Small Moments Make Big Impacts In Gratitude

While Thanksgiving was nearly a week ago and everyone’s sights are now set firmly on the holidays occurring in December, the call to thankfulness is woven throughout this season of the year. As the days continue to grow shorter and the air even colder, a natural slowing down to the regular rhythms of life invites each person to take stock in every day and normally mundane and to find gratitude in every nook and cranny.

At LaRue County Schools, events continue to happen throughout this time of year, and along with the events, a reminder of the people who help create a great culture throughout the halls of the schools. Following are a few examples of that which to be grateful for:

Recently, LaRue County High School hosted mock interviews for the senior class of 2023. While the last year of high school for these students can contain many meaningful experiences - this might be one of the most practical upon receiving their diploma in the Spring. Community members donated their time guiding students through a simulated interview similar to what they would experience in applying for a job along with helpful feedback for them to improve on.

More pointedly in reference of things to be thankful for, LaRue County Middle School ran a thankfulness campaign promoting the power of gratitude. On their school's Facebook page, students and staff joined together to create meaningful and impactful content around being intentional, seeing what is around them and naming those things as points of thankfulness.

At Light Up Hodgenville on the Square, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Hodgenville Elementary School joined together to form a choir that performed during the ceremony. Opportunities like this allow students to experience the joy of serving their community with the gifts they have.

Finally, on the Monday before Thanksgiving, students at Preschool On College Street enjoyed a special holiday meal prepared by their Manager Erin Whittington. It was so special to the Preschoolers that they began proudly referring to the meal as their “Thanksgiving Feast” to anyone they could find to share their joy with.

In a time where it is easy to see that which is negative and disheartening, there are beacons of positivity and hope all around. Once one moment is recognized and counted towards the total tally of thankfulness, the mind begins to see more and more of those small seemingly insignificant moments. Before most people recognize it, there is a subtle yet important mindset shift towards noticing all the beauty and wonder in the world - so much so that perhaps the best way to describe the feeling is by quoting the iconic fictional Coach Ted Lasso, “I feel like we fell out of the lucky tree and hit every branch on the way down, ending up in a pool of cash and Sour Patch Kids.”