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 – 7/2 – 7/8/2015

Today I’m thankful for…

7/2/2015 – Netflix.

Netflix always has something I’m interested in – whenever and wherever I’m in the mood to kick back. Enough said.

7/3/2015 – Tourism.

It’s always great to see the sights and hear the sounds of new places. So is meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and picking up new perspectives. At the very least being a tourist fun, it’s often inspiring, and sometimes life-changing. Ultimately our touristy experiences will be some of the most fulfilling parts of our lives as we see the expanses of the crazy beautiful world we call home.

7/4/2015 – Fireworks.

The 4th of July is most notably celebrated across the country as we gaze in awe at explosions of color and light that are as much art as they are a symbol of how America’s freedom was born. I find fireworks to be humbling as I feel the shock of the explosions in the air and the delicate mix of chemicals that make them blaze beautifully – all while thinking of all those who’ve given their lives fighting through the explosive nature of modern warfare for what we enjoy (and, quite frankly, take for granted) every day in the USA.

7/5/2015 – Road Trips.

Airplanes have made getting to far-away places quicker than ever, but there’s something particularly special about taking a road trip. There’s something liberating about cramming into a car and just driving to wherever it is we will go – it’s just simple and oddly intimate as a result.

7/6/2015 – Air Conditioning.

It’s been abnormally hot in Seattle this Summer and it’s not common to have air conditioning available. And not that I needed additional validation, but AC is a freakin’ Godsend.

7/7/2015 – Asphalt.

Our roads are far-reaching, usually pretty smooth, and connect the world in innumerable ways and asphalt (and concrete too, technically) is what makes it all possible. The millions of miles of asphalt roadways make those wonderful road trips possible.

7/8/2015 – Being Alone in New Places.

New places are great, I’ve covered that already this week – but there’s something uniquely great about being really alone in a new place. You aren’t distracted and you, in a way, have no choice but to really absorb everything around you and pay closer attention. There’s also a special type of personal growth that happens when you connect with a new place in your own personal kinda of way.

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?