Earlier tonight I had an interesting experience. When I went to go out to check on the chicken I had on the grill I found a rapidly cooling grill and two chicken breasts that were about 5 minutes away from being done.

“Son of a…” was exactly what came out of my mouth before I started chuckling at myself. In an instant my quick frustration went to joy. I heard the Facebook comment of my friend Grant go through my head and I couldn’t help but change my attitude.

As luck would have it I wrote a blog about running out of gas while grilling a few months ago. https://thankful4forty.com/2020/07/24/day-1395-thankful-for-another-lesson-in-perspective-my-gas-grill/ When I posted it he made a comment along the lines of “You can even be thankful when you run out of gas?”

When the sudden anger welled up it was quickly quenched with the reminder that this wasn’t the end of the world. Not only that, but a few months ago I was even grateful for running out of gas! As I chuckled I thought to myself, yes, I am thankful for running out of gas. In a heartbeat I realized I was also thankful for the moments in which my gratitude leads me to moments of calm and peace that I wouldn’t have otherwise felt.

Thanks for the comment a few months ago Grant!

For some reason there was a song stuck in my head after our run this morning. It’s a beautiful song, the tune is catchy, and the lyrics are enlightening. The more and more I spend time in thought, in presence, and in gratitude the more this song hits on so many levels. To be clear, not in judgement of others, specifically a reflection of my own thoughts and desires when I’m not as disciplined as I should be, as focused on my purpose as I should be. This song reminds me to stay the path and keep focused.

Society by Eddie Vedder

It’s a mystery to me, We have a greed with which we have agreed, And you think you have to want more than you need, Until you have it all, you won’t be free

Society, you’re a crazy breed, I hope you’re not lonely without me

When you want more than you have, you think you need, And when you think more than you want, your thoughts begin to bleed, I think I need to find a bigger place, Cause when you have more than you think, you need more space

Society, you’re a crazy breed, I hope you’re not lonely without me

Society, crazy indeed, Hope you’re not lonely without me

There’s those thinking more or less, less is more, But if less is more, how you keepin score? Means for every point you make your level drops, Kinda like you’re startin’ from the top, And you can’t do that

Society, you’re a crazy breed, I hope you’re not lonely without me

Society, crazy indeed, I hope you’re not lonely without me

Society, have mercy on me, I hope you’re not angry if I disagree

Society, you’re crazy indeed, I hope you’re not lonely without me

Thanks!!!

PS. This blog has sat untyped for more than a several minutes of silence now. There was another gratitude I was going to share but it’s left my mind. Hmm… Here’s to hoping I remember it and can type about it tomorrow. Cheers!