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 – 9/3 – 9/9/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

9/3/2015 – Tape.

Try to imagine all of the times and places tape has been handy. Now imagine a world where tape doesn’t exist. It would be different, to say the least. I recently moved and it’s definitely a time when tape feels exceptionally valuable.

9/4/2015 – Someone to Remind Me To Be Thankful.

Sometimes we just don’t want to feel thankful. We have a tendency, when things are tough to sulk a bit and we let ourselves feel jaded about the world. There’s no better rescue than someone to give you a kick in the pants and remind you about all of the little things that are great (which, ironically, is the entire point of #ThankfulThursday).

9/5/2015 – Considerate People.

I think of myself as a considerate person – sometimes overly so. As a result, I can easily spot the considerate people in a crowd and I really appreciate them.

Being considerate is a basic awareness and care of people you share the world with. It requires a bit of energy, is at times a bit of a burden, but there’s no excuse for us living our lives like bulls in a china shop and stepping all over other peoples’ lives.

Here’s to you, you considerate, beautiful people out there.

9/6/2015 – Not Liking Ranch.

Yes. I mean Ranch. Like, the dressing. And you read correctly; I don’t like Ranch. I can hear it now: What a blasphemous thing to be thankful for! You’re an animal.

I like the fact that I don’t like Ranch because it’s acutely unique. I’ve only ran into a few people who share my feelings and it never fails to produce an entertaining conversation.

9/7/2015 – WordPress.

WordPress makes building beautiful, secure, useful, valuable sites super easy. It helps people spread ideas and information inexpensively. It’s a key vehicle for the democratization of information and I think that’s a powerful mission.

WordPress also brought these words to you and I’m thankful it can be so easy.

9/8/2015 – Leftovers.

Many foods (too many to count) are better to eat the second time around. In general, I always enjoy the second time getting to taste a leftover meal.

9/9/2015 – Crisp Fall Air.

As a season changes from one to the next, each has their own charm and a reminder of the constant charge of time. The crisp, cool air of fall reminds me of football, birthdays, and the charm of a Summer that’s simply starting to cool off.

There’s a smell and feel to the air that is simply refreshing – take a deep breath and take it all in.

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?