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 – 2/26 – 3/4/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

2/26/2015 – The smell of a wood fire.

The smell of a wood fire reminds me of so many things I don’t even know where to start. I also believe that we innately love the smell of a fire because they have kept us (humans) alive for millennia. But the reasons I’m so fond of the smell is because of it’s association to so many great memories – after all, our sense of smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. Sitting around a campfire with family, friends, or even by myself has always been one of my most peaceful places. The soft crackle of the fire underneath the night sky, making us all feel “so small” (this is an inside joke since our conversations always seemed to go that direction at some point in the night). There’s a special simplicity to it that just puts things into perspective for me, and there’s nothing else quite like it.

2/27/2015 – A good pair of headphones.

A good pair of headphones is sometimes my most powerful tool. They allow us to tune out the world and focus, or other times, to escape. They allow us to live in our own little ecosystem and our retreat whenever we need it.

2/28/2015 – Looking back unapologetically.

I’m thankful that I can look back at where I’ve come from and not feel the need to apologize to myself for where I’ve ended up. I’ve mostly stayed true to myself and for the most part have continued to live up to the sometimes disproportionate expectations I strive for. And while it’s been far from perfect, I’m grateful that I haven’t made any mistakes that I feel I need to apologize to myself about – and that’s about as close to living with no regret as I could ask to be. Here’s a favorite quote of mine of late that feels related:

If you aren’t at least a little embarrassed about who you were a year ago, you’re not growing fast enough.

3/1/2015 – Haircuts.

Ahhh yes, a fresh beginning and order brought back to your ‘do – there’s nothing quite like it. Plus I can say I find it to be a relaxing and refreshing experience, so I’d still get a haircut even if I didn’t “need” it if I could justify the expense.

3/2/2015 – Clearance sales for seasonal stuff.

What’s better than Valentine’s Day? Clearance sales on unsold Valentine’s candy, that’s what! Plus, I was able to score a nice little bonus of Winter Jack on sale for $7 a bottle – the perfect cozy nightcap.

3/3/2015 – The things I don’t know yet.

If a knew everything (and as badly as my curiosity makes me really want to know everything) there would be nowhere left to grow. It’s that simple. It’s like watching the last episode of your favorite TV show you’ve been watching for 8 years and realizing that there’s no more story to follow or look forward to. The beauty lies in the yearning to learn more in the future.

3/4/2015 – Little, unexpected reminders of fond memories.

I love the little triggers that remind me of a funny story, a song that was “our jam,” or an inside joke with my friends. Those moments always have the power to make me smile no matter how I’m feeling.

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?