Giving Thanks: A Heartfelt Thanksgiving Reflection
I love Thanksgiving Day. It’s my favorite holiday.
Giving thanks unlocks the richness of life. It turns what we have into abundance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It transforms a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and strangers into friends. By living in gratitude, we discover life’s true fullness. With that in mind, here are just a few of the things I’m thankful for today (in no particular order – except for the first few – haha) ….
- THE DETROIT LIONS! (We’re gonna WIN the Super Bowl!)
- Dan Campbell
- Detroit Grit!
- 85” of high-definition bliss to watch the Lions win on.
- My portable Bluetooth speaker. I bring it everywhere!
- Curious doctors who actually THINK
- The Sleeping Bear Dunes
- People who give more than they take
- LOUD music
- Big dreams and worthwhile goals
- Blue skies
- Funny people
- Kindness
- The smell of campfires
- Hot tubs in the winter
- The Gym
- Clean water (easy to take for granted, yet over a BILLION people don’t
have it!) - My oldest daughter, Bailey, who graduated from college and is living
independently and kicking ass. - My youngest daughter, Ella, who’s a junior in college and killing it.
- Salmon fishing on the Betsie River
- Chefs Inn – the best sandwiches and salad bar in Traverse City
- Spotify
- Options
- The Detroit Tigers, who gave us an exciting October (and hopefully a
great 2025) - All the couples who put their trust in Mike Staff Productions
- Healthy food
- Sunsets
- The incredible blessing of following Jesus
- Palm Trees
- My remarkable team at Mike Staff Productions – they’re the best in the
business! - Thunderstorms at night
- Health. Health. Health. Health. Thank you, God!
- Great friends
- Party Point on Long Lake, Traverse City
- The fact that the only memories I have of my mom are happy ones.
- A simple connection by smiling at a stranger
- Warm Caribbean water
- Tik Tok (It’s so entertaining)
- My pontoon boat … my favorite toy in the whole world!
- Patient people
- Family and great friends
- Advancements in medicines & health research
- Gracious people
- Super creative people
- Love
- Belly laughs
- My own bed
- The freedom, safety, and overwhelming blessings of living in the USA!
- Deep conversations
- Shallow conversations (LOL)
- My pickup truck (I’m driving it to 300,000 miles!)
- The change in the seasons
- Coffee in the morning (Mmmmmmmmm!)
- Forgiveness
- Football!
- Live music
- Kind people
- Health (it’s worth repeating)
- My new favorite band, The FEEL. Check them out & crank it up!
- The honor of working with Bright Hope (brighthope.org) to help serve the
Lord. - The power of prayer
- Sandy toes
- My favorite tree stand at Camp Missinit
- Truth (there is such a thing)
- The whacky worm – my favorite for catching largemouth bass
- Great books and the unlimited knowledge they possess
- Traverse City
- God’s protection and promises
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on your own blessings. Let’s remember to be thankful not just today, but every day.
GO LIONS!
Mike Staff