By: Dr. Jo Naylor,
NFBPWC Treasurer 2024-2026, treasurer@nfbpwc.org

Are you Thankful?

That is a question that is popular during the month of November. My answer is usually “Yes,” I am thankful for the people I know, the place I live, and the fact that I am still breathing.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I remember the dinners at my grandparents’ house in Northeast Philadelphia, when we went “up the Schuylkill Expressway and Roosevelt Boulevard” to Grandmother’s house. We would eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, green beans, and jellied cranberry sauce and watch football. That was a magical day in my life every year for 22 years. My grandfather, younger sister, and I were born on the same day, November 23rd, so we also got a symbolic 3-pound birthday cake. We all said what we were thankful for before eating.

November is a time when I look at my life and evaluate what I am thankful for… the people in my life, what I have, and how far I have come to be the person I am today. Some people are thankful for their families, friends, and people in their lives. Some people are thankful for the things they own, the house they live in, and their status in the world. Some people are thankful they are breathing and have a chance to make a difference in the world. I have worked with children for 25 years and have asked them to make turkeys with feathers that have “I am thankful for…“ written on them. The most popular responses are ‘my family,’ ‘my video games,’ ‘my dog,’ and ‘my teacher.’ All answers are dependent on what is happening in each child’s life at the time of the project. I challenge you to write the following words “I am thankful for…” and finish the sentence with your unique answer.

This year, I am thankful that I am back in my hometown, my daughter is in college, and I am the Treasurer for the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. I am thankful that Maureen, a 40-year member of BPW Corpus Christi (TX) shared her experiences with me. She is the person who introduced me to BPW resulting in my 20-year membership in an organization that has and will continue to fight for the rights of women in the United States of America and women all over the world. I was raised by a very independent and powerful woman and am raising my daughter to be an educated and independent woman. I am very thankful for all of the members of NFBPWC that I have met and have the honor of representing and supporting in any capacity.