All too often we only set aside one time per year to really, truly give thanks for all we have. Even those who feel they don’t have alot have one thing we should all be thankful for; the gift of life. Beauty is all around us and if we can capture that sense of continued awe when we stop, take a breathe, and appreciate all of the things we enjoy but take for granted, the world instantly looks like a better place.
Gratitude and appreciation is truly the conduit to happiness, a sense of purpose, and a fuller life. I’ve been meaning to start a gratitude journal for quite awhile now, and the idea struck me that it would be even more powerful to share it and inspire others to do the same. My aim is to find one thing to be grateful for each day which will force me to dig deeper to see tiny details that make our lives great but go overlooked.
Without further ado:
#ThankfulThursday – 1/22 – 1/28/2015
Today I’m thankful for…
1/22/2015 – Opportunity.
Today I’m extremely thankful to have my most basic needs met every day which frees me to pursue my passions and personal embetterment. The sky may be the limit, but only when you are able to look up from the ground and start thinking about flying.
1/23/2015 – A lack of direction.
While many people feel anxious when without a sense of where they are headed – and understandably so. What I’ve learned to appreciate is that with a lack of direction I wander onto new paths I would otherwise never have discovered. And when in the dark you have to look inward and learn about yourself and where you want to end up.
1/24/2015 – Uncertainty.
In the same vane as yesterday, today I also find an appreciation for uncertainty. To me, there is little energy or excitement in knowing exactly where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing in a month, a year, or 10 years. In uncertainty there is room for any possibility, to grow, and pursue the life you want to live.
1/25/2015 – The human body.
More and more I find myself amazed by the resilience of the human body. Whether it’s amazing athletic feats, a late night out (literally) poisoning ourselves, surviving astoundingly traumatic events, or fighting off an onslaught of biological invaders, our bodies continue to amaze and resist our best efforts to destroy ourselves.
1/26/2015 – History.
I’m thankful for the first souls who realized that recording the happenings of the world would be one of the most powerful instruments of mankind. There are a great many lessons written in history and in a way it is also what allows our time here to endure beyond what we leave behind. I toured Alcatraz today and there are powerful stories everywhere that can almost be sensed in an eery, mystical way.
1/27/2015 – Connections (with people).
Our connections to other people are what makes us feel cared for and supported. Those same connections also combat loneliness and give us a sense that what we do in our lives has a greater purpose beyond ourselves. Without a human connection to other people we are left feeling as though we have nothing else that’s “real,” despite that connection (paradoxically) being so innate and intangible.
1/28/2015 – A new day.
Today I’m simply thankful to have a new day to wake up to, and I plan to appreciate all the good and all the challenges (i.e. opportunities to learn) that come with it.
From you
A special thanks to those who shared last week – you’re inspiring and I love hearing new perspectives. From last week I’d like to feature:
I am thankful for the freedom to experience life through any filter of my imagination. The opportunities are endless, so long as I choose to see them. — Claire
Your turn
I’m always looking for more inspiration, so tell me, what’s one thing you’re grateful for from the past week? I’ll share a few submissions during next week’s post and intend to keep that going all year long. While I love #ThrowbackThursday, I’d love to see #ThankfulThursday take off too.
The more we can say thanks, the better off we’ll be. Especially because we don’t know if we’ll be able to say “thanks” to those we care about tomorrow or to those who’ve touched us that we’ll never cross paths with again – why wait?
“Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.” —
