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 – 2/12 – 2/18/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

2/12/2015 – Vaccinations.

Vaccinations are a hot topic right now, partly because localized movements to decline vaccinations have enabled the spread of diseases that had previously been effectively eradicated. Over the years, countless lives and suffering have been spared by vaccinations, and as we face new threats, I’m thankful for the ingenuity that will go to work to help us.

2/13/2015 – Individuality / Perspective.

I really do think variety is the spice of life, and in a fundamental way our individuality delivers the most diverse set of variety – of perspectives, of experience, vision, drives, beliefs, and all the categorical details that make us who we are. Love you for you, if for no other reason than you’re truly unique, and that fact is special.

2/14/2015 – Breakfast.

Growing up, if my mom was home, there was always a great breakfast waiting. And to this day it is my favorite meal and provides a great foundation for a great day. Not to mention that eating breakfast jumpstarts our energy and helps lose weight – what’s not to love?

2/15/2015 – Open source.

Alongside other parts of the sharing economy that’re blowing up today, the idea of “open source” is not new, but has immensely aided in the enormous technological advancements we’ve seen over the years – and continues to do so every day in ways few of us fully realize.

2/16/2015 – Explorers.

The explorers of every human generation are the ones who choose to dream and chase a vision of new boundaries at almost any cost. We often associate exploration to be finding new physical places, but exploration can also be much more abstract. It can be dedicating your life (and sacrificing) to cure a prolific disease or be the first to inhabit a new planet, the difference is intangible but in many ways exactly the same – the explorers amongst us have carried us by leaps and bounds to where we are today.

2/17/2015 – Identity of self.

I’m often fascinated by some of the basic functions of the body like how we can spatially tell where are bodies are located in space with our eyes closed (see how close you can get to touching one finger from each hand together with your eyes closed – amazing). However, today I saw a great TED talk about the amazing feat that is a sense of who we are, of what makes “me.” A sense of self and an identity completely unique to me, my biology, and my experiences is an incredible thing to consider.

2/18/2015 – Getting lost.

When we think of being “lost” we typically mean we took a wrong turn and ended up somewhere we didn’t expect – but I mean this in all forms. Sometimes being lost or aimless in whatever we encounter in life opens the door to stumble into a new part of your physical, mental, or emotional worlds that you never would have found otherwise. It’s an opportunity for discovery that is as serendipitous as it is unintentional. There’s also a sense of accomplishment and growth that happens whenever you find your way that is gratifying and inspiring.

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?