Remember to give thanks every day

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Jose Barraza
  • 621st Contingency Response Group chief enlisted manager
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It's been a week since we felt the fullness of our bellies and spirits with great food and company of family and friends.

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to share a sense of gratitude for the good things we have in our lives, which sounds an awful lot like what we do when we think of resilience.

Recently, Robert Wicks shared some time with us at Travis. One action he shared with us was reflection. If we practice what he says about taking two minutes a day in reflection to gain perspective, we will see there are many things to be thankful for.

You see, celebrating Thanksgiving can happen every day. I know, reflecting on my time here, every single day brought opportunities I am thankful I could be a part of, even if I was simply witnessing them.

I have witnessed our Travis Airmen and families getting more involved, providing us with a sense of community, within the Top 3, S.T.A.R.S., enlisted spouses club, officers spouses club, the chiefs group, First Sergeants Council and many more.

What makes this possible is people serving and having the willingness to go out and be active. Watching what they provide, be it scholarships, support for the dorms or to our global communities in times of crisis, it's evident we are a part of something that matters.

If you don't think what you do matters, I challenge you to observe these organizations to see what I see. Be more involved and you won't just witness the actions, you will be a part of them. Nothing changes your circumstances like having a new perspective.

Participation brings our community closer together, giving us the opportunity to lift one another up and we can see our lives from a new viewpoint.

Even in crisis, there are those who manage to put on a smile and see the good in the situation. For some of us, though, it is a battle to find opportunities to be grateful for. Those moments are natural.

What makes the big difference is where we choose to go in those instances. That's when we need to seek out those who found the good in the crisis. We need to understand how they came out, knowing the moment would pass and how they were thankful for that experience.

I am grateful every day for the people in my life who have shared with me how they found the positive in their struggles or how they looked at their situation from another angle. They keep me inspired and motivated as I reflect on things and gain perspective to push forward.

As I fly out today to my next assignment, I am reminded Thanksgiving happened for me on many days during the 18 months I served here. I look back on the efforts of Travis Airmen and all we've done and I'm thankful to have served with every one of you.

To the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 349th AMW and to the contingency response men and women, thank you for allowing me to grow with you in service. This "one team, no seam" community has left an indelible impression on me. Know that I am thankful for this time and I will not forget the memories we have shared.