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 – 7/16 – 7/22/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

7/16/2015 – #ThrowbackThursday

I’m a very nostalgic person and I romanticize re-living the past. We can never get yesterday back and we can’t exactly replicate anything we do in life and I think that makes basking in nostalgia a bittersweet experience. I really enjoy #ThrowbackThursday and Timehop on Facebook because these quick peeks back in time are a great reminder of where we’ve been.

7/17/2015 – Credit / Debit Cards.

Paying with plastic and easily being able to check my bills and track my expenses and not fussing with a fistful of bills is super convenient. Credit cards also largely make ecommerce possible in all its convenience and deal-bringing glory. Next stop: the one card to rule them all!?

7/18/2015 – Even-Dollar Purchases ($XX.00)

I don’t know exactly why, but there’s a strange novelty to seeing the total from a grocery run or buying new clothes come out to some even number like $60.00 or symmetrical like $32.32. Random, I know – welcome to my brain.

7/19/2015 – Compliments from Strangers.

Receiving compliments from strangers stand out because they have no vested interest in giving you the compliment. They don’t know you and you’ll likely never see each other again – there’s nothing for them to gain by giving you a compliment. That’s how we know it’s real and it makes it that much more special and they can brighten up the darkest days.

7/20/2015 – Insurance.

Peace of mind is an amazing thing and one of the most prominent modern examples is insurance. It’s by no means cheaper but it eases the mind in a priceless way knowing that come hell or high water we’ll be able to make it through almost whatever life can deal us. That way we can focus on the things that really matter and leave some of our worries behind.

7/21/2015 – Hotels.

I’m not sure how most people feel about hotels but they have such a unique novelty to me as little comfy homes away from home. They are often one of the first things to greet us in a new, far-away place and the last place we see when we leave to our next destination.

It’s really cool to comfortably inhabit a small space with a few creature comforts, call it home for a day, a week, or maybe a month and leave it for the next “owner” when it’s time to move on.

7/22/2015 – Happy Hour.

Cheap(er) food, drinks, decompressing after a long day, and good company make “Happy Hour” a really great time. They have certainly named that special time appropriately – Happy Hour is always a great time.

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?