As you enjoy the day with those who are dear to you, explore the things that you are thankful for....and give thanks. Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving does provide a platform of focus on our gratitude for gifts bestowed. Over the past two weeks there have been spiritual moments commanding reflection internally, of which I have found profoundly inspirational. Actively taking inventory of my relationships and applying the philosophical question of “WHY are they in my life and WHAT is needed to fulfill purpose?” The ever pervasive search of time lurks daily. Our mortal days are numbered and using those days wisely is priority. Take notice of those gifts of people circling your orbit.

  Friday night I received an email from a client. We had been working on a difficult project together. His email, however, was a simple and genuine thank you for my help. It made me stop what I was doing.

  I am a bad patient. I am emphatic about having my annual check ups and mammogram. But, beyond those, I rarely listen to my doctor’s recommendations. I think it’s time to change my ways.  

When I think about the approach of Thanksgiving, I think about more than giving thanks for my family, friends, colleagues and my life. More and more the focus involves giving. I only hope I do enough. The Tuesday that follows Thanksgiving – Giving Tuesday – represents a culmination of giving efforts through Gotham.

This time next week Thanksgiving will be over and the march to the holidays commences. I think it's fitting I share my grilled duck recipe.   First get duck...preferrably a fresh Long Island one.   

I was a fledgling 27 year old when I started with my firm.  I had just left the National Labor Relations Board on a Friday and reported to work the following Monday. My boss was Martin C. Seham a larger than life Harvard Law School graduate who plucked me from obscurity and set me on an amazing miraculous career path.

I was happy to learn that major hotels chains, including Hyatt, Intercontinental, Hilton and Marriott, are eliminating those little travel size shampoos, conditioners and bath gels within the next few years.