What Are You GLAD For?

As the days grow shorter and winter approaches, I find myself thinking about what I hope to achieve as the year winds down, starting to plan for the seasonal holidays that will bring friends and family together, and, overall, filled with a sense of appreciation and gratitude. 

Gratitude is a theme that runs through our work at the Tower Cancer. We know that what we do would not be possible without the outpouring of love and support we have experienced since Tower Cancer was founded nearly 30 years ago. We appreciate every donor and volunteer who has contributed to our work, and we cherish the partnerships, like our newest with Julia Forth, CEO, and her colleagues at Cancer Support Community Los Angeles. Through local investments, we advance groundbreaking cancer research and profoundly support people affected by the disease to create outsized impact in Southern California and beyond.

Dr. Mark Rowe, an advocate of lifestyle medicine has written about how he uses the mnemonic GLAD to start his day. His routine goes as follows:

G:        What or who are you grateful for today?
L:         Let go: What can you do to let go today?
A:        Appreciation: Who can you appreciate today and show them that through gratitude or kindness?
D:        Dedicated focus: What’s more important for dedicating your time and energy to today?

I think he is onto something. Starting your day with intention — and coffee! — can put you into a mindset that can help you define what needs to get done on your to-do list, what you need to do for you, and what you are grateful for. It can also help you overcome the nuisances and obstacles that will undoubtedly be part of the day as well.

I believe setting intentions will help us focus our work on the unique research and patient care which we bring to the community. We are so grateful for your commitment to us and our dedication to achieving a future without breast cancer. None of our work would be possible without you. Thank you for all your support.