Thanksgiving and Gratitude

On Nov. 23, our country will celebrate Thanksgiving – a time when we pause to express gratitude. With that in mind, here are a few things for which I am grateful.

I am thankful for our country. You hear a lot these days about how divided our nation is, and that may be true politically. However, we have also seen Americans pull together to support those impacted by recent natural disasters. In fact, 10 of our own linemen volunteered to spend eight days restoring power in Jasper, Georgia following Hurricane Irma. It is in settings like this where we see the American spirit on display. At our core, we care for our neighbors, and that is something that is worthy of gratitude.

I am thankful for the communities that are served by our co-op. We have many opportunities throughout the year to work with elected officials, community leaders, teachers, volunteers and ordinary people whose efforts combine to make our part of Tennessee a better place. I am grateful for their commitment to the communities we all call home.

I am thankful for our co-op family. Volunteer Energy Cooperatives 144 employees are passionate about service. When the lights go off that doesn’t just impact random people – it impacts our family, friends, and neighbors. Keeping the power on and providing second-to-none service is personal to our employees, and they are very good at what they do. The VEC member has had service 99.98 percent of the time so far this year. That’s quite extraordinary.

Finally, I am thankful for family. The holidays present unique opportunities to spend extra time with those you care about most. My husband and I have two children, and I am looking forward to spending some more time with them in the coming weeks. Family comes in many shapes and sizes, and regardless of what family means to you, I hope your holidays are filled with the people you love. Our offices will be closed November 23 and 24 to allow our employees to be with their families.

I challenge you in the hustle and stress of the holidays to take a moment and truly consider the people and things for which you are most grateful. It will be an uplifting reminder of your many blessings.