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 – 11/26 – 12/2/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

11/26/2015 – Thanksgiving.

This speaks for itself. Good food, good friends, good family and a day of R&R and reflection. I’m extremely thankful for a day dedicated to being thankful (and celebrating all we have).

11/27/2015 – Deals.

I’m not a big consumer but I’d be lying if I didn’t love a stellar deal like the next guy or gal. I find myself trying to quench my technology cravings on Black Friday / Cyber Monday – but never in store. So I’m especially thankful for online deals.

11/28/2015 – Mountain Roads.

One of my favorite things about living in Washington are the beautiful mountain roads. Driving through and defying the rugged terrain is as awe-inspiring as it is beautiful.

11/29/2015 – R&R Days.

I have a “go” personality and having R&R days where I can recharge guilt-free are amazing.

11/30/2015 – Financial Markets.

Perplexing. Complex. Crooked. A few words to describe the financial markets that underpin the modern economy. However we feel about them, one thing is true: financial markets are the cornerstone for the global economy and the benefits it brings us all every day.

12/1/2015 – Notebooks.

Notebooks are a tool I’ve used as much as any other in my life. While my life slowly goes more and more digital, there are many things every day that pen and paper do best.

12/2/2015 – Online Video.

Online video is really only about 10 years old, in practical terms. I recall how amazed I was when I first loaded a flash video on FunnyJunk.com on DSL when I was in middle school. It was easy to see at that moment where the world was headed, and our ubiquitous digital video libraries are the result.

There are countless videos out there for anything I want to learn. Millions of hours of entertainment. Endless, glorious selection.

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?