Expressing Gratitude.
Often when we practice being thankful, we go through a process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. It is easier to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, yet somehow harder to be consciously grateful for things we encounter daily – the things which we simply take for granted.
If we only feel gratitude when it serves our desires, this is not true thankfulness. No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate, which can strip us of possessions, the comfort of known situations, or the people we love. Ironically, it is sometimes this kind of loss that awakens us to a thankfulness that goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way. Illness and near-miss accidents can also serve as wake-up calls to the deeper realization that we are truly lucky to be alive.
As we watch the beauty around us, of Fall giving way to Winter, of the holiday decorations going up and the year winding down, we are naturally drawn to reflect and hopefully to feel truly thankful. True thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive. We know that when we feel this deep gratitude – this true thankfulness for life at its essence, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we are often able to recognize the purity of the experience of just being. We can take comfort, however we characterize it, that we are one with this great mystery that is life.
Giving back to your fellow man and woman is also a way to express gratitude and help community at the same time. We sponsor a number of different philanthropic causes, both personally and professionally. We also believe in giving of our most precious commodity – time – by volunteering for local organizations. We are truly thankful for the ability to share our fortune and to help others, both in the work we do and in our ability to give back to others. In the spirit of this giving back, and to perhaps help you give back, we are proud to share this year end giving guide prepared by the Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP)
Wealthaven is proud to be a sponsor and affiliated with CHIP, which is the only university-based center with a singular focus on enabling philanthropy to achieve greater social impact. Its multi-disciplinary team is at the vanguard of providing rigorous, balanced, and actionable guidance to funders worldwide. Through public information, education, and advisory services, they help donors do better. Founded a decade ago as a collaboration between the School of Social Policy & Practice and alumni of the Wharton School, CHIP’s team analyzes philanthropic opportunities in a wide-range of causes such as early childhood, child survival, malaria, disaster relief, addiction, hunger, housing, urban blight, and environmental health. CHIP is an authority on measuring and managing social impact, no matter the cause. CHIP’s team serve as teachers, coaches, and advisors to current and emerging philanthropic leaders. We hope you enjoy the guide and find true thankfulness in your life.
