I have been watching Band of Brother again as the new HBO presentation that will depict the Pacific battles of World War II is about to be released.  I have watched this series more times than you can count and I am always touched by the real life men retelling their parts of the story.  To be honest I cry a lot while I listen to their tales of heroics and valor and devotion for each other.

In this day and age we don’t have to look to the aged to see men and women of distinction as we have thousands returning from the field each week.  It is too easy to forget that North America has people serving in harms way today, it can be out of sight and out of mind all to easily.

Here in Brockville we send the Brockville flag with the members of the Brockville Rifles Militia who serve in Afghanistan.  They carry the flag wherever they go in the field and then sign it and return it to our mayor.  It is always a good thing when all the names on the flag come home with the flag.

There are also many people who serve us anonymously that we take for granted in our respective cities.  Police, Fire, EMT workers all live peculiar lives for our benefit and safety.  We forget that they have families and hopes and futures that they risk daily in our service.

We need to be reminded to be grateful.

Sometimes it’s in memory of those who loose their lives for our sake and sometimes it is in honour of those who spend their lives for our sake but either way it requires an appropriate response.  In our busyness and self absorption we can forget to grateful and to offer thanks in tangible ways for all that is done for us.

This posture of deliberate gratitude is the mark of a properly aligned person.

Poorly Aligned People:
1.  Only think of how life will affect them
2.  Treat their blessings as possessions that they deserve
3.  And the are bent inwardly

Properly Aligned People:
1.  See their members of their city, country and world as equal partners with them
2.  See their blessing as treasures of which they are stewards for the planet, not hoarders for their sole possession.
3.  Are bent outwardly, ready to attract and receive blessing and bounty in every instance of their life.

For many reading this article it is time for an adjustment.  It is time the be an instrument of change rather than just an impediment to change.

Why should we bother?  In loving memory and grateful honour is as good a one as I can think of.  The men and woman of the past and the present should motivate us to live exceptional lives.  Each and every one us can do this if only we choose to do so.
PK Smith is a Relationships and Leadership Development specialist.

With 24 years of experience and a tremendous track record with both areas of interest.  When a couple commits to therapy PK has enjoyed a zero divorce rate.  PK has been immensely influenced by Peak Potentials Train the Trainer and utilizes their Accelerated Learning principles in his training and speaking. Introducing the powerful principles of Co-Creation to all kinds of organization, big and small, is a special privilege for him. Click here to take advantage of a trial hour of coaching with PK.