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 – 3/19 – 3/25/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

3/19/2015 – The sound of running water.

I’ve always loved water, especially playing in it (much to my mom’s disdain, I’m sure). The sound of running water is remarkably soothing and peaceful and brings me to a happy place.

3/20/2015 – The stars.

Few things inspire big ideas and grand dreams like the innumerable stars in the night sky. My friends and I often joked about having a conversation about “how small we are” after looking up at the stars. There’s something about the vastness that really puts things into perspective in an (awe) inspiring way.

3/21/2015 – Skyscrapers.

Skyscrapers are a majestic tribute to a combination of human technological achievement, maximization of square footage, and financial prosperity. I’ve always found impressive skylines to be amazing – buildings jutting hundreds (and thousands) of feet into the sky representing a defiance of achievement refusing to be tethered to the ground.

3/22/2015 – Books.

The book is probably one of the most fundamental tools mankind has used to progress through the millennia. Our ability to pass along knowledge, learn new ideas, and leave a record of history have long been carried solely by books. They can be one of the best tools to spread ideas, learn from the past, find an entertaining escape, and leave behind a legacy. For all they’ve done (and do) for us, the humble book goes largely under appreciated.

3/23/2015 – Language.

Like many ideas, the idea of our brains being able to have an idea is as puzzling as it is remarkable. It too is incredibly amazing that we have collections of syllables, words, and phrases that can represent the world and complex abstract ideas.

3/24/2015 – Spring.

There’s the Spring smell, a cool warmth in the air, and a sense of rebirth. Grass becoming greener, plants and trees blooming, and the world feels like it’s waking back up from a nap. It just feels like a new beginning and the anticipation of Summer is a contagious feeling.

3/25/2015 – Smartphones.

While there are some aspects that are challenging about the technological immersion in our lives, I’m so thankful for my smartphone. Beyond generally being a huge convenience (my music, navigation, and books with me wherever I am) I love being connected to people and with the information my endless curiosity craves.

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?