Gratitude

gratitude

I’ve thought a lot about gratitude recently.

Every day, after I finish writing my Morning Pages, I spend about five minutes writing in my daily journal. The first prompt is about gratitude, requiring me to write three things I’m grateful for. There are countless articles about the benefits of starting every day with gratitude, so incorporating it into my morning routine was a no-brainer.

Otsukaresama

Yesterday started with a double bonus. After I finished writing in my journal, the theme for my Daily Calm meditation was Otsukaresama, which is a Japanese phrase used throughout the work day to say “Good job” or “Thank you for your work”.

I’ve had gratitude on my mind because I’ve been living my dream at work for the past nine months, and I’m grateful to so many people for their role in helping make that happen. The challenge is in making sure every one of them knows how grateful I am. Although I seize every opportunity to express my gratitude, I know I could do better. That’s something I’m working on this year.

Sure, starting every day by writing down three things you’re grateful for is a healthy practice. But it’s not enough. You need to carry your gratitude beyond your private thoughts and writing. Thank the people who’ve helped you or who’ve had an impact on your life. Tell your spouse how much you appreciate them.

That’s one thing I don’t do often enough, and I know she reads this blog, so now I have no excuse!

What do you do to practice gratitude? Could you do more?

Leave a comment and let’s chat about it. Or hit me up on Twitter.

Leaving a Legacy

legacy

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
—Shannon L. Alder

Since learning of the sudden passing of my brother-in-law earlier this week, I’ve been thinking about what it means to leave a legacy.

Joe was an elementary school principal, and according to this article on KSTP.com, those who worked alongside him said: “He wanted to leave a legacy of learning and working with others.”

He did that and so much more. Based on the countless stories people have shared about him on Facebook, it is clear he left a legacy not only at work and in his community but also with his family and friends. I was lucky to know him and I’ll never forget his sense of humor, generosity and humility.

The important thing about leaving a legacy is the impact it has on those you leave behind. I’ve learned from Joe’s example, and a piece of him will live on in me as I try to incorporate his best qualities into my both my daily life and my legacy.

Rest in peace, Joe. Thank you for sharing your best self with us. The world is a better place because you were in it.

Please take a couple of minutes to watch this touching news story about Joe and the impact of his loss.

I shot the photo of Joe and his kids a few years ago, incorporating two photos into one through the magic of Photoshop.

Shots Fired at the Ballpark Change Your Perspective

roses thorns

NOTE: This is the last post from my original blog before it was hacked, causing me to throw my hands in the air for almost four years!

 

Last night, I experienced something that changed me and my perspective on what’s really important in life.

It was the bottom of the 5th inning. The score was 5-5. My fifteen-year-old daughter was on the field, focused on helping her varsity softball team win an important conference game. What happened next changed not only the course of the game but also the perspective of everyone present.

Two vehicles sped into the parking lot, less than two hundred yards from the field. The occupants of one vehicle fired five shots at the other vehicle, one of the vehicles crashed into a parked pickup truck, and both vehicles fled the scene. 

The players froze. The fans froze. Within seconds, everyone processed what just happened and both fans and players took cover in the confusion that followed. One moment our girls were playing a game they love, and in the next moment, the fans and coaches were scanning the park, looking for the shooter and for anyone who may have been hit by a stray bullet.

The tension and fear were palpable as several parents called 911 to report the crime. We identified witnesses and accounted for everyone, confirming there were no injuries. It’s fortunate the only damage was to the parked pickup truck. My daughter and her teammates were visibly shaken, but everyone was safe.

As the police arrived and started their investigation, the coaches conferred and decided to end the game in a 5-5 tie. In the big scheme of things, the outcome of the game doesn’t matter. It’s just a game and we all gained some perspective on what really matters. Our children were safe. Their parents, fans and coaches were safe.

I also saw how potential tragedy brings out the best in people. It was senior night for the opposing team, and one of their seniors approached our bench, visibly upset and apologetic that we all drove an hour for a game that ended prematurely because of the actions of a few dangerous people with no respect for life. Even more moving was the support shown by the fathers of the opposing players, who organized themselves to safely escort our players and coaches to the team bus for a long, emotional ride home.

I drove home alone in silence, with nothing but my thoughts. During that drive, I gained a new perspective on what’s really important in life. Suddenly, everything stressful in my life didn’t matter. I realized my problems are insignificant in a world where lives can change in an instant. I could have lost my daughter. I didn’t. She could have lost me, a teammate or a coach. She didn’t.

This morning, my daughter and her team will meet with the athletic director and school counselors before school. Softball, which was once a safe bubble of fun and competition, became something more last night. Sometimes the world is a complicated and messed up place, and they need reassurance that this event, although scary, is not the norm. They’ll all need time to process and heal, and hopefully it won’t take long to restore that bubble of fun, competition and safety.

Do me a favor and hug someone you love today. Life can change in an instant, and I hope you’ll take a moment to consider your perspective on life and what’s really important to you.