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 – 3/12 – 3/18/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

3/12/2015 – The sizzle of a grill.

It sounds and smells like summertime, warmth, and delicious eats. That distinct sound of a sizzling, popping grill is just one of my happy places.

3/13/2015 – Anticipation.

Studies have shown that we find more happiness in anticipating a future event than when the actual event finally arrives. This helps explain why people like Fridays more than Sundays. My friends know that I’m a huge airplane nerd and have had a borderline-unhealthy obsession with one day owning a private jet – this one will do just fine.

Dreaming about owning a jet is a fun idea to chase, but I can’t foresee myself actually pulling the trigger on that type of a purchase (ethically and fiscally) unless I had some glaringly-obvious opportunity/need in owning one. But that doesn’t matter, the concept and anticipation is what matters, it’s an exciting idea and it makes me happy to try bold things to chase it.

3/14/2015 – Fresh-baked bread (especially the smell).

Soft, warm, doughy bread and that smell that seems as though it can be smelt for miles. There’s nothing like it. Enough said.

3/15/2015 – Being able to fly (and see the world up high).

Beyond being able to fly and the sense of freedom it gives me is that I’m glad we can fly so we can see the world from such an amazing perspective. Prominent features are transformed into mere textures along the timid curvature of our little ball of life we call home. It’s moving and a perspective people have dreamed of for millennia and it’s something we often take for granted.

3/16/2015 – Having the use of all of my senses.

While I don’t do as well as I’d like, I really do my best to frequently take a moment and appreciate the use of all of my senses, especially because I could lose any of them pretty much any day. I’m even simply thankful that we have such sensitive tools to experience the world in so many different ways.

3/17/2015 – Waterproof clothing.

The rain in Seattle is so much more bearable with my waterproof jacket shell that faithfully keeps me dry without having to lug around an umbrella. Not to mention how much more enjoyable my outdoor adventures are with the aid of some good old Gore-Tex.

3/18/2015 – Carbonated beverages.

It’s hard to imagine the world before carbonated drinks were invented and it’s no wonder why sodas exploded in popularity. Those little bubbles are refreshing and bump up thirst-quenching to a whole new level.

From you

Today I’m thankful for the innate human ability to have hope. — 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?