Tag: Gratitude Attitude

Day 20 of the Gratitude Challenge

There is so much I want to say today. Because I keep these Gratitude posts short, I will save many of the ideas for another day.

The picture attached to this post represents so many things. It is 1 of approximately 1200 photos I took at a college volleyball match yesterday. It is 1 of 40 photos I took trying to capture the image you see. It is, perhaps, one of the best photos I’ve taken. We often fail many many times before we succeed. It’s important to enjoy the journey and be grateful for the chances we get.

Yet, this picture is so much more. The facility, the Sanford Pentagon, which hosted this event is absolutely amazing. The event was the first sporting event I’ve been to since before the pandemic that felt like a sporting event. The atmosphere was electric. For these things I am grateful.

But what truly makes the picture special are the people in it. I cannot find adequate word to express my gratitude for this team. So today, I am grateful for many things but mostly I’m grateful for the students and the athletes at my university.

Day 19 of Gratitude Challenge

It’s been one year since I took the picture. One year of change I never thought would happen. One year of steady improvement.

I began this journey alone and unhappy. I began not knowing where to start. But I made the decision to change. My advice – make the decision about why then work on the how.

Over the last year, I have received so much encouragement and support from family and friends. Thank you it made a difference. I haven’t been perfect but I have improved. And more importantly, I could not have done it without the encouragement. I am grateful for all the kindness.

Today’s challenge is for you to thank a friend and family member. Call, text, email, message, Snap, What’s App or snail mail them. Just thank this person for something they did.

Day 18 of Gratitude Challenge

Pay it forward today. Buy somebody else a coffee, meal, or something else. Be the in initiator in the chain of gratitude. You can do this anonymously or not. You can publicize it on social media or remain silent. Just do something to pay it forward today grateful.

Day 17 of Gratitude Challenge

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day where I live. It was near 70 degrees and mostly sunny. It was amazing weather for November. I was so grateful for the weather that I spent about an hour walking along one of our nature trails. While it meant I had to do some work at home later, it was worth it. I was so grateful for the nice weather and a flexible job that allows me to take a walk. The weather forecast for today is not as warm BUT it looks like it will be sunny.

Today is my grandmother’s birthday. She passed many years ago at the age of 97. When she was born a couple of years before the Wright Brothers historic flight. By the time she passed away, man had been to the moon and back. She lived through two world wars, a depression, the Spanish flu pandemic and basically everything else that happened in the 20th century. She didn’t smoke but she did eat eggs and bacon. She drank in moderation. She never joined a health club. She lived on her own until she was 96. Overall, she had very good health and lived long life.

I have had relatively few health problems in my life. When I look at my family and friends, I recognize how lucky I am. My father had heart issues. My mother had Parkinson Disease. Both my brothers were born with significant physical and mental disabilities. I have had friends die of cancer and other ailments.

So today, take time to be grateful for your health. Even if your health isn’t perfect, be grateful for the health that you have. Be grateful for health care workers and medicine. Thank a health care worker today.

Day 15 of Gratitude Challenge

I’m told that when he was born he was not expected to live more than 10 years. He defied the odds and lived almost 60 years.

14 months ago he contracted Covid and died 11 days later. In the first few months after his death, I vacillated between anger and sadness. Overtime, I made efforts to focus on gratitude. Gratitude for the memories I have. Gratitude for the lessons he taught me. Gratitude for the love he gave. Gratitude for the years he was alive. Gratitude for all he gave to me.

I’m still sad and occasionally angry. But mostly I am grateful to have had a brother like him. Today is his birthday. I’ll celebrate by taking some time to bee grateful for his life.

Today’s challenge requires you to think about somebody who has passed on and do so with gratitude for all the gifts they left for you.

Day 13 of the Gratitude Challenge

One of the goals of this challenge is to focus on the little things in life that make a difference. I believe that little changes can make a big difference. You don’t need to make one large change to improve your life. Improve a little each day and see what happens.

The photo in this post is from one of my happiest places in the world. It is near where I grew up. Whenever I visit this place, I have a sense of joy and peace. Today, I am grateful for my hometown and where I grew up. I know it wasn’t perfect but it is home. While I miss the Black Hills, I am grateful I was able to grow up in such a nature wonderland. It shaped who I am am and how I view the word. Take time today to think about something you are grateful about from your hometown.

Day 12 of Gratitude Challenge

Over the past year, I gave special attention to the words that I use. Are the words helping me towards my goal? This time last year, I was sad and angry. I focused on all the bad that was happening around me. Now, I focus on controlling my reaction to a situation. I find the good. I use empowering language. I am so grateful how this shift in language has improved my life.

The challenge today is to focus on the words you use (both internally and externally). Find at least one thing in your life that is good. Take time to be grate for the good things. Ask yourself what is great about today? Given the current weather conditions this could be more difficult today!

I will spend time today thinking about my family and friends. I am extremely grateful for the love and kindness they show me. And a bonus gratitude, it’s date night with my wife. We will enjoy our weekly date.

Day 10 of Gratitude Challenge

I hope you were able to get outside yesterday. It was another beautiful day. Did you notice the many joys nature provides?

Last night, after thinking about nature and all it’s joys, I took time to listen to some music. I don’t sit and listen to music as often as I like. I pulled up an apple music playlist titled ’80s Movie Essentials. Just glancing at the list of songs immediately transported me to earlier time in my life. First, I listened to “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship. (Bonus points for those who remember what movie that is from without looking it up!) Then I listened to “Purple Rain” by Prince & the Revolution. If you grew up in the upper Midwest in the ’80s, Prince was everything.

Each song reminded me of different phases of my life (high school and college). I thought about how music and movies permeated so many of my experiences at that age. I thought about friends and acquaintances from that time in my life. Many of these people I have connected with on social media. Some I haven’t seen in years. Sadly, others have passed.

Music is powerful. Good music can permeate and envelop you. Good music triggers emotion. So today, listen to some music and be grateful. If the music reminds you of someone, reach out to that person and let them know you are thinking of them.

If I went to high school or college with you and you are reading this blog, odds are your were in my thoughts last night. I’m grateful you have been a part of this journey we call life.

Day 9 of Gratitude Challenge

Yesterday was an beautiful fall day where I live. The high temperature was 59 degrees. I did not have an opportunity to enjoy it much. Today the forecast is about 5 degrees cooler and still a very nice day for my area of the world. Yet a look forward indicates that we might get some snow on Friday – which may make the gratitude challenge fun for some!

The challenge for today is simply this. Get outside in and around nature. What do you notice? What is special? See any wildlife? What does fall smell like where you are? How about the colors? Just be grateful for the beauty of nature and how it teases your senses. Have a great day!

Day 8 of Gratitude Challenge

I recently read How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman. The book is an interesting and insightful look into how we can make change happen. Milkman writes “[I]f you want to change your behavior or someone else’s, you’re at a huge advantage if you begin with a blank slate – a fresh start- and no old habits working against you.” Of course, this is easier said than done. She further writes that “[w]e’re more likely to pursue change on dates that feel like new beginnings because these moments help us overcome a common obstacle to goal initiation: the sense that we’ve failed before and will, thus, fail again…This explains why every Monday, I’m sure the week ahead will be more productive than the last.”

I intentionally started this challenge on the FIRST day of the month which conveniently fell on a Monday. A double fresh start.

The pandemic has created more opportunities for fresh starts and provided a chance to focus on what is important. Remember during the height of the pandemic when everybody was wearing mask? You could see no expression. No compassion. No care. No joy. Just eyes hiding behind a mask.

As the pandemic winds downs and we take our masks off, we can see faces again. So today, give smiles and see what happens. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Smile at strangers. Smile at coworkers. Smile on the phone. Smile on Zoom. I bet at least one person smiles back. Be grateful for gift of human expression and emotion. Happy Monday!

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