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 – 12/24 – 12/31/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

12/24/2015 – Memories.

Over the past year I’ve found myself keying in on alot of the abstract things we enjoy that are so engrained in our lives it’s hard to even think of them as a thing to potentially be thankful for. One of those things is our memory. Our brains and the memories they store really are who we… are.

Our brains and memories define who we are, allow us to tell our stories, and to connect with others. Without it, we’d be nothing, and our memories are our most cherished possessions when it’s all said and done.

12/25/2015 – Gifts.

I couldn’t make it through the Holidays giving thanks for receiving gifts. It may sound cliche but I really mean more than just getting more stuff. Gifts of all kinds are tokens of appreciation, a reminder we’re cared for and thought about, and gives us the excitement of a surprise.

12/26/2015 – The Holidays.

The Holidays are the quintessential time to just take a step back from our busy lives and be with the people who are closest to us. That’s a magical combination and something we get less and less of in our ultra-connected (read: distracted) lives. It’s recharging in a special way beyond the days off work, or the meals, or the gifts. The Holidays are great reminders of why we live and who we live for.

12/27/2015 – Having People I’d Trust With My Life With.

I came to realize that I have many, many people whose capable hands I’d trust with my life. On the flip side, I realized that those people are really rare. I’m thankful to have met and befriended (or being blessed enough to have family) so many who are trustworthy and reliable enough to trust with my life.

12/28/2015 – Filters.

One of the most important uses for filters is in the myriad of uses that are intended to keep us healthy. Water treatment, cleaning the air, and big filters for sorting trash and waste. Filters are everywhere in our lives. Our cars alone filter the fuel, oil, intake air, cabin air, and the exhaust.

Filters can be physical, chemical, and even light can be filtered (hello, polarization). They’re largely invisible in our lives, apart from our morning coffee, but they play a huge role almost everywhere and we benefit enormously from the ingenuity that went into inventing them.

12/29/2015 – Acting Like Kids.

I think that most of the joys in the world are an artifact of childlike behaviors and activities. Children just do, they aren’t jaded by the many struggles of the world, their imaginations are strong, and they can make fun whenever they need it.

Even their definition of “fun” is broad and accessible in ways most adults cannot understand. Taking a break during the Holiday is my nearest experience to being able to shelve the real world for a bit and just be a kid and live life as it comes.

12/30/2015 – Ski, Snowboard, Sledding Slopes.

I’ve had so much fun over the years letting gravity pull me down a slippery, snow-covered hill. Whether sledding, skiing, or snowboarding (only once) it’s extremely fun and equally graceful – once you’ve mastered it, that is.

I recently had a striking thought that the concept itself feels strange. It’s a bunch of people riding rickety chairs to the top of a hill/mountain, then just kinda sliding down it. Rinse and repeat. It makes sense given how much fun it is, but I imagine someone from the 1800s observing a modern ski resort and being completely dumfounded.

Regardless, I’m thankful someone thought to give us the means to defy gravity and master steep slopes.

12/31/2015 – New Years.

I’ve been thinking alot this Holiday season about what makes a New Year so special. While I haven’t placed it, there’s clearly something symbolic of a new start as the year turns forward. We’re filled with a sense of new beginnings, opportunity, and motivation. In other ways, I think it feels so special because of the Holidays, some time off, and seeing friends and loved ones recharges our minds, bodies, and souls.

This cocktail sets us up to take a look forward and also reflect on everything that’s happened and where the last year has taken us. I’m always thankful for a renewed resolve to work harder, live fuller, and make more of my limited time life affords me.

I’m thankful for the transformative past year, doing my best to be grateful, and having learned and experienced so much.