JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Thanksgiving meal is over and everyone has joined the holiday rush. Our tendency is to focus our concentration on wish lists, retail store sales and extended time searching the internet for the newest and greatest deals.
In the middle of this holiday season, my wish is just a bit of extra time for everyone to reflect on the year and on the special memories from the year.
Even better than simple reflection, I encourage everyone to share these memories with others and keep these memories in the forefront.
My best memories include various times spent with my family and close friends. I have memories of vacations but some of the best are simple evenings spent together. The most relaxing evenings involved delivery pizza and conversation.
Think about the friendships you are thankful for -- the people you have met and the people that are close to you. I recently had a chance to attend a conference where I reconnected with Airmen from very early in my career. We shared stories and reflected on good times and shared some thoughts on our future plans.
In the spirit of thankfulness, I have to include the incredible opportunities we all have as members of the Air Force. As an Airman, I have more reasons to be thankful than can be listed in a short article. The Air Force has moved me to locations I would have never chosen on my own.
Even more important to me are the friends I have made and experiences I have had as a direct result of my service in the Air Force. I see the contributions that my team makes to the mission of Joint Base Charleston.
My encouragement to you is to take a balanced approach during this holiday season. Take time to reflect on the positive memories of this past year and share them. Find the things in your life that you are thankful for -- the items that bring you joy. I've shared only a few of the items that come to my mind that I am thankful for. Share your memories, share the good things in your life, enjoy this time of year and have a Happy Holidays!