Thanksgiving and the ‘Thank You’ Tip Jar

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What It’s About: My wife Kathleen and I spent the Thanksgiving holiday in beautiful Austin, Texas, celebrating Thanksgiving with our son Garrett, now a fully devoted Texan. (Also editor/contributor to this blog). With Garrett as our tour guide, we ended up hanging out at the Sunday market in the Mueller district, and later at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin. It was a stunningly beautiful day (71 degrees Fahrenheit), and in both locations, Austin based country/blues bands performed to semi-attentive audiences for tips. Sipping a great Americano, listening to superb music with people you love, in the warmth of the late November, Texas sun - well, that’s a lot to be thankful for.

So What?: The artists we listened to were full time musicians, playing six to eight places a week, mostly for tips (which today is usually acquired through a QR code to their Venmo, or some other cash app). I reminded myself of how many gig workers are out there everyday, hustling just to pay the rent. I applaud and am grateful for their courage and grit.

Both sets of artists would interject a sincere “thank you” into their lyrics, when the occasional person put cash in their physical tip jars. This simple act poked at me a bit. Do I say “thank you” enough to all that put something in my metaphorical or literal tip jar everyday? Probably not.

Now What?: Maybe it’s a prompt from good old fashioned Texas hospitality, pausing for a moment in the sun with loving company, listening to emerging musicians on a Sunday afternoon, a brief reprise from frigid temperatures, or all the above, that reinforced how important it is to say a simple “thank you” everyday for both little and big things. Yes, it’s after a formal Thanksgiving weekend, and the theme is more present. However, I need to embrace and interrupt my daily “lyrics” with more verbal gratitude. It requires intentionality and presence. So here’s a few today :

Thank you to Kathleen, for 50 plus years of love, companionship, forgiveness, compassion, understanding and being the strength of our family.

Thank you for the means and ability to travel to hug our children, their partners and grandchildren.You fill our hearts with joy.

Thank you for being healthy enough, in a healthy enough world to reach them.

After watching the TV series “1883,” and talking to my 93-year-old Mom, I’m reminded to say “thank you” for every day peace, power, plumbing, and the infrastructure I take for granted daily (think about current Ukrainian’s daily lives if we want a painful reminder).

Thank you for my mom still being with us, for her pioneer courage, and the incredible hard work/sacrifices of her generation to make our lives easier.

Thank you for allowing me to find my purpose in life, and humbly attempt to live it daily with leaders who imperfectly struggle to help people belong and thrive.

Thank you to every person who simply smiles back.

Thank you to our readers who allow us to use this platform to share our views and deliver this frame of mind.

I don’t do it often enough. Thank you again. You fill up my tip jar!

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now, and thanks again.

- Lorne

One Millennial View: On Instagram alone, there are 36.6 million posts containing the hashtag, #gratitude. However, according to StudyFinds.org, poll participants believe they express gratitude just six times per month. A “thank you” is a very simple, “start small” action. If we recognize the benefits of gratitude, then it’s difficult to find a less costly effort to add to the tip jars of those around us.

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

Thanksgiving and the ‘Thank You’ Tip Jar

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