For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson is a simple one, but it speaks to the heart of gratitude. The impending Thanksgiving holiday has many of us thinking about what we are thankful for. Some might think the “What are you thankful for?” question is silly or cliche, but that is only until one realizes how tenuous life is.

The line between life and death can be so thin. Over the past year, orbiTouch has made many new friends, among them wounded veterans. These brave individuals know the fragility of life only too well. As they fought for their country, many lost dear friends who sacrificed their lives for freedom. All it takes is one perilous step in the wrong direction to detonate an IED or catch a stray bullet. The suddenness at which a friend can be taken from us is shocking, terrifying, and irrevocable.

It is because life can be so fleeting that we must appreciate what we have here and now. Gratitude must not only be expressed in our hearts, but out loud. Life is unpredictable. Tell the people you love how much they mean to you, because everything could change tomorrow.

Be thankful for the life we live, for every breath we take, and the fact that the sun will rise each morning, giving us the opportunity to express our many gifts that have been given to us.