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 – 10/1 – 10/7/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

10/1/2015 – Passion.

Passion drives us, it helps us weather the dark moments, and soldier into the things that bring out the zest and enthusiasm in our lives. Those who follow their passions lead more fulfilled, happy lives, and we all know the world could use more of that.

10/2/2015 – Mattresses.

I’ve made so many mattresses while working at Minnesota Mattress Factory I basically get nightmares thinking about it (how’s that for irony). Yet mattresses are such a fundamental part of our lives – where we begin and end each day and recharge nightly or when we’re sick. It’s not until we have to sleep in some other place we realize how amazing our own beds can be.

10/3/2015 – Seeing Old Friends.

There’s something inherently fascinating and polarizing about seeing friends that you haven’t crossed paths with in a long, long time. On one hand, it’s like no time has passed at all. You still connect with the same sense of humor, similar references, and a mutual understanding. On the other hand, you see how your worlds have diverged. Many times, the divergence is vast enough where it’s almost difficult to have a good discussion about your lives today and you end up chatting more about the past.

When it’s all said and done, having the opportunity to re-kindle an old connection is special and reminds us how we’re all connected, even if faint, aging ways.

10/4/2015 – Continental Breakfast.

Ahh, yes, the continental breakfast. To many it may be a collection of mediocre breakfast food. To me, it’s a glorious collection of mediocre breakfast food and I can make of it as I please.

10/5/2015 – Being in “The Zone.”

Lately I’ve become really fascinated by “Flow,” the psychological term for being “in the zone.” Many focus on how to more easily find and stay in flow and how to leverage flow to get more done in less time. Either way, I love when I find myself in the zone (well, technically I realize it after-the-fact) where you’ve done a ton and realize that hours have passed and it has only felt like minutes.

10/6/2015 – Meeting Exciting / Inspiring People.

I’m always seeking out new people and I especially love meeting new people who stretch my thinking and inspire me to reach higher. I’ve been fortunate to meet many of those people in the tech community, many of which are extremely gracious with their precious time.

10/7/2015 – Certainty.

In the process of starting a company you’ve effectively opted out of the luxury of having certainty. Cash flow is uncertain. Success is uncertain. Your company’s survival is uncertain, even a few months out. There’s alot of excitement in that, but those moments of certainty, while fleeting, are extremely comforting and I’ve learned to appreciate them more than ever.

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?