Well while you’re reading this in the mid-30 degree temperatures of New York, I am in sunny Florida.

No, I am not meandering back and forth near the steps of the Tallahassee state capitol building, covering the story of stories for my TV station.

I am hopefully leaning back in a patio chair just underneath the shadow of a large tree, being cooled by a 70-degree breeze— thankful for a little while out of the nasty elements that you are no doubt enduring, but more importantly, thankful to be with my mother and daughter. 

I will treasure every single day that I have to have them boss me around, ask me to do this and that for them, hear them squabble over meaningless things and then make up and watch them laugh at those family jokes that only we have the punch lines to. 

When things get hectic and when work gets crazy and makes me crazy, I can always call them. They help give me the perspective I need during those times to get through. 

We all need people like that. For many of us it is our family and for some it is the people through relationships they’ve built. 

It is nice to have comfortable "things" in life during this time of the year. We contemplate giving presents and doing nice things for people.

We should also think about doing some nice things for ourselves. I think the nicest thing anyone can do for himself or herself, is to build or repair a relationship. It is a gift that will pay you back 10 million fold. 

I am thankful this week to be in the company of two of the greatest people in my life. It could only be this good with the efforts we put in to make it this way and there were days when I wondered if things would be the way they are now. 

You may have someone out there you haven’t spoken to because of some spat you had, the subject of which you can’t even remember. If you do remember, maybe it’s time you forgot about it and worked on some new memories.

When you think about bills, and work, and health troubles, who is it usually that helps smoothe out the ride?

You didn’t have to spend any money on them to get that, though you’ll probably spend something on them in the next few days. How do you feel when you’re standing in front of that "thing" whatever it is, that you think they’ll like? 

I guess my point is…. to be thankful for those relationships that we can’t sum up in a portfolio or tally sheet. To nurture the ones you have and to work on creating new ones. 

There have been several stages in the various kinds of interaction I have had with my family, especially, my mother Ninfa and my daughter Rachel. There were times the two of them drove me absolutely nuts.

But I’m sure for them at times, I was no picnic either.

But we all did the work needed to love each other unconditionally. 

The Million-Man March taught me to not fear strangers. You know, though, we also have to learn not to fear the people closest to us. It can be tricky but the rewards are worth it. 

So put down the paper, go through your telephone book and call someone who’ll be surprised to hear from you. If a family member applies to that, then all the better. Wish them all the best and tell them not to be a stranger anymore. 

I am thankful for my family and my friends — the greatest gifts I have.