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 – 7/23 – 7/29/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

7/23/2015 – Interstate System.

The interstate highway system was an ambitious project with huge implications and benefits to the country and ourselves. Despite the millions of miles of other streets and highways, a quarter of all miles driven are on the Interstate Highway System – connecting enormous amounts of trade, tourism, and commerce.

7/24/2015 – Mountain Bikes.

Mountain biking is one of my favorite ways to get exercise, have a blast, master a skill, and enjoy some beautiful scenery all at once. Interestingly, the entire sport of mountain biking is relatively young and I’m lucky enough to be in Washington where mountain biking trails are extremely well-developed.

7/25/2015 – Days of Celebration.

Today is the wedding day of two of my great friends and the entire day was beautiful. Beautiful people, scenery, ceremony, food, and celebration. Weddings are one of many types of celebratory days – and dedicating an entire day to celebrate our milestones in life with those around us are always great.

7/26/2015 – National Parks.

Of all the places in the U.S. that are among my favorite places I’ve ever seen, many of them are in our National Parks. I’m thankful the Park Service keeps an eye out for these beautiful, precious places and gives us all places to appreciate the natural wonders of our beautiful country.

7/27/2015 – Taco Bell.

The geniuses in T-Bell’s labs are geniuses. Their creations are sinfully delicious. Enough said.

7/28/2015 – Random Re-Connections.

You haven’t talked to them in years and they send you a message (or a friend request) out of the blue and it’s a huge surprise. There’s something special about re-connecting with someone from your past and sharing the answers to “what’s new and what are you up to!?”

7/29/2015 – Picking up the Tab.

Among the many things I’ve learned to live with in moderation since choosing to start my own company, picking up the tab is something I’m thankful I’m able to do from time-to-time.

I love to give back to great people in any way I can and it’s always a pleasure to pick up the tab and say, “It’s my treat!”

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?