Outside the Box Thankfulness Contest
Happy November! As Thanksgiving is several weeks away, this month’s contest focuses on gratitude.
When it comes to giving thanks and being grateful for the people, places and things in our lives, there are some obvious items that are usually ranked first on most people’s lists. Family, health, food, clothing, housing, job, church/spirituality and good friends regularly top the lists.
For this year’s contest, we want to go past the obvious and explore some the lesser-mentioned items that we are grateful for.
The question to answer this month is:
What 3 “outside of the box” items are you truly thankful for and WHY?
For example, I am truly grateful for my sleeping bag, the Internet and my bike. My sleeping bag consistently kept me warm in sub zero temperatures in Tibet last month, the internet allows me to stay connected with friends all over the world and my bike helps me stay in shape and riding it never seems like dreary exercise.
I encourage you to ask this question to others this month and at your Thanksgiving dinner to learn more about your family and friends. Have them submit their answers as well.
Focusing on things that I am grateful for seems to attract more goodness in my life, and I certainly feel better about how life is moving along. Share some of your gratitude list and see if you notice more and more things you are grateful for.
To be considered for a prize, you must list 3 things. Winners will be based on out-of-the-box-thinking and the reason behind their answers.
Prizes:
First Place:
The Art of Exceptional Living Audio CD Set
Second Place:
Expect Success Book
Third Place:
Freedom Personal Development Water Bottle
All winners will also receive a Blue Light-up Pen and Be Free Sticker.
Deadline:
The deadline to enter is Monday, November 30, 2009. Winners will be announced on the blog and emailed on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.
Be Free!
Eric Plantenberg
President
1. Sheets that are tucked in under the mattress – I LOVE getting in a bed that keeps my snuggly at night
2. My fan I keep on when I sleep – White noise blocks out any background noise from neighbors – I am especially grateful for it when I at a hotel and forget how much I miss it!
3. “High Class Problems” ie my biggest problem today was running out of milk for my cereal – millions of people in this world don’t have a breakfast to eat or money to buy milk or a place to buy milk. Or I forgot my fan and am staying at a hotel – many people don’t even have a place to sleep at night. I am very grateful that my “problems” aren’t really that big of a deal when I put them into prospective.
Comment by KTB — November 5, 2009 @ 8:06 am
I am grateful for my dog. She has taught me the true meaning of unconditional love.
I am grateful for my down comforter which was gift from someone I love very much. It makes me feel warm and safe and close to that special person.
I am grateful for NKWs (Non-Kid Weekends) when my kids go to their dad’s house for the weekend. Even though I love those little rascals with all my heart, NKWs give me a chance to regroup, lay on the couch and be lazy, catch up on laundry, and party like I have no responsibilities!
Comment by Chris — November 5, 2009 @ 8:23 am
1 – my housekeeper. Due to the economy and slashed paychecks in my household, we have not had her in a year. With paychecks now restored to their former fullness, she came yesterday and transformed my house into a pristine castle!
2 – caffiene. I work full-time, am taking three classes to finish a bachelor’s, attend to two young children and their parent participation school, and do the housework that wasn’t covered in #1 above. It’s no uncommon for me to pull an all-nighter to get everything done.
3 – wet-eyed “I love you” from my husband. He’s a traditional quiet very introspective introverted kind of guy so when he does express it as concretely as turning to me with wet emotional eyes, I melt and remember, “this is what life is all about.”
Comment by Boe — November 5, 2009 @ 9:08 am
I am thankful for The Coyote Habitat.
It’s not the kind of thankful that lasts for weeks or months or stays with you always, as are the truly important things in life, but rather the fleeting thankfulness that makes you say a quick prayer thanking God for remembering you and sharing some unexpected joy.
Last week, my 9 year old, Jax, was assigned a school project that involved making a shoe box habitat, for which he chose the coyote. (These projects can never be completed by the student without a great deal of parental assistance, so it is important to try to keep a positive attitude.) The project quickly grew to involve the whole family; his brother and sister helped collect rocks and sticks for the environment, I helped surf the Internet, printing food sources for him to cut out and glue into place and my wife had the brilliant idea of cutting apart one of those recordable greeting cards and rigging it so when you lifted a flap, the habitat plays coyote sounds.
Today, as we were driving to school, Jax looked up at me and said, “You know, this is really a big day for me.”
“Why is that?”, I asked.
“Well, I’m really excited about my habitat.”
And so, this morning, I find myself unexpectedly thankful for The Coyote Habitat.
Comment by Drew Tate — November 5, 2009 @ 9:08 am
Thankful for
1. Google and the ability to acquire instant answers and information about virtually anything, NOW.
2. The commonality of humans that we can trust each other to “follow some basic rules” and drive on the right side of the road, stop at red lights, prepare foods safely in public eating establishments, and respect closed doors in public restrooms.
3. Humor – the ability to belly-laugh, share a belly-laugh and cause a belly-laugh!
Comment by Mary Puccio — November 5, 2009 @ 9:44 am
Quite simply, I’m thankful for such an awesome Planet. It gives us a beautiful fruitful, and infinitely diverse, place to live with all the wonderous other creatures we share it with. It tells us incredible stories, giving us the challenge to unfold the stories. Planet Earth gives us perspective on ourselves and our place in the big picture.
Comment by Julie Robinson — November 5, 2009 @ 9:44 am
I’m thankful for
1. That my 2 daughters are healthy & happy
2. For my friends and family
3. For all that God has given me,
Comment by Nancy Dunning — November 5, 2009 @ 9:58 am
My big toe….without it I would fall.
Toiletpaper….without it we would have stinky hands.
Forks…..without them I would be using a soiled hand to eat with.
Comment by Todd Lopez — November 5, 2009 @ 9:59 am
I am most thankful for:
time (space)- this is for work and for reflection (or more work!)
grace (mercy)- this is love granted to myself, and shown to others
relationships- this is an expression of a combination of the aforementioned. Joy expressed.
Comment by Autumn Acosta — November 5, 2009 @ 10:20 am
1. Sight – being able to enjoy God’s creation and to take in the beauty all around me and to explore, not only earth but all living things and the people I greet.
2. Freedom – how blessed we are to live in the land of the free, freedom of speech, religion, work, freedoms in our homes. This country has truly been blessed, I only wish that those people who choose to come here would respect what we have (which is the reason they came) and not put so much energy into changing our ways.
3. Good Health – There are so many who cannot say that, but I have truly been blessed and cannot deny my thankfulness. Because of this I can enjoy the obvious blessing in life that have been mentiond.
Comment by Marie Olsen — November 5, 2009 @ 10:24 am
Positive attitude…. helps me to receive what I want from life
Eyesight……to see the beauty in the world
My ability to help people….it brings me joy
Comment by Belinda Wright — November 5, 2009 @ 10:27 am
1. Stretchy waist pants- no need to explain that one!
2. Fingernails- How would I ever be able to “pick” things without them!
3. Q-tips- They can be used from anything like crafts to cleaning out the ears!
Comment by Nicole Browne — November 5, 2009 @ 10:36 am
1. My eyesight. Following my accident, I had horrible double-vision for approximately 2.5 weeks. One day, it finally came to a head, and I prayed. Harder that I’ve ever prayed before. I said “God, please, please, please give me my eyesight back. I can handle anything else you throw at me, but I can’t live like this. (this was following an eye-doctor appointment, where the doctors told me to “give it a year to correct itself, and if it doesn’t, we’ll surgically fix it”). I went to the pool for therapy, and looked down at my wife and there was one of her. Only one (when there was previously two). My eyesight was restored!
2. My family. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it through my accident as well as I have, or life for that matter.
3. Life. Period.
Comment by Kyle Baumgartner — November 5, 2009 @ 10:41 am
#1 Thankfull that common courtesy exists and with its existence enables joyful conversation and interaction.
#2 Thankfull for different cultures because with them something new and exciting can always be found.
#3 Thankfull when people remember to do the little things because they start little but their impact is huge!
Comment by SHAWN KEEBAUGH — November 5, 2009 @ 10:41 am
1. Adrian’s Network
2. The ability to read
3. The smile on my down syndrome cousin’s face when I pick him up on Saturdays for lunch.
Comment by Richard Cook — November 5, 2009 @ 10:42 am
Wow, I LOVE this question. I like to keep a Gratitude Journal (http://lifesapprobation.com/accountability/?cat=3) and sometimes it is harder to come up with things to be thankful for. After a bad day the Gratitude Journal can make me feel wonderful and come up with some interesting, “out-of-the-box” things. Today I’m far too high on life (had a great day) to delve so deep for my thanks so instead I looked back over my Gratitude Journal to find three of my favorites.
1.
Thank you, Libra, for products that work. I have a monthly visitor, I’m not too fond of her to be honest, but you help me get through the few days of her unwelcome stay and I appreciate your loyal dependability.
*grins* And since I just thanked a sanitary brand name I’m actually going to give thanks to my monthly visitor too. Making you welcome can be challenging but you know, I am truly grateful for this cycle because it was to the day regular and is a sign of my continued fertility. Since I would like to have another baby I am thankful for the hormones that continue to regulate my feminine function-ability.
2.
I’ll give thanks for sore muscles. That I can feel their ache is a blessing for I can FEEL. That they ache is a blessing for I have used them. My muscles grow stronger and adjust and I am grateful that my body is all it is and all it has the potential to be.
3.
Thank you to mathematicians past for the number seven. It is my favorite number. Numbers are unique and multifaceted. Who could have innovated such a concept as to ascribe visual and verbal associations with numeracy? What an amazing concept to comprehend? I exist so primarily within my creativity that the logic of number-play often eludes me but today I give thanks to the origin of numbers. It must have come from a particularly talented, creative mind.
*chuckles* It’s hard to choose just three and I love how starting on the path of giving gratitude tends to bring to mind so many more things to be thankful for.
Comment by Rebecca Laffar-Smith — November 5, 2009 @ 10:50 am
P.S. @ Drew Tate: I LOVED your one, you need to add two more so you can win!
Comment by Rebecca Laffar-Smith — November 5, 2009 @ 10:51 am
1.My husband’s patience – we had a fight on the evening he was planning to propose, and he still did. It also made me realize my behavior was selfish and I did change for the better.
2.The way my younger son can always make me laugh by doing something inappropriately silly like switching arms in his sleeves.
3.I live in a free country where I can choose how to work, play, and criticize the government. God bless America!
Comment by Karen Josephson — November 5, 2009 @ 11:05 am
1. Today.
2. Family.
3. To have a job.
Comment by Anna Dovenmuehler — November 5, 2009 @ 11:10 am
1. When I get to empty the vacuum bag that’s full – It’s quite satisfying to see all the dirt vacuumed up going into the trash can, and knowing I have clean floors!
2. Stickers that don’t leave marks – I love it when I buy a new frame, or notebook, and I can peel the sticker off with ease, without worrying about it leaving sticky goo or small bits of paper!
3. Notebooks with plain AND graph paper – I have a small notebook that has graph paper on one side and plain paper on the other. I love being able to doodle/be visually creative on the plain side (I am an artist, so this is a necessity), and write to do lists, notes, and things to remember on the graph paper. Then I have everything all in one neat place, and don’t have to worry about extra notebooks!
Comment by Amanda — November 5, 2009 @ 11:28 am
I am thankful for:
Having a brain and the ability to use it to function, to make decisions, to discern right from wrong, to experience joy, to see, to feel; to live!
The ability to protect, provide for and guide my children.
Political freedom of choice; the right to have a voice and make choices
and to live in a free country.
Comment by Nancy Munn — November 5, 2009 @ 11:52 am
The three things I am most thankful for:
1) My Husband’s Return to Health after Life Threatening Complications from Surgery.
2) My Family’s Ability to Rise to the Occasion.
3) Our Ability to Rise Up, Dust Ourselves Off, and Start Over Again.
Comment by Laura Rusiecki — November 5, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
I am grateful to be living in America. My husband and i moved here from south africa 15 yrs ago. Some of the things that others complain about but which we are grateful for is the great service at the post office, quick response from police and fire dept, polite drivers on the roads, fixed roads, and the ability to return goods to stores which we could never do in south africa. Everyday i wake up i am happy to be in this great country where THINGS WORK.
Comment by Tasha Withers — November 5, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
One thing I am thankful for is for having a job that I truly enjoy. As a Special Education teacher, I am blessed with students that make a difference in my life. My students, present and former make me a better person and bless me with unconditional love.
Another thing I am thankful for is the ability to enjoy live music combined with the wonderful talent that others have been blessed with. Without those people having the talent, my life would be much less enjoyable, as I would not have the opportunity to enjoy the talents that others have in this area.
I am also very thankful for the flowers, trees and animals that our world has been blessed with. Mother Nature provides me with constant amazement and wonder. The beauty that I see in the world around me reminds me that life is good and should never be taken for granted.
Comment by Anita Robertson — November 5, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
My dad died this past July, he had cancer. I treated him holistically instead of the traditional chemo/radiotion therapy. He died peacefully and without the need of pain medication… he knew who we all were and reached his hands up as if someone was guiding him. He died a few minutes after I read what is suppose to happen during the last two weeks prior to death… he skipped all the bad stuff. This is what I’ll always be thankful for.
Comment by Denise Dube — November 5, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
I’m grateful for camping trips with my sons when they were small. We’d leave on a Friday Evening after school and head up to Washington Island. During those times we worked together to put up this scrappy old tent, then we’d collect wood and build a fire. We took walks and drives around the island…sometimes we fished and we’d clean and eat what we caught. After the sun set and the marshmellows we’d roasted were consumed, the boys would fall asleep and I’d sit by the fire smoking a cigar, enjoying the quiet. I like to think my son’s appreciation for the outdoors, their spirit of adventure and survival and the love they have for the simple things in this world somehow grew out of those times. Each is expecting their own child in the next months, and I am thankful those children will have parents whose values are positve and soundly based…
Comment by Thomas Plantenberg — November 5, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
Three things that I am grateful for:
1. The struggle my husband and I waged with his brain tumor. The lessons I learned about how to manage the health care system, my own capabilities, even how neurological deficits can manifest themselves, have been invaluable. I was able recognize that my father’s sudden beligerent and eratic behavior was tied to an event. With the confidence to negotiate the health care system, I was able to get him to a neurologist who diagnosed a less common form of Alzheimer’s. I am not grateful that I lost both my husband and father to debilitating neurological disorders, however.
2. The wisdom of my adult children. It is sometimes hard to believe they were once whiny kids. My oldest called me to apologize for all the stuff he and his brother put his father and me through as they were growing up. My youngest is someone with whom I can talk things through. Losing their father when they did has made them wise beyond their years and I am reaping the benefit.
3. Chocolate. I love the fact that as a migraine sufferer, chocolate–the food of gods–will quite often ease the pain. I can say with complete honesty that chocolate is good for my health.
Comment by Mary Kay Wagner — November 5, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
Being a recent college graduate and new to my job, right now I am focused on what it is that has gotten me here today. And, also how to continue to make steps towards success. In thinking about this, I have come to realize that it has to do with three gifts, which I have recieved from my family. They are: the social skills that I learned from my father, the organizational skills that I learned from my mother, and the mediation skills that I learned from my siblings by being in the middle of the two.
I am truly grateful for these skills that I aquired from background, and feel that everybody should keep in mind the gifts they received from theirs. Because, it is these gifts that we often overlook, but are also the ones that tend to be the most deep-rooted in our personalities.
Comment by Katy Beckmann — November 5, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
I am thankful for the mountains – I love to hike and be out in nature and am thankful that there are mountains to go to enjoy.
I am thankful for wildlife – I love to watch the wildlife as they go about their daily business it is calming and refreshing.
I am thankful for the weather – weather adds a little veriety to life that we might not do for ourselves if we had the chance. The sunny days are nice but the days that it is rainy or snowy are nice because they allow one to enjoy the the safe harbor of the indoors.
Comment by Kendra Seusy — November 5, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
Freedom……..going beyond the Constitution the freedom to live where I want and with whom I want.
I had an interesting discussion recently with a business associate from the Middle East, just one of things that
make me proud to be an American is the freedom granted under Fair Housing laws and that our culture allows me the freedomn to choose
my own roommmates too.
Clean air / water/ shelter/ skilled medical care vaccines and drugs.
technology…because in the busy world i can click a connection to a friend or family member anywhere in the work tweet and flick away.
Comment by carol little — November 5, 2009 @ 9:20 pm
I am thankful for Facebook, I can’t believe how easy it is too keep in touch with family and friends. Because of this we just had our first Family Reunion.
I am thankful for Mom’s that Stay Home and teach and love their own Kids. Because this is what will make our future generations better.
I am thankful for sunrise because aside from being beautiful it brings a new day.
Comment by Haydee Morales — November 5, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
1. For my 3 dogs in some countries people are not permitted to own dogs. They are cute and give unconditional love that makes my day.
2. For the freedom to read books and learn skills and ideas that challenge my personal growth.
3. For my sewing machine that provides a creative outlet for my artistic side.
Comment by Glenda DeLillo — November 5, 2009 @ 10:54 pm
Outside the box? Well considering theres so much day to day stuff we all have to be grateful for. Ill have to list what ive learned in the past ten years that has the most impact on me and hopefully others. One – being what this contest is all about. Gratitude! Living in the attitude of gratutude and appreciation of others. We are not separate we are one. Two – their seems to be a new awareness coming to light that allows us all to coexist. For this iam grateful. Three – Let the past go! Considering our current economic climate, forget about what we had and lets be grateful for what we have. Dwelling on the past creates problems. Iam grateful for present. The present is were all the action is!
DJ
Comment by Dan Johnson — November 6, 2009 @ 6:19 am
1) I’m thankful that my teenager knows EVERYTHING! That way if I need to know something i can confidently go to her for the answer.
2) I’m thankful that my days at work are so busy, I don’t have time to think. That makes my day go by really fast and I don’t have time to complain.
3) I’m thankful for all my crazy friends that come to me for advice and troubles about their crazy lives. Because that makes me realize that my life isn’t so bad.
So can you tell i’m in a sarcastic mood? lol
Comment by Evelina Tovar-Karoses — November 6, 2009 @ 8:52 am
I’m thankful for:
1. My friend David Shoup, who inspires me to live with more joy and enthusiasm and positive expectation and humor.
2. My sweetheart Jay Rogers, who is a calm sea of peacefulness for me when I am a whirling dervish of to-do’s.
3. My sister Julie Strickland, whose advice and understanding and lovingly sarcastic sense of humor keeps me from taking myself too seriously.
Comment by Jana Stanfield — November 6, 2009 @ 9:41 am
1) Being laid off in Texas, it brought me to California and have more time for my family, find a great church and meet some good friends.
2) My company taking away my gas card, if not the next day I would not have taken my wife’s smaller car and when she was in an accident it would have been much worse.
3) Getting caught having an affair, it helped reconcile my marriage, brought us closer together and we have not been married over 22 years and are still in love.
Comment by Clifford J. Reynolds — November 6, 2009 @ 10:43 am
I am thankful for water, water, water.
Every time I shower, soak in a hot tub or swim in the ocean I am overwhelmed with the power of water to cleanse and heal. I am also acutely aware of water shortages in Southern CA wher I live and throughout Southwest US, Africa, and the Middle East. I am incredibly grateful for the water I that pours over me or that I can immerse myself in.
I am grateful for water to drink and to cook with. Darfuri refugees have about one gallon of water per person per day for all uses. I cannot imagine managing my hygiene and consumption with only one gallon of water a day.
I live in one of the major “breadbaskets” of the world. Water is required to grow the food and animals that feed a good part of the world year round. I have my own small garden and orchard. Every time I drag the hose around from tree to tree I am thankful that there is water to grow food.
Water is also necessary for many industrial uses. Water is life giving and it is a limited resource. One of the 3 primary causes I am an activist for is to provide enough clean, safe water to sustain life.
Comment by Denise Weissberger — November 6, 2009 @ 11:26 am
-Warm showers! I almost always give thanks as soon as I step under the warm water.
-My workout shoes! I have running shoes, biking shoes and cross-training shoes that all keep my feet/knees comfortable and supported.
-My car! I can go anywhere I want to in comfort and style, with the feeling of safety.
Comment by Bobbi Schmitt — November 6, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
I’m grateful for the people & situations in my life
that have caused me grief because it’s made me look
deeper into myself to surrender what “untruths” I
hang onto about how things and people should be.
I’m also grateful that each moment is a new moment
and that I can be new each moment and that the people
in my life although may seem the same are also free
to be new in the moment. There is great freedom in
living in the continuum of life.
I’m very thankful for each day because every day
is full of miracles. The day is a miracle.
Comment by Meredith Hopper — November 6, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
1. I am thankful for the challenges I face each day. They allow me to learn, grow stronger and hopefully develop solutions to overcome them.
2. I am thankful for my competition. They make me stronger and give me a barometor to measure my successes and failures against.
3. I am thankful that my God was willing to send his only son to sacrifice his life for my sins and the sins of the world, so I might have eternity with him if I accept him as my Lord and Savior.
Comment by David Partin — November 6, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
This has been the toughest year of my life and I’ve learned more about myself and grown as a person more than any other time. When a part of me tries to wish that my year had gone differently I remember that I value the lessons have become a part of me. It’s hard to say I’m glad for the specific instances but I AM truly thankful for the tests of my character, faith and marriage. These tests came in the form of:
1. the early end of my fist pregnancy
2. difficult people and the situations that come with them
3. criticism
Comment by Brittney — November 6, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
Here’s Three for Outside the Box.
Playing Guitar on a SemiTrailer Flatbed for a 1000 people Who were doing Trunk or Treat- I am thankful
Closing Three offices and opening Three offices in a year and a half- I am Thankful.
Surviving the Worst Downturn in Real Estate and having a BEST Month of the year in September which is traditionally not a month to have a record
Comment by Val Rensink — November 6, 2009 @ 3:37 pm
I am grateful to the people in this world. The people in this world teach me more about life and I able glean from their lives and apply the lessons to my life. I am grateful the people have different styles, voices, preferences, that they come in different colors, shapes and sizes. I am forever grateful when I see people who have struggled and who have lived tough lives get a break in life.
I am grateful for the people in restaurants who prepare food for me and especially when I and others don’t get sick for the food. I am grateful to all of the people every where who serve others and who care for others and give their lives or some of their lives back to society.
I am grateful for the earth and the principles that the earth is built upon. I am grate to the laws of the universe, such as: sow and reap, harvest, peace, love and joy. I am grateful for little babies and the way they smell and their newness. I am grateful to couples who have fallen in love and exude romance. I am grateful to old couples who have wrinkles upon their faces that say I love him or her and I still see beauty!
Comment by Robin McGill — November 6, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
What 3 “outside of the box” items are you truly thankful for and WHY?
1. I’m thankful for all the learning I gained. These learnings are from a)all life experiences, b)as a result of shared life with various people I mingled with from my immediate to extended family, friends, teachers, neighbors, bosses, clients, enemies/competitors, critics, politicians, beggars, clergyman, well known artists, etc. and c)types of learning media e.g. books, magazines, radio, televison, movies, etc.
2) I’m thankful for the chance to still see a beautiful Mother earth. As we know that our natural resources is fast depleting I wonder what could we still preserve for the next generation to see and enjoy live and real.
3) I’m thankful for the peaceful surrounding I have now. With the presence of different phenominal events events like, economic recession, pandemic swine flu, natural calamities (typhoon, earthquake, tsunami, etc), wars and terrorism; all these seek terror and fear but I’m grateful that I could still find peace in the place where I’m in today.
Comment by Joy Santonia — November 7, 2009 @ 11:23 am
1. I am thankful for sparknotes.com (cliff notes) which without i would have made an “F” on my essay on Romeo and Juliet.
2. Also, I am thankful for iGoogle’s Spanish Translator which also without i would have Failed spanish I, II, and III
3. Lastly, I am thankful for the wonderfully smart people out there who have brought Cha-Cha (google for my phone) to life!
Comment by Toby Jones — November 7, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
1) Morning blueberry & assorted fruit smoothies – Each time I have one, I know that I have just decided to have a great day. That simple choice reminds myself that when I care for my health the rest of my life takes better care of me.
2) Vintage leather jackets – Each time I wear one, I know that I have decided to live my day with flair. That simple choice to care for my appearance reminds myself that when I look good I feel good and when I feel good I am good.
3) Personal Development Bookshelf – Each time I look at or grab a book to read from my shelf, I know that I have decided to be a student of life. That simple choice to be a student and always strive to learn reminds myself that when I continue to fill my mind with positive, uplifting and success oriented material I become more positive, uplifting and successful myself.
Comment by David Shoup — November 7, 2009 @ 2:36 pm
What a great topic for family dinner conversation!! This is what my family had to say:
Jack (6 years old): our country, a nice home, a good teacher
Cole (6 years old): Ice cream, Wii and the planet Pluto because it is his favorite
Sarah (11 years old): Freedom, that there is no war here IN America, that the wold has NOT come to an end YET!! Me: I am grateful I do NOT have to work, grateful that nothing bad has happened to my immediate family, that none of my family have to go to war.
My husband: a good job, able to still work-out, my beautiful yard!!
Comment by Lynda Hunter — November 9, 2009 @ 8:28 am
1. I am thankful for clients who refer me to their friends and family.
2. I am thankful for the love of my life who is in my life.
3. I am thankful for my two dogs who love me unconditionally and add immeasurable joy to my life.
Comment by Roberta Kayne — November 9, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
I am thankful for the loss of my job. My job ended last December 30, 2008 and I have been getting unemployment ever since. The government keeps extending it and I am glad. I have my five job contacts a week to do (by the way, in all these months, not even one interview) and then I have a house to tend to, a yard and flower gardens, a spouse, two dogs and my grandkids! I am so thankful that the Lord sees me as I am and knows that I don’t need a “regular” job anymore. My spouse and I are both in our 50’s, we have been working forever; I have had two jobs most of the time, since I have only been married three years, and was a single parent of four kids before Jack and I met. Secondly, I am glad that my spouse lost his job of 30+ years at the end of April this year. (he received a $100 gift certificate and a framed picture of the building that everyone signed, and they bought him a cake and let people tell him goodbye…..for his loyalty) He, fortunately, got severence and has just now applied for unemployment; however, he does not need the type of job he had all those years at this point in time. We both need this time to see what God wants for us and where He will lead us next. And, in keeping with this…Thirdly, I am thankful for my dogs. They teach me to slow down, to rest more, and to enjoy life! They are loyal and loving all the time. Each time we rise in the morning or come back from somewhere or go outside, life seems to begin a new for them. They have an amazingly, endless capacity to love and be loved. When you pet them, scratch behind their ears, you can just hear them say, “oh, yea, that’s it, just keep doin’ that and don’t stop, ever! it feels so good!!!” and when it is time to eat, they are so delighted that someone is feeding them and they devour it; they so live in the moment, something we lose when we “go to work” everyday. There is something to be said for those who get up every day and work, and do this their whole lives; however, there is also something to be said for those who don’t. For those who chose to do something else. To march to their own drummer and find a better way to “work and earn a living” than the 8-5 doledrums of everyday corporate America. I want the rest of my life to be better than the first part. I want purpose and deliberateness to be my motivation. I want to have time to love those around me, give as much as I can, and live in the Spirit that has been given to me, that keeps me focused and moving forward without fear. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am thankful….
Comment by Phyllis Sheets — November 10, 2009 @ 2:00 am
As I turn over my 66th leaf, I find myself grateful for vastly different things than I did at 26 or even 56.
1) I’m especially grateful for growing up and living in a country whose mother tongue is English. This language must be one of the most challenging for a foreigner to learn, considering its quirky grammar, occasionally abominable pronunciations, and illogical idioms. Consider two examples: at least six ways to pronounce “-ough” (I brought enough dough to cough through the bough); and the dozens of uses of the word “up” other than the meaning of skyward. The flip side of this coin is that our English is also one of the richest languages on the planet, because of its influences from both Romance and Germanic languages. As a writer, I especially enjoy playing with the flavors of different words.
2) I’m also grateful for my luck of the draw in the gene pool. I own:
a) a brain that is characterized by an insatiable curiosity about the Universe around me, from the infinite to the infinitesimal; a penchant for seeking relationships between diverse elements in it; and an irrepressible desire to write poetry and prose about it;
b) and a body that remains pharmaceutical-free, surgery-free, and physically active in the gym and around the neighborhood.
3) Finally, I’m grateful for some of the “stupid” decisions I’ve made – they’ve contributed to an interesting life. For instance:
a) I allowed my GI Bill benefits to lapse without going back to college to get a Masters Degree, because I didn’t know what I wanted to study, and then “life happened.” That forced me to remain flexible in my job choices: in the last 40 years I’ve been (among other things) a radar operator, hospital room orderly, chiropractic assistant, police radio dispatcher, school bus driver, handyman, radiology transcriptionist, tax preparer and accountant, author, editor, newsletter publisher, life coach, and tutor. What a ride!
b) I chose to leave my full-time career as an accountant in the deepest wave of the current recession without a viable exit plan in place. That choice has helped my wife and me discover what we can truly live without: land-line telephone, cable, DSL, even electricity for a while. Life as a minimalist can clear the head, bring people together in a positive way, and point out new avenues into the future.
THANK GOD FOR IT ALL!!!
Comment by John Steinbach — November 10, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
1) A good mattress to sleep on
2) A good place to exercise, play racquetball, tennis, workout, etc.
3) Utilities that are consitently on, stable and dependable 99.9% of the time.
Comment by Lee Sarver — November 10, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
I am thankful for my senses – sight, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling. We take these all for granted so often and don’t realize how important they are every minute of the day.
Comment by Deb Morse — November 10, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
What 3 “outside of the box” items are you truly thankful for and WHY?
1. I’m grateful for the kaleidoscope of visual treats in the world: the rainbow of colors created at sunset when the light dances off a cloud formation, a yellow crocus as it peeks through the snow in the spring, the vibrating excitement of orange fall leaves against a blue sky, lush gardens bursting with beautiful flowers, the farmer’s market overflowing with colorful vegetables, sensuous brushstrokes on a canvas that artfully meld together, the dimple created by a child’s smile, and the eyes to behold them all.
2. I’m grateful for an orchestra of beautiful sounds: A child’s belly laugh, birds greeting a new day with their songs, “I love you” whispered in my ear by a loved one, the gurgling serenity of a stream as it gently flows by, a Mozart concerto, a cat’s contented purr, and the ears to hear them all.
3. I’m grateful for imagination. There would be no world as we know it without imagination. Every invention, creation, and advancement began in someone’s imagination first: rafts to submarines, telegraph to cell phones, cars to space shuttles, medical advances, computers, theater, art, dance, and music. All are a product of the lively imaginations of creative people. And I’m truly grateful for my own imagination.
Comment by Joyce Cotton — November 12, 2009 @ 10:04 am
1. toothbrushes and floss – this way I don’t have ugly gross teeth
2. contact lenses – my eyes are so bad that my glasses are corkbottles
3. computer programs – adobe elements, coreldraw – I use these in my business
Comment by Caren Durrant — November 12, 2009 @ 10:16 am
I am thankful for
1. my patience – because my 91 year old mother is slowly losing her short term memory and when I spend time with her my patience allows her to repeat her questions and stories as often as she needs to and allows me to still enjoy the time I have left with her.
2. books – books are my vacation spot during a busy stressful week, they’re my solitude when I need self-reflection, they fill my spirit when I’m reflecting on my faith
3. children – because of the newness they bring to life and the innocence of their thoughts and actions. Watching a child learn new things and experiences is refreshing and fun, listening to a young child learn to express themselves with new words and sounds.
Comment by Renee Harris — November 12, 2009 @ 10:21 am
1) I am thankful for the knowledge I have so that when business is down I tap into everything I have learned in this business and get myself going again.
2)I am thankful for those hot shower I enjoy every morning.
3) Most of all I am thankful for the people in the country that know right from wrong!
Comment by Joanna Kilgannon — November 12, 2009 @ 10:23 am
I am thankful for:
1. My great sense of humor
2. Not taking myself too seriously
3. I’m really glad they came up with Coke Zero, so I can enjoy a diet drink that doesn’t taste like crap!
Comment by Bill Loden — November 12, 2009 @ 10:48 am
This year I am epecially thankful for:
1. Being a part of my grand-daughters’ daily life and sharing a very special bond with them..
2. Being “friends” and included in my 26 year-old sons life and activities…
3. A positive attitude!
Comment by Candy Sharp — November 12, 2009 @ 11:52 am
I am thankful when the moon is full and the sky is clear.
I am thankful when it is not raining or snowing on garbage day.
I am thankful for the colors in life: falling leaves, attractive signs on the roadway, even internet sites.
Comment by Patty Blakesley — November 12, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
I am thankful for my down comforter, Real Estate being slow and Arizona’s weather.
1. My down comforter holds me close and snuggles around me and keeps me warm.
2. Real Estate being slow has allowed me to retire at this time, not when I am swamped.
3. Arizona’s warm weather is where my Husband and I are going to. We love the heat not the rain and snow so much.
Comment by Margie Heath — November 12, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
I am grateful for the following:
- For being unemployed for 4 months – by far the scariest thing I have ever had to deal with. I learned that I can get by without as much stuff in my life. And along with this, I am grateful for the Unemployment Office that forced me to apply for at least 3 jobs a week. I had been looking before I lost my job but only sporadically. Being unemployed and forced to look for at least 3 jobs a week is harder than it sounds, but if I hadn’t done that, I never would have considered the job that I now have, which is absolutely the most awesome position I’ve ever held.
- For having a lousy landlord (who was also my former boss) who raised my rent a week before she fired me. If she hadn’t done that, I never would have considered living in a one-room cabin in the middle of nowhere, the most peaceful place I have ever lived in my entire life. I am surrounded by trees and wildlife and only God’s beauty.
- For being left by my husband after 10 years of marriage; I have learned I CAN survive without someone else there. I have found a new self-confidence and deeper satisfaction with myself than I have ever had before.
Comment by Carol F. — November 12, 2009 @ 5:06 pm
1. Skipping – because nothing can make you feel more like a kid instantly and get your heart rate up at the same time…whether it is from office to office or from the car to the grocery store.
2. 3X5 or 4X6 note cards: some of the most profound, life giving, truth telling statements have been recorded on these small cards and when I look at them, I am inspired, uplifted, and encouraged to press on.
3. Eskimo Kisses – because seriously…when my 3yr old (red head) gives them to my husband, my heart melts and gratefulness overflows in ways words can not describe.
Are we only allowed 3?
Comment by Heather Haynes — November 13, 2009 @ 11:54 am
1. I’M GRATEFUL THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS FOR ONLY 2 YEARS, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE ARMY AND SERVE MY COUNTRY.
2. I’M VERY GRATEFUL THAT MY UNDERSTANDING WIFE HAS PUT UP WITH SOME OF MY BAD CHOICES FOR OVER 51 YEARS.
3. I’M GRATEFUL THAT MY 3 CHILDREN AND 10 GRANDCHILDREN LOVE ME REGARDLESS OF MY FAULTS.
PERHAPS THESE AREN’T CONSIDERED “OUT OF THE BOX”, BUT TO MANY READERS, IT MAY NOT BE THE NORM.
Comment by Sid Bass — November 13, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
after deep thought, i can tell you that i am most grateful for;
1. Pizza
2. Wine
3. Humor
Comment by Tommy Harpster — November 14, 2009 @ 5:32 am
I am thankful that I am an animal lover. Can’t imagine my life without animals and I cannot fathom not having a constant sense of wonder, amazement and awe at all I learn about nature and its creatures.
I am eternally grateful that music was invented and that it enriches my life every single day. Songwriters are novelists with huge limitations, yet they manage to tell their stories with brevity and at times breathtaking beauty.
And, finally, I am so grateful that I have become a person who is thankful! I have learned how fabulous it feels to be positive, to acknowledge all the good things in my life rather than dwell on the challenges that come my way. Life is to be treasured and appreciated!
Comment by Cassandra Miller — November 15, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
Telvised Blackhawks home games and the amazing technology that beams it to my television from space.
A really sweet microphone that brings out the silky smooth tones of my voice or my guitar
The wheel – again and again I am amazed at how important this simple invention is in my daily life.
Comment by Ken — November 16, 2009 @ 12:08 am
1. I am thankful I can meet hundreds of people around the world without leaving my home office.
2. I am thankful that the sun sets at night and allows me to have time to reflect, rejuvenate, and replenish for a new day.
3. I am thankful for the rain forests and the beauty and secrets they protect.
Comment by Rhonda — November 16, 2009 @ 8:43 am
I am thankful for:
(1) The ability to communicate thoughts and feelings. Not only can I do so in English, Taiwanese, Mandarin, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language, but also with body language, facial expressions, laughter, smiles, tears, frowns, etc… This ability makes us distinctly human. We would be like robots or zombies without it. What a boring world it would be!
(2) The ability to remember things (neutral, good, and bad)! If we couldn’t remember anything, we would have to learn the same thing over and over again. In fact, we would not be able to learn or even accomplish anything. Good memories bring joy and add value to our lives. They can also inspire us. Bad memories enable us to avoid repeating the same mistakes and can even keep us humble.
(3) The ability to believe/have faith. This is what gives us hope and purpose. It is what motivates us to go on despite difficulties, naysayers, obstacles, tragedies, or setbacks that we may encounter. In short, it is what gives us strength to persevere and improve daily.
Comment by Phoebe Macias — November 16, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
I’m thankful for our Founding Fathers, who dedicated their lives to the creation of a government that would honor God and bless and serve the people of this great nation. I’m thankful for the watchdogs who are currently pointing to the mistakes made that have led us down a dangerous path of destruction. And I’m thankful that God allows u-turns — if we are willing to listen to the watchmen on the walls and go back to basics that will put this country back on the right track.
Comment by MaryEllen Shown — November 18, 2009 @ 10:06 am
The three things I am grateful for are my dog, chocolate and my car.
My Dog – I love it when I pull into my driveway and I see his little face in the window. He gets so excited when I come home. This always makes me laugh and I look foward to it everyday. When I am having a bad day I know that he will always cheer me up.
Chocolate – I love chocolate and this is the best stess reliever. I think chocolate should be considered one of the major food groups
.
My car – What can I say, I love my car. It provides transporation to and from work, grocery shopping, errands, lunch dates, hair appointments, etc and it sure beats walking. Having a car gives you the freedom to drive anywhere that you want plus you can also pick up a friend or family member in need.
Comment by Shauna — November 19, 2009 @ 10:41 pm
The three things I am grateful for are:
1) My husband because when I’m feeling down or start to doubt myself in my career, he is always there to give me the encouragement and support that I need. He always seems to see the positive when I can’t.
2) My two dogs because they always provide that unconditional love.
3) My parents because if it wasn’t for them I would not be here!
Comment by Margarita Ybarra — November 23, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
I am thankful for the TV show Deal or no Deal as it takes me away from the real world just for a little while. The models are beautiful. Also for my DVR that records the show so I can watch when I need it the most. Thankful for one of our stupid cats (that I don’t like) as if can make you laugh when you least susspect it. Thankful to say I can still act like a 9 YO even when I am 50.
Comment by Al Koman — November 23, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
I am thankful that I still look forward to seeing my husband after 25 years.
I am thankful for the hummingbirds outside my window reminding me that life is a beautiful dance
I am thankful I have found my passion in life so that everyday is an adventure
Comment by Julia — November 24, 2009 @ 5:57 pm
1: I am thankful that I live out side of town in the middle of nowhere, because I used to be homeless and would rather be living way out here than out their on the streets in the cold!
2: I am thankful that I have and ungratefull employer, and that it takes me half an hour to drive to work (the graveyard shift), Because with todays economy and the way things are I am lucky to have a job and steady income even if its not what would prefer!
3: I am thankful for the stray cat that I have unoficially “adopted”, who expects me to feed her and let stay inside, because when i get lonley here in the midle of nowhere in the middle of the night and am unable to sleep I can talk to her and have some company!
Comment by William G Anguiano — November 26, 2009 @ 12:25 am