Thankful Once in a While

“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” - Brian Tracy

Coming home from a trip to Boston, I read a Readers Digest article titled, "How The New Science of Thank You Can Change Your Life." The article pretty much falls in the same space as most everything I talk about in this blog. One must be realistic that life does get in the way and not everything will be perfect and wonderful. Yet to think and move in life with a more positive attitude will serve you better.

The article referenced a study conducted by Robert Emmons (University of California-Davis) and Michael E. McCullough (University of Miami). Published in 2003, the study found that people who were consciously grateful;

- felt better about their lives.
- were more optimistic.
- were more energetic.
- were more enthusiastic.
- were more determined.
- were more interested.
- were more joyful.
- exercised more.
- dad fewer illnesses.
- got more sleep.
- were more likely to have helped someone else.

Very interesting and results that can change your life. Both small things along with the big things make a difference.

Life is not nearly as bad as we tend to make it out to be. So stay inspired my friends.

Thankful For What?

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." -Alphonse Karr

What are you thankful for?

That is the question I ask of you today. Write a comment down below telling me what you are thankful for in your life. It is a simple question but one we fail to ask ourselves.

Enjoy the day and let me know, "what are you thankful for?"

Stay inspired my friends.

How Many Birthdays Do I Get

"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life." -Robert Louis Stevenson

An Op-Ed article appeared in the Des Moines Sunday Register, back on February 2, 2003. I happened upon it while writing an article to celebrate my wife's birthday. It tells the story of a young boy having lost his parents in the civil war within Sierra Leone.

Gibrila (jeh bril’ a) was orphaned at age 2 and adopted by a man and his wife from Des Moines, Iowa. It is a touching story that brings to mind the goodness of people but also the wide expanse that exists between what we have versus what others do not. The story explains the catch phrase in the title of this article, but it makes me wonder, "how many birthdays do I get to have" in life?

As we live our lives from day-to-day here in the United States and many developed countries around the world, we forget how good we actually have things. I will certainly agree that there are large disparities in income levels and many people here in the U.S.A. do not have things so great. But for the most part, things are pretty decent here. The availability of a roof over our heads, something to eat once or twice a day and clothing to cover our backs is plentiful.

We have nice streets, running water, gas stations filled with thousands of items to purchase abound on nearly every street corner. Huge malls are filled to the brim with items of every kind that you might want to purchase. Fast food and other dining establishments serving large plates of food abound. Multiple choices of colors, textures, tastes, brands and sizes can be almost mind-boggling.

Now go to a developing or under-developed country. Travel where choice is limited, where availability of things we take for granted are nearly non-existent. Find clean drinking water, a place to purchase new shoes or a safe place to lay your head down at night. You will quickly find how much we have to choose from right here where we live. You will quickly find that we have it pretty good right here where we live.

When a young boy from Sierra Leone asks "how many birthdays do I get", maybe it is time we ask that of ourselves. Maybe we should be more thankful for what we have. Maybe, just maybe, we should simply be thankful.

Stay inspired my friends and be thankful.

Thank God Its Friday

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies;
but let the thankful heart
sweep through the day and,
as the magnet finds the iron,
so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Henry Ward Beecher

This cartoon caught my eye and got me to thinking about being thankful in life and being able to express it. It seems to be the only phrase that a majority of people are willing to use the name 'God' openly. Most everyone of us has said it, "Thank God Its Friday" at some point in our life.

The words are simple and meaningful in expressing an idea that you have been able to make it through a work week. It is an open expression to God thanking him for helping you accomplish so much. Also, for getting you to the weekend where you can relax from the toils of your job.

What I find more important though is to find things to be thankful for through out the week. The idea of TGIF is just a reminder that we really do have quite a bit to appreciate in our lives. things such as 'having a job' that we can go to. So many people are out of work currently with an unemployment rate of over 8% here in the U.S. (as of February 2009), many predict it will reach 10%. So maybe we could start saying, "Thank God I Have A Job" each day.

Every morning you get up and are able to get to a job. Your health is good and only the occassional cold seems to bother you. When you arrive at work, you take the stairs in order to get a little bit of exercise, maybe stop at the gym after work or even play with the kids on the weekend. So maybe we could start saying, "Thank God I Have My Health" each day.

And what about those kids of yours? Also a lovely wife and a great friend or two that you can say hello to are great to have around. The ability to talk with someone else and have a friendly conversation. So maybe we could start saying, "Thank God I Have My Family" or "Thank God I Have Friends" each day.

Even when you feel you have nothing in life or even if you have everything in life, each and every day we can find something to be thankful for. Try to be more thankful in your life and appreciate that which you do have. All you have to say is, "Thank You God."

_

Giving Spirit

Here we are at the end of a holiday weekend here in the U.S. Our short holiday before the Christmas and New Years celebrations. There were many of course that had to work but hopefully many were able to spend a small amount of time with their loved ones.

To be thankful for all that we have is something each of us around the world should be. Taking time to think of all that we do have and not concentrate on what we don't have. For me, I'm thankful for the huge generosity of those around me. Those that are close friends and those that are coworkers, the ones that supported a donation effort.

A little over two weeks ago, I started a donation drive for members of an Army Signal Company (U.S. Army), which is currently in Iraq. My son is a member of that group and we were taking donations of items for the entire group. Items that bring 'home' a little closer and items that just say thank you for all that they do.

There are many varying opinions about our presence in Iraq and I'm not here to debate it. I'm here to simply state that there are many people here at home that are generous in their giving. We collected over 600 lbs of goods including snack food, toiletries, games, magazines and other items. There was also an outpouring of a monetary amount which enabled us to purchase a flat screen TV and game equipment.

People that I never knew came forward to help in this effort. One such person was a lady name Lisa. Her husband had been a member of a motorcycle club that supported veterans and he had served in the military himself. He died in November of 2006 (non-military) and in memory of his love for fellow man, she gave in generous kindness.

It is this wonderful giving and thoughtfulness on her part which sends my heart soaring. She is an example of all those that give. Giving to others, supporting others in a generous manner. Take time to be thankful for what you have and then turn that into a giving act. Find a cause or a reason to help another.

Family

During my time off this week, it brings to mind things that I am thankful for. Things and people that have been a large reason in explaining who I am. In large part, my mother, father and siblings help make me the person I am today.

All of us have family and it is an easy thing to be thankful for. For me, being the second youngest of seven children allowed me to watch the older ones. Learning by their failures or success is something that I did all along. Through the death of a sister, to all of the many things that happen within a family, each of us have stuck together.

My parents are well into retirement and enjoying their lives and life together the way they want. As parents, I'm sure they understand how much they've meant to all of us kids but we'll never feel thankful enough. Not perfect parents but perfect for me as I've come to understand that we do the best we can in raising children and in living our lives.

To my sister and brothers, thank you for helping me through many of the tough times that I've had. It was with your support that really pulled me through those times. I'll always be one to give credit to each of you for helping form the person that I am now. As I go through my life, remembering each of you with gratitude and love will always remain.

To my readers, in some form you each have a family that raised you. There are many different stories, many different types and many levels of satisfaction with ones family. Yet you should find it in your heart to remember family at this time of year. Be safe and healthy during the holiday celebrations.