A Chanukah Message from Robyn Spizman Gerson

When asked for eight things I am thankful for this Chanukah, I found it hard to limit the list, as I feel truly blessed. I pray these blessings will continue and blessings will come true for others. As a writer for the AJT, I hope that I can share something meaningful. After all, that’s why a writer writes. We hear a voice that inspires our thoughts, motivates us to make a difference and share helpful information.

What are my blessings? Here goes …

Family. They are my blessings and my entire everything. Every single solitary one of them. Everything.

Health. I grew up hearing all the time the vital importance of health. Health is our wealth. I am grateful for my health, but I pray for and am grateful for the health of my children, my husband, my loved ones, my family, my friends and the world around us. I pray no one has to suffer and for the continued ever-expanding miracle of modern medicine and all the professionals who make it possible for us to stay healthy.

Love. Love is what we all need. Empathetic, compassionate, and caring love. The kind of love that grows and deepens and is never taken for granted. Being surrounded by love is about the most amazing blessing I can think of, along with health and family.

Memories. This has been a hard handful of years, losing my mom, dad and brother, my husband’s sister, cousins and more, and it’s difficult. I could have never imagined this happening. I will treasure the memory of each loved one and try to live out loud their qualities, which keeps them close. They will forever be my blessings and missed beyond measure.

Friends. I simply don’t know what in the world I’d do without them. Mine are world treasures and I count my blessings thanks to each of them. They are truly remarkable.

Relationships. This covers the gamut. I feel truly blessed and fortunate to have a wealth of relationships — from personal to business and more — who sustain me, advise me, inspire me, support me, and enlighten me as I hope to do for them as well. I will go to the ends of the earth for them, and I hope they know it. I’m truly grateful for these relationships and my world of contacts who stand by me.

Purpose. I feel blessed to understand the importance of living life on purpose. I am a serial optimist and work diligently to understand how I can make a difference in life helping others. I feel lucky that throughout my lifetime people believed in me along the way. Believing in someone else and telling them is a gift. Knowing your purpose is key.

And last but not least, blessings. I am grateful for blessings and knowing that each of us can be one to someone else. The idea that we can be a blessing to our family members, friends and to others is essential to life. I am grateful that my parents taught me what a life of giving looks like. It’s meaningful to count your blessings, but the importance of being a blessing to others is what it’s really all about.

Happy Chanukah and may you and your family continue to bring light to your life and the lives of others.

Robyn Spizman Gerson is a New York Times bestselling author and media personality and author of “Loving Out Loud: The Power of a Kind Word.” www.robynspizman.com