, My Friends and My Life. Presidential and Congressional term limits, brave people willing to serve in the military, Del Tackett's The Truth Project, my family (especially my son, who smells like cookies), and the good fortune of having a job (with benefits).

Health and family and a great job

"Professionally, I'm thankful for a good job and a good boss.  Personally, I'm thankful for still being on the right side of the grass -- I needed four stents placed in my heart last summer.  It was fixed with minimal fuss, and I was back to work after only missing three days of work.  Now, I'm fully back, feeling great, doing well."

My family and friends.

Being able to respond to this survey in a free environment with no one ready to put me in jail for my answers, whatever they may be.

That I still have a job. Seriously though, that my family is healthy, and things could be much worse.

That I made it through 2009 and still have a job!

I'm thankful for many things - strong faith, supportive spouse, a child who keeps me on my game, family and friends, even being somewhat healthy.  And though I hate to admit it, even this job that challenges me every single day.

 

Among many other things: That I have a good job that I like & good people to work with.

My health and my family

While I am swamped with work to do and may have to work over the holiday weekend, I am thankful that I have a job.  Enjoying where I work is an added bonus!

Two things--first, my family. Second, it's less than a year till the 2010 elections.

Life in general, family and friends.

I'm thankful for the basics - family and health, but also thankful that I survived the latest round of job eliminations.  (Or organizational excellence as the company chooses to call it).

That even though I'm currently unemployed (from a full-time job), I still am able to pay my bills and put food on the table, that's way more than some people can do when they have a job.

faith, family and friends

After a 9-day mission trip to Caracas, Venezuela in June, I came back with a whole different attitude and I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about.  I am very, very thankful for everything that I have, that I am gainfully employed, and for the love of my family and friends.

"Healthy teenagers - they may not do much homework but they behave themselves! 

Healthy, active parents in their 80s.

A good job that I still enjoy."

My family, my friends, my faith

My family's health (a very active 86 year old mother).

I'm thankful that I'm truly blessed by living in our country, the United States of America, one nation - under GOD - even with all of our ills, our nation is still the best in the world; no matter what anyone says or whatever propaganda is being thrown around!  I'm very thankful that I am gainfully employed, that all my needs are met, that I enjoy excellent health, that my husband loves me and vice-versa, that I can appreciate the beauty of the earth and all that's in it!  And lastly, I'm thankful for the opportunity to share with others in whatever way I am able - right now, by saying to you and yours, Have a Truly Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

My job and family.

My family, good health and a great job!

My health and that of my family.  And that I still have a job when so many are out of work.

My family and my health

"My incredible family, friends, and good health.

Living in the USA - it's the best country in the world - and I'm grateful to be a citizen here."

My family and my job.

A healthy life

A job I enjoy doing.

Family

 

For my wonderful family and for still having a job in these tough economic times.

My family.

"I'm thankful for the health of my family, and our happiness. 

I'm also thankful that my benefits are through my spouse's government position (if I had to pay the alarming increases that my coworkers will face for next year, I think I'd puke)."

HAVING A JOB. The unpaid furloughs aren't much fun, however.

Life and Family and Career

I have the day off.

My family and friends, my health and my job!

Family, Friends, Health, Job

I am thankful for my husband, my health and my job at the top of the list.  After the top three, the list is too numerous to include here.  I try to begin each and every day in a spirit of thankfulness. The process begins with meditation before I even get out of bed.  Unfortunately, there are days when it disappears the moment I walk into my office (war stories you know) but I subscribe to the old adage "try and try again".  One of these days, I might make it to noon!

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Family, friends, & good health.

Thankful for the fact that I don't have to set foot in a store between November and February.  Never have, never will.  Fortunately, on-line holiday shopping makes that easier.

I am thankful for my husband and my 3 boys.  They all keep me very busy with all their events and I don't always take time to appreciate them.  My boys are all very good and very caring and they make me very proud.

Family, friends, a job that pays well and gives great benefits, and taking advantage of the bad housing market and buying my first home!

Music

"My wife...my kids...my family...our health. 

We don't take that for granted.  My older son, Wright, spent a week at Children's Hospital in Atlanta due to complications from H1N1.  He had the flu for a week, and then a MRSA infection set in behind his left eye and caused it to swell shut. He had to have surgery to remove the infection.  He was out of school for four weeks and just went back this Monday.  He's all better now, but what an ordeal that was.  Can you imagine my feelings about Government run healthcare?  If we had to wait for a bureaucrat to make a decision about whether or not my son could have life-saving care, he'd be dead."

My Dad is in hospice, but we believe will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with us - God willing .

This year more than ever I am thankful for my family.  My sister recently lost her husband to a boating accident at the age of 52.  As we grieve with her and for her it just drives home the importance and fragility of life and loved ones.

I am VERY thankful I have a much better brain than many in Washington DC.  But I'm still thankful I'm in this country.  Of course, health and family's health is always appreciated and top on the list.  And, usually, am thankful for my job and career choice.

It sounds cliche to say you're thankful for your health, but having survived cancer and several other scares, you learn how your health colors every experience in your life. So I'll be toasting continued good health this Thanksgiving!

I am thankful that my 19 year old daughter is well

Friends, my loving family, and the start of a new career with great co-workers!

A job!

God!

My wonderful husband & two kids, Mom & Dad, Sister & Niece, in-laws, Grandparents, and my awesome boss & co-workers, who make it possible to have a nice peaceful holiday without having to come into work.

I am thankful that I am still employed.

I'm thankful for my health although I have to have my gallbladder removed in January, but still it could be much worse.  I'm thankful for a loving family and the fact that I am employed when so many are out of work.  I'm also thankful to be living in the U.S. even though we have our problems, we are still the best.

The military men and women whose sacrifices make it possible for me to enjoy my holiday and indeed, my quite secure and happy life.

That I was employed in 2009 when many of my associates in the financial services market were not, that the job market appears to be strengthening so those out of work will hopefully find a new "home", and that everyone in my family is healthy!

My family, my friends, my health, and somewhere down the line, my job (most days).

I'm grateful that it's possible to look beyond the turmoil and headaches of today and hope for universal lasting peace.

"That I have a job, a home, and a family.

We are safe, happy, have food to eat and a warm place to sleep.  And for my two psychotic cats and bird.  Does life get better than that?"

PPA finally being under control.  Oh wait, that's next year.

"A family who cares about me.

A country where I can give me opinion without fear of government intervention.

Regardless of what Dan Brown or Tom Hanks promote, a God who gives me a life with which I can share my blessings."

For all the courageous men and women, past, present and future, who stand up for my freedom.

"hanging on to a small part of life that hasn't been taken over by the government yet

not having to eat cranberries on any other day

Plan Sponsor Magazine"

Family, friends, good health, good job and co-workers, church and enough.

 

Funny thing...even though I complain about my job (one of these days I really will find my true calling), my husband (one of these days he'll suddenly become a neatnick), and my lost youth (one of these days I may just get a face job), I really have it pretty good.  I have good health, a job that hasn't been affected by the recession, a home, plenty of food to eat, and a great family that includes two fabulous children who keep me laughing.  It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

My mother's health (she is 84 and we live together and she's had some health issues this year). I treasure every day we have together.

"My family Our Health My job"

Family, friends, co-workers, clients, church, health, and a warm day out in the fresh air.

My health and that my family is doing well.

My wonderful Family and having a job with a very good company!

"For getting close to retirement age.  Hopefully the US retirement system will not collapse from the weight of the baby boomers entering retirement.

 

Wonderful daughter doing well in college. 

 

Universal healthcare."

My health and family including my two dogs.

Having a job.

My wife, family, friends and, last but not least, my faithful and affectionate cats who just showed up and asked to move in.

"Having a good secure job, great wife and kids.

Not having to shop on Black Friday"

My family and our good health - plus our employer-provided health insurance.

My family.  If not for them, I'm not sure why I'd put up with what I have to at work.  They're a great motivation to keep getting up again.

GOD, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS & IN THIS DAY & AGE MY JOB!!!!

My job!  And, of course, family.  But the family will always be there -- who knows about the job in this economy.

 

My son, he is such a character!  My husband, my job, my health, my family, my country.

this may sound funny, but I am thankful for the daily grind...it forces me to really appreciate all the small moments with those you love that come when you least expect them

Family - in all their different shapes and sizes.  Wouldn't trade one of them (well maybe sometimes ---)

My network of family and close friends.

A job with a great employer

"I'm thankful that I work in an organization that is having the best year of its 70 year history - no layoffs, no wage freezes, no benefit cuts - I am blessed that as the lone HR person, I am not having to deal with what it seems the rest of the world is dealing with.

I am thankful that my family is not struggling through the financial crisis and I am more aware of those who are - it's a good year to give - give to the food kitchens, give to the coat drives, give to the causes that help people and the ones that make you feel good - and don't forget the critters - give to the organizations that rescue cats & dogs and of course I am thankful that my family is still around for me to enjoy - happy holidays to all"

I am thankful for NewsDash, some of my family, and a few friends....and all of the things I take for granted on a day to day basis like good health and a fair mind.

I am a one year cancer survivor and this year I certainly understand the meaning of being thankful for the little things. A holiday get together with friends (without a gift exchange), the sound of crunching leaves when I walk on them, smell of fresh linen that was line dried, good meals, a job I enjoy, and of course, good health!

As a cancer survivor, I'm thankful for an early diagnosis and that I'm healthy and happier than at any time in my life.  Sometimes it takes a life-threatening crisis to put the everyday events of life that we think so troublesome in their proper perspective.

I am thankful for my parents who engrained in me the responsibility to live within my means, for a healthy family, and for a job in these troubled times.

Family, Friends, Health, Job

To be able to spend time with my family and to live in a country where liberty and freedom are part of the fabric of society.

Having wonderful and caring families and friends... and almost everyone is in good health so far this year.

My family and friends who remind me that work is not who I am but just something I do to be able to support the fun we have.

Not just to have a job, but to have an absolutely great job that I love, which pays very well and a fantastic, intelligent boss for whom I love working.

My spouse, her love, family, friendships (old and new), nature and the bounty provided all of us.  All the rest is just "stuff."

I'm thankful for many things. I am fairly healthy, I live in a great country, I have a job that allows me to live a comfortable life, I have great friends and family and I'm very thankful that I can choose to look at the positive side of things instead of dwelling on the negative (something I'm really trying to work on). I'm also thankful to Plan Sponsor/News Dash for providing information that keeps me updated on issues in my professional life in a quick, easy-to-understand manner.

 

That I have a job with some security due to restatement, that I live somewhere I am comfortable, that I am able to pay my bills and feed myself without much worry, that my parents are still both alive and fairly well, that my nephew has not yet killed anyone since he got his drivers license...

My kids... they are healthy and happy!

An abundance of love, happiness & good health always!!

God, family, good friends, and that I live in a country that allows me the freedoms that I have.

I have a wonderful wife who loves me, a decent job I enjoy, a decent roof over my head, good health and that the Yankees won the World Series. What more can you ask for?

Still having a job in the current economic crisis in our company.

The health of my family and that I have a job!

My health, my great family and friends, that I'm gainfully employed, for my great country in spite of its problems

The health of my family and having a job

A job that pays money and has benefits. my job

That I have a job, reasonably good health, my family,(and enough vacation time to enjoy them and avoid them!).

more than I can type in this little white box

I'm thankful I work for an employer that doesn't get swayed in ways that cause layoffs, cancellations of benefits including 401(k) match, and continues to post solid earnings (last year was $41M). I work for a financial institution that can continue to hold it's head high since we haven't take a red cent of bailout dollars and continue to improve the life of our employees. An employer that does right by our customers, our employers and communities in which we serve. When everyone else is looking for donations to cut we have continued to support every cause we had before and do so proudly. I LOVE my bank.

My kids, 2 boys who are 10 and 15 and get along very well and are both smart & funny!

Family and friends and having a job that I love.

I'm most thankful for my family, but also thankful that I am employed by a company that has managed to persevere through this recession and not cut back on any employee benefits or compensation.

my children, my husband, my family, my friends, and my job.

I am thankful for my health, family, and a good paying job.  The order will vary will depend on the day.

That I have a job!  Even though I have to take 14 furlough days in the next 20 months, I'm still employed.

I am thankful that the market is over 10,000, and I'll be thankful if it STAYS over 10,000.

 

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