Thankfulness - Mindset

 I had an idea on my walk about what to write about, but I lost it. Let me think...Nope, not coming to me. Oh wait, I remember! Thankfulness or Gratitude! I was thinking on my walk how lucky I am or you are in general if you get to trade in the markets! What I was thinking was - Wow, I'm lucky! Anyone is lucky if they have the means or even the hope to be trading in the markets. I was thinking that if I were born at a different time but in the same place that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to trade unless I relocated. I imagine some people did but others probably never even considered it as a career path. I actually believe not too many people still consider it as a career path. And those who do get the notion and attempt get filtered out or just filtered. One of the things that catches your attention is that many of the people who try there shot at trading these days are just the kind of people who generally "make it" in society and have been successful or are highly educated, yet they don't "make it" in the stock market. Meaning it's generally not random Joes who try to trade, but that doesn't mean that a random Joe can't be successful. I think it take some adaptation and the quicker you are to adapt the better off you'll be or at least you'll survive long enough to where you learn the game well enough to succeed in this brutal sport. Really, I just wanted to be thankful and express how thankful we should all be that we have access to the markets and to information and to opportunity. Even though there's all kind of contention in the world, there is so much that is great. I mean how many people have the gall to roll out of bed, press a few buttons, make thousands of dollars, and return to bed.  This may be based on true events, but I don't recommend it on a regular basis. I don't think we (you or I or any trader) could get by with this kind of regular behavior.  Maybe someone can. Not I.  But how thankful can we be that it is even an option. I mean WOW! How great! You know my family and I ever evening say 3 things that we are proud of that day (that we did - they have to be about ourself), and 5 things that we are thankful for that day! I love it. I think it is a wonderful practice and not only because we kind of review our day a little, but I think it helps us be in a good mindset. And if you've been trading for a while, you start to really understand that mindset might be the most important part of trading. Typing "mindset" made me think of the book, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," by Carol Dweck.  It's a good book. It talks about having a growth oriented mindset which I generally think of as being and having a positive outlook on everything you do. the book was recommended to me and though it wasn't my favorite read, there is definitely a good message. After reading it, I was talking to my younger son and apparently he had learned the ideas in his 5th grade classroom. Kudos to his teacher for bringing good concepts into the classroom. What are you thankful for? Have a great day or night wherever you are. Cheers!