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?

Daily Gratitude: I can tell you that this is absolutely true. It began when I developed epilepsy at age 21. There went all my desires to become a neurosurgeon. Whoosh. Down the drain.

But at least I could still be a doctor. My life ended up perfect! And it still is perfect.

I didn’t let go willingly. That would have been too easy. But I had no choice in the matter. This often happens. And too many times we fight and resist. But you know what? The universe will win every single time. So it’s much better if you can just let go and ask your higher power what it is you’re supposed to do. It will show you.

Instead of the answer (what’s supposed to happen?) being considered an intruder at your door, invite the unknown in and ask it to stay awhile. Tell it to have a seat and ask it to share its wisdom with you. Then grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair. Sit back and listen to its guidance.

It will be the best thing you ever do!

Here’s Part II

Daily Gratitude: Today is the second day of looking for the wondrous things in your life.

Picking up where we let off:

Now do the same thing with people in your life.

Make a list of those you love, those you appreciate even if you don’t know the specific reasons you appreciate them.

If you do know, that’s even better. Write all of that down.

See how many people and /or how many qualities you’re appreciating in others.

take one a day and spend some time on that person or a specific characteristic that you admire or love.

I bet you’ll see that same virtue appear in other people you’ve listed.

That’s a good thing because it will show you what you value and that usually means you have the same thing or want the same thing.

When you spend time each day studying and contemplating someone or something, you learn more about it and more about your love for it.

You can use that one thing or person as an anchor for the day.

When things suck, bring your attention to that anchor and be grateful.

If you have an anchor to cast so to speak when the seas around you are rough, it will take your mind off the bad stuff and allow you to soothe your nervous system.

You could use this if you watch endless Facebook tik tok videos, making your stomach tighten.

Same if you’re watching the news or stuck in a traffic backup.

Go to your anchor for the day and calm your nervous system.

Then of course ask yourself if you don’t have something better to do.

Most of us do inane things but awareness is key to stopping them.

Use your anchor to break the spell.

Be grateful and appreciative of the little things in your life.

They are all around you.

I am pretty sure you’ll feel better than you will by watching the news.