January promises new opportunities, but it also provides a chance to practice gratitude for what we have. This month, we asked health department staff to do just that by sharing a kind word, story, or anecdote about their coworkers. Continue reading along for some of these sentiments. 

• Allison is funny, smart and creative. She is also willing to volunteer in the office and on committees. 
• Brian is a great leader. He does a great job making sure that each staff has the tools to be successful by offering words of advice and past experiences. He also knows how to find each persons strengths and make sure they feel accomplished instead of frustrated. He is an excellent supervisor who is easy to work with and genuinely values the opinions and input of his team. He consistently leads with respect and collaboration, making everyone feel heard and supported. He also leads by example, never asking anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself. 
• Diane is my energizer bunny.  I have been teaching her to breathe and not let things bother her. I am happy to report that she made SOME progress. 
• Elaine and I have seen many things in the field together. Some would make you laugh and some would make you cry. However, I am glad that she was my sidekick for all of them. She is funny and supportive.  The best moments were when her face would turn red. 
• Jean is a nurse who is pleasant and kind. She is a caring co-worker with a clinical mind. Jean helps out the nurses and everyone, too, and attends all the meetings right on cue. Keep up the good work, we appreciate what you do, for the staff, county and residents too. 
• Kim is full of life and humor. She brings levity to the office and makes the day go by so much easier. 
• Lisa has an extensive amount of institutional knowledge. She is very well versed on the codes that we enforce. She is also fun loving, kind, thorough, and dedicated. 
• Mitch is great at remaining professional and knowledgeable. He is many employee’s "go-to guy" when they have a question. He is also very helpful and thorough with the public. Mitch consistently goes well above and beyond his job title, taking on challenges with little to no complaints. He is incredibly compassionate and flexible, always willing to support both the team and those we serve. His dedication and positive attitude make him an invaluable coworker. 
• Rosie, "Your excellence shows in everything you do, and the passion you bring to your work inspires everyone around you. It’s a gift, and you use it beautifully.” 
• Susan H. might be quiet, but she is always there to help and give advice when needed. 

Sometimes taking a moment to look at the people in your life, whether professional or personal, can help you build gratitude and see where you can find support. Having people you can turn to is part of developing your social wellness and is an important part of overall wellbeing. Take a few minutes today to think of a few kind things you can say about the people in your life. In place of individual spotlights, we’ll be sharing more of these notes over the next few months, so make sure to check back soon.