What’s Your Sign?

I was out and about three days ago, determined to complete various errands.  As I was clipping along at a fairly brisk pace on foot, my eyes fell upon a sign just ahead of me on the sidewalk.  As soon as I read the words “TODAY I AM thankful”, I felt the need to pause.  My initial thought was, “Wow, how great is that!”  It certainly wasn’t anything I expected to encounter, while engaged in such routine matters.  Whatever was on my mind just before, had been completely displaced.  “Yes…I am thankful,” I thought to myself.  As the words sank in deeper, they expanded to fill my consciousness.

I then found myself mentally cataloguing things I was thankful for, just off the top of my head.  Once I got going, more and more things sprouted, just like the image within the green circle on the sign.  I also find it interesting that I captured the wheel of a car in the background of the photo.  Once my mind had switched gears to focus on thankfulness, the whole concept easily gained traction and shifted my thinking in an entirely different direction.  I found myself in a different emotional space as well.

I think this sign belongs to the delicatessen that is across from it.  Typically, I see signs that advertise specials or something to do with the business of the store.  It was refreshing and uplifting to see a sign that was completely unexpected, different and meaningful.  This sign is prime “real estate” for advertising and the possibilities for its use are endless.  The sign reflects a distinct choice about what the owner wanted to broadcast and offer, to all those who passed by the store.

Words are powerful and the choices we make with them matter. Both the words we speak to ourselves, and the words we express to others.  Words can be real “game changers”.  They have the potential to sway final outcomes and can transform the emotional landscape we operate from, in an instant.  Even words simply written in chalk, can have impact.  Although the words may eventually be erased, the seed of thought that was planted and took root in the hearts and minds of those who read the words, has the potential to endure.

I’d like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians today.  In the spirit of this post, today I am thankful to all of you who found your way to my infant blog and took the time to read, like and follow.  I deeply appreciate you and the encouragement early on.  As I settle into the blogging experience, I look forward to finding my way to your blogs and doing some exploring of my own.