Over the last couple of years, my family and I have focused on nurturing gratitude. With all the stressors that life sends our way, it has been important to focus on the positive, and reflect on what is going well vs. what is not going well. As part of this, one Microstep that has been very beneficial for me and my family has been to ask each other “What was the best part of your day?” as we sit around the dinner table each evening. Everyone has to answer the question, and sometimes the best parts are small, like enjoying the very meal we are having at that moment; other times they are big accomplishments in our careers, and other times it is about people we were able to connect with that day.

There is no right or wrong answer — the point is reflecting and sharing something that was good and stood out during that particular day. We have been doing this now for several years, and it has become a ritual at our dinner table that we all look forward to and also helps wrap up our days with a positive note.

Author(s)

  • Maren Dollwet Waggoner

    Ph.D., Sr. Director, Walmart US People

    Maren has been with Walmart since early 2017, and currently serves as Sr. Director on the U.S. People team providing HR support, frameworks, tools, and processes to unlock and accelerate business strategy and transformation. Before joining Walmart, Maren led HR transformation and talent management efforts at DIRECTV and Ticketmaster. She was born in Karlsruhe, Germany and has lived in Europe, receiving her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kiel, Germany, and then later her M.A. and Ph.D. in the US.  Maren and her husband T.J. now live on Beaver Lake in Arkansas and enjoy anytime spent outdoors or traveling.