With the holidays on the way, I thought it would be fun to make this post around random things that I appreciate or find myself grateful. So here goes…….in no particular order.
- Clean public bathrooms- There is nothing like traveling and walking into a bathroom you can see is well maintained. The cleanest bathrooms are Cracker Barrels, so naturally that becomes our rest stop on our travels down south.
- My mother’s homemade matzah ball soup. It is really good anytime of the year but what I am most thankful for about this soup is Deanna loves it so much that she actually calls it “her soup”. She will tell us, “Gigi made me my soup!!” and you can tell how appreciative she is about that.
- A hot meal I did not cook- Any mom can appreciate this one! I really don’t even care if it is that good. There is something special to me about not having to worry about the details of cooking, serving, and cleaning up.
- Visiting a friend whether by phone or in person and it is as if not a day has passed since the last time we spoke. No time or distance changes the bond.
- Salty Air- As we are driving to the beach and start to get close, I tell everyone to roll down their windows and take in the salty air. Just like our Charlie Brown tradition, the girls typically call it first before I get the chance to say, “Roll down those windows, smell the air!”
- I am blessed to have experienced in both my childhood and my adulthood the opportunity to live pay check to pay check as well as the ability to live comfortably. (More on this topic another time!)
- Airport travel allows me periods of time where my time is not my own. I have no control over if the plane is on time or delayed. My only responsibility is to show up 2 hours prior to take off. From airport arrival to landing in the next city, that time is an opportunity to do whatever I want; catch up on work, grab a drink, read my book, even shop.
- My relationship with our Lord and the peace it brings me with many of my decisions. Whether if the times are good or bad, I can feel his presence and know he is watching over.
Please share some of your random thankfulness.
Wonderful topic, Tric. I believe that an attitude of gratitude is one key foundation to a happy and fulfilling life. In no particular order:
1. I am grateful for the good health I enjoy, and the good health that my immediate and extended family and friends enjoy. Good health is one of those irreducible and unreplaceable things.
2. Laughter in unexpected moments. My six year old son Tommy read me a book yesterday-so happy I am on the receiving end of these little stories we share. He had trouble with only a few words, one of which was “probably,” which he rendered in his best effort as “poor baby.” My wife Tonya and I are now substituting that for “probably” in our conversations. It’s the little things that mean the most and sharing laughter is a big little one.
3. Autumn beauty. Went hiking for the first time ever at Green Lane yesterday. The Red Trail hugs the contour of the reservoir from a modest height, and with the falling leaves and the sun reflecting off of the water, I could turn off my mind and simply bask in the humbling beauty of creation.
I could go on but wanted to share a few that just arose for me in the last few days.
Keep on writing this blog, Tric. ?❤️?