All ways, moving forward with Dave Coulter newsletter

This week has me thinking a lot about gratitude.

It’s top of mind with Thanksgiving right around the corner.

It’s one of the four values that is inscribed on our challenge coins.

And it was the theme of a “World Kindness Day” event that I attended at the Wee Friends Child Care Center in Highland Township this week.

What better way to reinforce the importance and value of kindness and gratitude than to talk to kids about how simple acts of kindness can bring joy not only to the people who receive those gentle words of encouragement or the simple chore that makes their life a little easier, but to the person who offers the gesture.

The Center hung a banner on the fence outside the facility at the busy intersection of M-59 and Milford Road. It reads “Kindness Happens Here.”

I wish we could hang that banner on fences and buildings across the county or at least internally adopt the sentiment for our daily lives. For me kindness is all about being intentional and thoughtful. Intentional in our words and actions and thoughtful about how we convey our respect and gratitude to those we encounter on a daily basis.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time of year to remind family and friends, colleagues and neighbors how grateful we are to have them in our lives. It’s also a season to turn those words into intentional actions to spread joy and cheer to those who may need a simple act of kindness.

That’s why my Oakland County family launched a “Season of Giving,” to provide the always generous and compassionate employees of the county a variety of opportunities to give back to their communities and neighbors.

I wish you all a joyous season, full of laughter, family, friends and the warmth that comes with kindness, gratitude and giving back.

A group of county employees who are veterans or who work with veterans came to the Executive Office Building last week for a reception and to view Operation GreenLight in action.

The Executive Office Building provided the perfect vantage point to view the main county courthouse being illuminated in green light to show honor and respect for veterans. The tradition was started by the National Association of Counties as a way to honor veterans in the week that includes Veterans Day and to shine a light on the services that are available for people who have served in the military.

During Operation GreenLight, people are encouraged to swap the regular bulbs on their porches with green bulbs to show their support for veterans.

The courthouse remained swathed in green light from Nov. 8 through dawn on Nov. 13

The Oakland County Executive welcomed the veterans to the lighting reception challenge coins as a way to thank them for their service, their courage and their dedication to country.

“Oakland County is home to nearly 50,000 veterans and I’m really honored to be here to help pay tribute to all the sacrifices you have made to serve our country,” Coulter said. “And our Veterans Services employees deserve so much credit for all the help and resources they provide thousands and thousands of veterans every year.”