WINSTON WEEKLY

September 6, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 36

LOVE OF LABOR [1]

Henry Ford once said, “Life, as I see it is not a location, but a journey. Life flows” Life indeed flows in multiple ways. Behind the scenes of the Labor Day picnics, parades, and other events, individuals selflessly ensure venues are clean and safe. Whether the security guards arriving in the middle of the night or the janitors who scrub areas most of us never want to touch, countless individuals commit to making life better for all of us. Some of those workers received a tribute from Coco Gauff yesterday after her third-round win in the US Open. In expressing gratitude, she recognized “medical workers, teachers, educators. Special shout-out to all the US Open staff here. They’ve been making my day….I’m just thankful to all the working Americans who make our country go around.”

Coco’s words have been repeated countless times since yesterday. In the words of Alan Cohen, “Appreciation empowers not just money transactions, but all interactions. Gratitude is one of the greatest meditations of a lifetime, the fastest attitude uplifter I know. Be grateful for all the good in your life and your good will only increase, along with your happiness.”

The United States has a rich history of American workers or what Gerald Ford once referred to as “America’s natural resource.” He went on to say that it is “not its timber or its farmland, but its people: Americans who get up early every day and go home tired every night, quietly creating a better life for their families and fellow citizens.”

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Commit to reading a book about the rich history of the American worker and give a special shout out this week to one or more of the many individuals behind the scenes who make life better for you, a child, or another family member.

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[1]Winston Weekly is a weekly blog and newsletter by Alysen Bayles of Bayles Connect: “Learn, live, love, read.” Resources: Md Saife Fida, Coco Gauff gives special shout outs after major Labor Day US Open win, Her Sports Nation, Sept. 6, 2026; Emma Tabenfeld, 63 Labor Day Quotes to Honor All Your Hard Work, Reader’s Digest, Jul. 24, 2026; Studs Terkel, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, The New Press, 1997.