Grateful for the Future

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
(Cicero, Prolancio, 100 BC)

As many of us in the U.S. prepare for our annual Thanksgiving events, I wanted to offer a short perspective.

Daily events challenge us, and we struggle to deal with them as best as we can. Events in our offices as well as in our communities, country, and the world can be daunting.

So, it helps to pause, more often than we do, and appreciate the advantages we have from those who have come before us. Likewise, to be grateful for the people we know: our family, friends, and those with whom we work. And, of course, our patients. In small ways and large, we all help each other.

But I also want to mention our future and the opportunity it gives us all.

As we move through the Holidays and winter sets in up here in the Northern Hemisphere, the New Year comes at us again too soon. We live in uncertain times, but as business owners and health mavericks, now is not the time to hunker down as if to hibernate and hope that any storms that occur may pass us by.

They won’t. But we can prepare and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

Forward-minded entrepreneurs always find a few new approaches to making things better while many business owners remain on the sidelines, wary of jumping into the game and fully committing.

The future offers us the opportunity to play and enjoy the thrill of creatively making a difference, however difficult.

So, enjoy the Holidays, and all those close to you, near and far, in the present and respects to those who have passed. Take time to nourish yourself and those around you. There truly is much to be thankful for!

But while doing so, also appreciate the freedom we all have to make a better practice and a better life in the years to come.

Seize the Day and Seize the Future. (Carpe Diem, Carpe Futurum)

With Gratitude for all you do,

Ed, and all of us at Petty Michel

Giving Thanks – Appreciating Each Other

I know you are busy now.

We all are.

We fly through our days, adjust and treat patients, make our calls, do our paper work, and then rush out to our personal lives.

But often we are like bus drivers, driving so fast that we drive past of our bus stops where our passengers are waiting for us.

So this is just a short note to remind each of us to stop, now and then, and say thanks. (And I know you know this, but a gentle reminder never hurts.) Over here in the U.S., we are celebrating Thanksgiving Day, so it is a customary holiday for us. But we really need to give thanks daily.

Gratitude is a powerful attitude and a feeling that we can use and regularly adopt to make our lives better. But its practical application derives from the fact that it is a basic recognition of a deep truth that we probably too often overlook.

The truth is that we are given so much — and that there is so much goodness in the world that deserves our appreciation.

And so this is a note to also let you know that all of us at PM&A are truly thankful for the work each of you do.

We know how hard you work and we know how much you help your patients and your community and we sincerely honor it. In fact, it is the reason we do what we do.

Unlike other management companies, we have seen you in your offices, talked to your staff, and know your numbers. We know that you don’t really get the appreciation that you deserve, but thankfully, you are not waiting around to receive “thank you” cards! Each of you are too busy helping others.

You really are the leaders in health care. You haven’t sold out. You are strong in your principles and motivated in your mission. And so are we. How each of us arrived in this line of work — who knows? Perhaps it is part of a plan, or a calling… but here we are.

I think it is safe to say that each one of you also appreciates the good work of each other across this planet in helping others get better naturally – even though you haven’t all been introduced. We are all connected by our basic efforts to help others get healthier.

And when you think about what we are all doing to help others, there certainly is a lot to be grateful for. It can almost give hope that the world can be, and will be, a better place.

With much gratitude and best wishes,

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

Happy-Thanksgiving