In the spirit of the season, the Charles Communications team celebrates everything that we are thankful for. Happy holidays!
Kimberly Charles
My mum, Janice Charles, a cancer survivor showing her World Champion spirit with my hometown team's sweatshirt
I am thankful for: The silver linings behind tough news. We know collectively it has been a stressful year with the election and its polarizing effect. There is much news to be stressed about, however, there has definitely been a surprising outcome whereby people are more engaged or interested in contributing to their local/regional/national governments as a result. In addition, I've noticed that many people are connecting directly vs. through their electronic devices, having heart to heart discussions and working to find commonality vs. accenting differences.
I've also had a challenging year with my parents' health. Both in their 80s, after years of much luck and few health challenges, both of them are facing some difficult passages. As a result, our family including my three sisters and I, have pulled together to support one another and our parents. We are talking more, sharing more, and saying I Love You as often as we can. The fast paced world we live in makes connecting tough. That said, I'm grateful for technology which shortens the distance between us and let's us interact with one another regularly.
Alex Fondren
Photo courtesy of Odyssey
I'm thankful for: 2016
Because: Even though this has been one of the most turbulent years in recent history (nationally, internationally and within a few of my close personal social circles), it's important to remember all the things that went right this year. The Cubs won the World Series! 200 strangers attended the funeral of a homeless WW2 veteran with no family, Over 800 Boko Harem Hostages were rescued by Nigerian Army, Toys R Us is Offering Quiet Shopping Hour for kids with autism this holiday season, there was a new Harry Potter book AND movie, 70,000 Muslim clerics declared a fatwa against ISIS, Portugal ran its entire nation solely on renewable energy for four days straight, Dentists are once again providing free care to veterans who need it, Volunteers in India planted 50 million trees in 24 hours, Pokemon Go came…but then it went! (but in the meantime, players went insane with placing lure modules near hospitals for sick kids), Thanks to the ice bucket challenge the gene responsible for ALS has been found, meaning we are closer to an effective treatment, NASA's Juno spacecraft successfully launched into orbit around Jupiter, and finally - tiger, manatee and panda population numbers are going UP. 2016, maybe you weren't so terrible after all (still cannot wait for 2017 though!).
Hillary Lyons
A Thanksgiving feast. Photo courtesy of Country Living.
I'm thankful for: the Thanksgiving table
Because: While I love cooking year round, Thanksgiving dinner is one of my all time favorite meals to prepare not only because of all the lovely autumnal dishes but because it gives us the chance to bring together family and friends for an entire day of feasting and humble traditions. My favorite family ritual is a Friday morning hike after the big dinner and reinventing Thanksgiving leftovers - from turkey & gravy empanadas to 70s style casserole.
Anthony Salazar
Sunset on Lombard Street. Photo courtesy of SAE Institute.
I'm thankful for: The City of San Francisco
Because: This city became my second home after Manila. I have only been living here for 2 and a half years, yet those have been the most memorable in my entire 26 years. It is here in San Francisco that I have grown professionally (the main reason why I moved here) while learning the person I am, and who I want to be. San Francisco has shaped me into the man that I am today: physically, emotionally and mentally. This city will always be special to me because it is here where I got to meet my second family and the most amazing and colorful group of friends.
All the Swirl is a collection of thoughts and opinions assembled by the staff and industry friends of Charles Communications Associates, a marketing communications firm with its headquarters in San Francisco, California. We invite you to explore more about our company and clients by visiting www.charlescomm.com.