Category Archives: Daily Gratitude

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Daily Gratitude

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Daily Gratitude: I try to remain apolitical here. Loss of life, though, should have no politics.

The country is in turmoil. We are in a pressure cooker, exacerbated by the hopelessness and helplessness we feel.

Whatever else you may find to do to deal with the times, remember two things

One is that gratitude is essential. When you express gratitude and appreciation, you align your energies with that of the universe. That may seem like doing nothing but it is and can be very powerful. If enough people were to align themselves with the positive vibrations of the universe, it would make a difference.

Make sure you’re cultivating your gratitude practice daily. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think others are being grateful or grateful “enough” (in your opinion).

Secondly, take care of each other. We have to do this. We cannot make it alone. Yeah you may be like me and think you can. But I guarantee you that you haven’t really gotten where you are right now on your own. I also am sure that eventually you’ll get your wake up call and realize you need people. Pray that there are still people around who care about you when you do.

I was fortunate and finally (after 70 years) learned the importance of community and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Until about 3 years ago i could honestly say I was never happy. But in that last 3 years with the changes I’ve made AND the community I’ve been accepted into and now cherish, I know what happiness is. For that I will be forever grateful.

Take care of the people around you. I bet there are plenty hurting right now. Reach out to them. Care for them. Protect them. You won’t regret it.

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Daily Gratitude

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Daily Gratitude: I think that if Helen Keller could remember and live by this, each of us should be able to.

Yes it takes effort- concentrated effort – but it’s so worthwhile. We are living in a time when we seem to have to continually overcome something.

But it can be simple too. I went to IHOP this morning and when asked how she was, the woman who greeted me said “I’m alive and I have a job. I’m great”.

It’s going to be dangerously cold for much of the US this weekend. Are you going to be in a place that can keep you warm even if the power goes out? Think about those that are unhoused or otherwise destitute. Think of them before you start to complain if the power goes out or you can’t go somewhere because of snow or ice.

They are suffering. You’re probably not.

People will help them (I hope) overcome their suffering. What will you be doing?

Hopefully you’ll stay safe and can at least be grateful there are those overcoming adversity. What can you do to help for the future?

Take some time to think about your suffering and how much you’ve exacerbated it with the “what if” syndrome. I’m really good at that game. But I continually try to stay in the present and not catastrophize. Isn’t it interesting that when we play the what if game, we never look at the “what if it gets better and is nothing”?

We can overcome much more than we think. And you know what? We already have. Take a look back at your life and find those times you’ve “overcome”. It will help you know that you can do it again.

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Daily Gratitude

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Daily Gratitude: Doesn’t this make sense? How will you know what you can or can’t do if you don’t attempt “it” (whatever it is you’re contemplating)?

It was bad enough I wanted to quit at about mile 191 at vol state in 2025. But what was worse was that I was still convinced at about mile 305-307 (i didn’t even know where I was) I wasn’t going to make it. Fortunately I was giving it my all at that point but what would have happened had I stopped there? I wouldn’t have known that I had the ability to push hard enough to finish on time.

Same at the Across the Years race I just came back from although nowhere near as dramatic.

I thought I was done at 160 miles because I didn’t think I had enough time to do another 1.4 miles.

Thanks to Mike Melton for pushing me and having faith that I could do one more lap in the 40 minutes that were left.

He pushed me to find out how far I could go. If not for him, I wouldn’t have known.

It took me 30 years to try to walk across the US. I didn’t make it but I tried and learned more about myself than I ever had in the previous 70 years.

What are you holding back on?