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 – 1/8 – 1/14/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

1/8/2015 – Simply feeling “normal.”

There’s nothing like a good cold, a migraine, a tweaked neck, or any other ailment or trouble we run into to remind us that “normal” is great.  Simple comforts and healthy functioning of our bodies are often the most-overlooked gifts we enjoy.

1/9/2015 – A comfortable place to rest my head.

Sleep is one of the few things we can’t escape and can’t live without.  It’s fundamental to our health, our brains, and to our overall well-being.  Having a safe, comfortable place to lay down, let my mind wander, and rest is a luxury too many people live without.

1/10/2015 – Perfectly imperfect days.

Some days just strike you simply because they just feel good – and for no good reason.  This resonates along with loving feeling “normal,” but there is a beauty in a day that is just plain old life.  My day involved picking up groceries, running errands, watching football, having a favorite drink, and cooking one of my favorite foods.  It’s in those moments of pure content-ness that you realize how perfect (in all its imperfection) day-to-day life can be.

1/11/2015 – An escape.

Often I find myself feeling that there’s nothing sweeter or more refreshing than an escape.  Mine typically include a movie or a game (often with a friend or two) and for others could be making/listening to music, getting wrapped up in a novel, or going for a long run or walk.  No matter the channel, that release to let the mind wander, to forget about what troubles us, and reset is something I’m thankful for.

1/12/2015 – Caffeine.

Well, it’s a Monday.  There’s something magical about a cheap, readily-available, and healthy chemical that helps us compensate for our early mornings and/or late nights and still make the most of life.

1/13/2015 – Blue skies and sunshine.

Sunshine has shown to change levels of feel-good hormones in our bodies as well as stimulating Vitamin D production, amongst other benefits.  The added light suppresses release of melatonin and we feel energetic and alert.  The big blue sky gives off a sense of openness and and adds a backdrop of color to the world.  Especially in the crispness of winter, the bright sun lighting our world is something to appreciate.

1/14/2015 – Inexpensive resources.

Generally speaking, I’m often blown away with how little many of the things we enjoy actually cost.  How is it I can buy an entire heavy-duty set of grill utensils made of steel where the ore had to be dug out of the ground, refined, shipped to a smelter, the steel shipped to a fabricator, manufactured, shipped to a distributor, shipped from a distributor to a store, and from a store to me for $5.  And somewhere in there each of those steps involved (for the most part) some sort of profit.

Then there’s electricity, gas, water, and other basic resources that, while we may complain about our bill, seem so cheap given the infrastructure needed to bring it all the way to me whenever and wherever I want it.

We reap the benefits of relatively cheap food, energy, and clothing that leaves us so much room for other luxuries that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.

From you

A special thanks to those who shared last week – you’re inspiring and I love hearing new perspectives.  From last week I’d like to feature:

I am thankful for the ability to have the resources at hand, and time available to continue to learn the things I need to know for the profession in which I am pursuing.  — Jamie H.

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?

“Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.”  — Zig Ziglar

– EH

From past weeks

1/8/2015 – https://www.evanhiner.com/thankful-thursday-182015/