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 – 4/30 – 5/6/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

4/30/2015 – Online Multiplayer Games.

Online games are great for 3 primary reasons: They’re entirely dynamic and the game never plays the same twice, they harbor a great community, and I’m able to play with my friends. There’s no better way to keep up (or catch up) with friends hundreds or thousands of miles away than while having fun playing a game – instantly linked via the internet.

5/1/2015 – Sports.

Sports are as much an expression of our core motivators as they are entertainment. Sports satisfy our desire for teamwork, competition, and fun. They also provide us an avenue to learn alot about life in general – working towards a goal, practice, how to win, how to lose, camaraderie, and so much more. At the least, it allows us to vicariously fuel our competitive nature in a non-destructive and entertaining way – and it’s big business because of it.

5/2/2015 – Markets.

It’s a bit of a shame that the “market” is now a bit of a novelty in the US. The upside is that when you do go to a market, they’re extra special. A unique gathering of people coupled with fresh food, novelties, and hand-crafted goods. There’s a unique energy and a special type of fun as people gather in the few markets around (or the farmer’s markets that pop up during the Summer).

5/3/2015 – Parks.

Another awesome gathering place that I’ve really grown to appreciate after living in large cities for the past 7 years – the park. They are just happy places – people everywhere are playing, relaxing, exercising, grilling, hanging out, and just generally enjoying the simpler things.

5/4/2015 – Birthdays.

While I don’t typically make much of my own birthday, the birthday itself is special. They somehow seem to be better than almost every other day and give us cause to celebrate the fact that we are alive on another anniversary of our birth.

5/5/2015 – Vision.

There is so much beauty to the world and I’m so thankful I’m able to see it. I’ve often pondered which sense I’d give up if I had to choose one, and the one I really can’t imagine losing is my sight. I’m thankful I can see the world and that new technologies are bringing sight back to those who previously had no hope to ever see. I hope new technologies unlock that so nobody has to be without sight.

5/6/2015 – Virtual Reality.

I’m really keen about seeking new experiences, new perspectives, and new ideas. Virtual reality is at an exciting stage of its infancy and I can’t wait to see what new experiences it’ll unlock for us. Like large IMAX experiences, there’s a unique immersion to VR that will allow us to vicariously see remote parts of the Earth, especially with our robot friends helping get unprecedented footage.

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?