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 a lot 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 breath, 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 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 – 5/28 – 6/03/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

5/28/2015 – Curiosity.

Curiosity may have killed the cat but it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I like to think I’m blessed and cursed by my curious desire to try to learn about new things and take on new challenges. On one hand, I’m NEVER bored, but on the other hand, it’s not always easy to focus and do one thing – which paradoxically means I’m easily bored by stagnation. Ultimately it’s the curiosity that flows through me that makes life interesting and fun.

5/29/2015 – Luck.

Luck is an interesting concept – a bunch of things coming together for or against us in ways that seem too chance to be an accident. Some say it’s better to be lucky than good, but I don’t think that even matters. I firmly believe in the mantra that you make your own luck. If you put enough energy into something you want, you’re bound to get “lucky” as the various pieces you’re trying to pull together find their way to the right place and the right time. What’s really interesting about luck, however, is that with luck there’s a perpetual hope that carries us wide-eyed into the future. Luck may change our fortunes for the better at any moment and that’s powerful.

5/30/2015 – Sandy Beaches.

The sounds of the ocean relentlessly plunging into the shore, the warm sun and cool breeze, and the amazing texture of the fine sand between your toes are a unique sensory experience. Sandy beaches are uniquely special and are amongst my favorite places in the world.

5/31/2015 – Washer & Dryer.

I can’t begin to imagine how much time having a washer and dryer has saved me over the course of my life. What I can imagine is how much more pleasant it is to be around me thanks to being able to have fresh clothes each day. Thanks, Whirlpool!

6/1/2015 – Corrective Lenses.

Our sight is what gives us a majority of our information about the world we live in and I’m super grateful for glasses, and especially contacts, to be able to ensure I can see the world in crystal-clear fashion!

6/2/2015 – “Funny” things.

The mere concept of “funny” is… erm… funny. It’s strange to think that someone falling over or goats fainting would elicit the extremely unique sensation of whatever “funny” is – but I don’t care, I’m just glad it exists and makes us happy 😀

6/3/2015 – Questions.

Questions beget answers. The question drives us (curiously) towards finding an answer to a thought, theory, or question. Questions give us something to seek. Questions allow us to find answers, and in those answers we find some micro-cosmic purpose to pursue.

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?