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In This Week’s Newsletter:
Quote of The Week - “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” - Aesop
Javaree Talks - How gratitude is learned
In the News - Practical ways to teach kids gratitude.
A Good Listen -
Good on Social - Gratitutde
Money Moves - Use Monarch to monitor your spending and your networth
JAVAREE TALKS
I was in Houston, Texas, for the AfroTech conference, my first time in the city. The sessions were full of ideas and inspiration, but by the time I headed to the airport, my mind was on something else entirely: getting home in time to take the kids trick-or-treating before they needed to have dinner and go to bed.
On the return flight, the airport was packed. Lines moved steadily, and I silently hoped everything would keep flowing so I could make it home before dark. As I handed my ID to the TSA officer and scanned my boarding pass on my phone, I remembered that with the US government shutdown still ongoing, these workers were coming in without pay. I said, “Thank you for your service.”
The officer smiled, nodded, and kept the line moving, but that tiny exchange stuck with me. Gratitude doesn’t have to be a grand speech. Sometimes it’s a brief acknowledgment in the middle of chaos, a reminder that someone’s effort makes life a little easier for the rest of us.
When I finally got home and saw my kids in costume, I carried that same mindset with me. I thanked my wife for keeping everything on track while I was gone. I thanked my son for helping his sister get her stroller. Those small moments of spoken appreciation shifted the entire energy of the evening, from a rush to a more connected experience.
Children learn what love sounds like through the words they hear us say. Gratitude, when spoken aloud, teaches awareness, empathy, and humility. It reminds everyone in the house that effort matters, whether it’s a partner managing bedtime or a stranger helping travelers move safely through a busy airport.
When we speak thanks out loud, we turn recognition into a relationship. Those words shape the emotional tone of our homes.
Dad Takeaways
Say it right away. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment, because gratitude is most effective in real time.
Be specific. “Thanks for helping your sister get ready” carries more weight than a quick “good job.
Show your kids gratitude in action. Let them see you thank people in public spaces, such as teachers, cashiers, and TSA officers.
Bring it home. Before bedtime, ask, “Who helped you today?” and share who helped you, too.
Repeat it often. The more your kids hear it, the more they’ll live it.
Gratitude voiced becomes gratitude learned, and it’s one of the strongest legacies we can pass on.
GOOD ON SOCIAL
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