Did you know gratitude can make you happier? It's not just a platitude. In a landmark 2003 study, psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough divided 201 college students into three groups and asked them to write weekly reflections. For 10 weeks, members of the first group recorded positive occurrences they were grateful for. The second group simply write down neutral happenings.
Ten weeks later, the first group of students not only had a more positive outlook that than the other two groups - they also exercised significantly more each week and experienced less illness. "Our results provide some important findings that have not been reported in the empirical literature on happiness," the authors write. "There do appear to exist benefits to regularly focusing on one's blessings."
This Thanksgiving month, we have a lot of be grateful for at Farmers RECC. Working the electric industry has changed the way I see many daily actions. Every time I plug in the coffee pot, take a picture on my phone, stream a show on the television or simply turn on the lights, I'm grateful for the forward-thinking leaders who founded our co-op in 1938.
Even today, in a much more urbanized society, co-ops fulfill a mission that would look daunting to other kinds of utilities. Did you know investor-owned utilities have an average of 35 customers per mile on lines, whereas co-ops serve an average of just seven consumer-members per mile? Co-ops cheerfully do more with less - and I'm so grateful for what they accomplish every day.
I'm grateful for the people who make it all happen, from our partners at East Kentucky Power Cooperative to our own employees in engineering, linework, accounting, member services, communications, IT and more. All of us at Farmers RECC are aligned with safe, affordable, reliable electricity. We know how important this work is, and I'm grateful to be surrounded by people who take it as seriously as I do.
Most importantly, I'm grateful for you, our members. Thank you for trusting us to be your partners in providing electricity to your homes and businesses. Thank you for being community leaders and contributing to the quality of life here in the place call home. Thanks for showing up and engaging with us, supporting our community initiatives and taking ownership of your cooperative.
Thanksgiving Day will be here soon. As you're buying your turkey, gathering the family and getting into the holiday spirit, I hope you'll join me in counting your blessings. It's never too soon to be grateful.
Toby Moss, President & CEO