Today's guest post is written by Sylvia Rosen, an online writer who enjoys writing articles about how business professionals can improve their business and work life. Whether it’s buying tips on how to purchase forklifts or health tips on how to perfect your posture at work, Sylvia enjoys writing about it.  

Thanksgiving is over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop giving thanks to the people around us.

As Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza draw closer, many of us are already starting to get wrapped up in our winter coats, gloves, scarves, and looking forward to spending more time indoors where it's warm and toasty. But we should be grateful for all those workers who, despite the cold temperatures, continue to work outside on jobs our lifestyles depend on.

I don’t know about you, but this holiday season, I’m going to stop and  appreciate the everyday professionals who are dedicated to their jobs, and whose jobs force them to be outside in the cold.

Construction Workers

Construction is an all-year-round job and particularly stressful during the winter. While I’m moving my porch furniture into the garage, construction workers are on top of roofs, inside heavy machinery, or underground fixing city pipes – regardless of the weather conditions.

So the next time I drive by a construction site on my way to the office, I know I’ll give a construction worker a smile because while I’m working at the office, they are working hard in their office – which happens to be outside.

Mail Workers

With the internet and e-mail, not many of us write letters anymore; however the men and women who deliver our mail still have plenty of work to do. In fact, according to the U.S. Postal Service, 574,000 of their employees delivered 171 billion pieces of mail last year.

In addition, although I may use the internet more, it’s highly likely that I’m using it to shop for holiday gifts. And who delivers my gifts? Mail workers.

So this holiday season, why not thank your mail carrier the next time they come to your door. Because whether it’s rain, sleet or snow, they work through it to ensure that you get your packages and mail delivered on time.

Toll Booth Operator

When I think “winter holidays” a couple things come to mind: decorations, lights, music, gifts and…TRAFFIC. So although the captain of a cruise ship and airplane pilot will be sitting comfortably, there is one worker who will be working twice as hard and in worse conditions: the toll booth operator.

As you’re driving along 95, you might not spend too much time thinking about the workers who are prepared to spend all day sitting in the Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Delaware toll booths. However, this holiday season, I’m going to try to make their day a little less hectic by giving them a big smile and saying ‘thank you’ for braving the cold.

Military Service Men and Women

This has to be one of the hardest jobs to do at the best of times, but for all those serving abroad, winter can be especially difficult. According the Military Resources Directory, temperatures in Afghanistan can drop as low as -24 and snow as deep as 25 inches isn’t uncommon. So, more than ever, this is the time of year when you should spare a thought for all those men and women who help to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

Farmers

When people picture “farming,” that picture might involve wheat fields on a warm summer day - but farming is an all year round occupation, and one that can be especially hard in the winter months. And when the temperature drops, we don’t stop drinking milk or eating bread; and neither do farmers.

Every day, they still get up in the cold, early hours of the morning to make sure their products end up in supermarkets, and eventually, our holiday dinner tables. So the next time I’m helping my mom potato latkes or you’re making eggnog, take a moment to give thanks for the men and women who helped put it there.

Whatever job you have, being able to work inside during the winter is certainly something to be thankful for. As for the professionals whose jobs keep them outside in the cold, but who continue to provide the services so many of us rely on, let’s give them a big thanks this chilly holiday season.