Thoughts from the Editor

Around this time every year, like clockwork, the words “gratitude” and “thankfulness” start popping up everywhere— printed in magazines, flooding social media feeds, even adorning decorative wall hangings. Heck, the theme of this month's Lifestyle issue is “Living in Gratitude.” Now, don't get me wrong; I know the intention behind this emphasis on gratitude is pure and wellmeaning. But, if I'm being honest, it tends to stir up feelings that I'd rather not admit—feelings of cynicism, and if I'm completely candid, a tinge of annoyance.

It's not that I don't want to be grateful or that I think the notion is trite; it's just that sometimes, I feel frustrated that it takes a sign in a coffee shop or Hobby Lobby to remind me to be grateful. Just reading the word “grateful” makes me pause. It forces me to ask myself, “Am I truly a thankful person, or do I tend to lean more towards entitlement?”

Regrettably, I must confess that there are too many times in my life when I've been guilty of veering into the territory of thinking, “I’ve earned this!” or “I deserve that.” Life has a sneaky way of leading us down that path now and then. We tend to waltz down that overly privileged path every so often as we go about our days.

Yet, this time of year, as the weather cools and the holiday season approaches, the message of thankfulness and gratitude feels like a reset button for the soul. It’s a time when the things we have and the people we cherish come into sharper focus. It’s a chance for a fresh start, a clean slate to redefine our thoughts and attitudes. There’s a particular scripture that resonates with me in these moments: "God's mercy is new every morning." It’s a reminder that each day presents a brand-new opportunity for change and a fresh start. So, even if yesterday found me mired in ungratefulness, sporting an attitude that could rival a teenager's on a bad day, today is a chance to begin anew, to truly appreciate every facet of life.

Let's embrace this season of gratitude as an invitation to take that fresh start, to choose gratitude over entitlement, and to remember that every day is an opportunity to be thankful, no matter where we've been, or what we’ve been through.

Eric Riley Executive Editor Lifestyle Magazine President / Owner Topograph