Thankful for Tracking Activity, Time Off Over the Holidays, & a Perfect Start to 2024

Day 3,017

Growth:

Taking the time to track certain activities can take a little extra time, but it is often well worth it. For clarity, not everything needs to be tracked and logged, only what is most important to our dreams and goals. Also, we have to create time to pause and review those notes to determine how to best adapt and adjust our future actions to live better into our dreams.

As I pause and begin taking time to review 2023 I’m quickly seeing I should have carved out more time for this practice as it always seems to take longer than expected. This evening I started reviewing my reading list from 2023 and quickly caught myself drifting off to the major lessons learned throughout each book (both fiction and nonfiction). Taking time to go through the list of each book I read last year reminded me of so many things and I was surprised to see just how many pages I covered last year (61 books – down from 112 in 2022, but I felt much more balanced).

So much knowledge and wisdom can be drawn from reviewing the past year, but only if we track it. Here’s to doing more tracking and to living more closely into my dreams and goals in 2024!

Appreciation:

For the past handful of years (I think almost a decade or more) I’ve taken the week between Christmas and New Year off to spend time pausing from work. It initially started as a way to watch the boys as they didn’t have daycare & school available. Those days off created some pretty epic memories throughout the years. We’ve worked on projects, gone camping, played games, gone hiking, and have had so much bonus time together. I’m beyond appreciative for the time we’ve been able to share together!

Not only has that time off provided opportunities with the boys, but it has also given Becky and I an opportunity to hang out a little more too. Sometimes an afternoon off, a walk over lunch, and some extra time to head out to see our families.

This year I am also reminded of how grateful I am for the time I have to myself to pause and take a deep breath as I transition from one year to the next. Time to pause and reflect, plan, and reset. When I jump back into work I do so with a renewed fire and intensity as I’ve taken the time necessary to rest and prepare for the next push.

This time off is quickly coming to an end, I’ll be off to bed shortly after typing. As I reflect on it and think about all this time has provided my heart is full and I know I’ll be planning on this again next holiday season.

Presence:

This morning the combination of walking the dog, spending time in the woods, sharing time with family, AND drinking a hot cup of coffee on a chilly morning was magical! Our short-ish walk felt great, allowed time as a family to talk and relax, gave me a dose of fresh air, and was exactly long enough to let me start and finish my entire Yeti mug of coffee. Perfection to start the New Year!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for 3,000 Days of Gratitude: Lessons Learned and Beyond

Today marks an incredible milestone—3,000 days of introspection, appreciation, and growth. As I reflect on this remarkable journey, I’m compelled to share the invaluable lessons these daily reflections have bestowed upon me.

The Genesis of Gratitude

It all began on September 29, 2015, a decision to pause, reflect, and document at least one thing I was grateful for each day. What started as a year-long commitment grew into an integral part of my life, shaping my perspective and mental landscape.

Embracing the GAP: Growth, Appreciation, Presence

The ethos of Growth, Appreciation, and Presence became my guiding compass. Through daily musings on personal growth, moments of profound appreciation, and the power of being present, I’ve nurtured a deeper connection with myself and the world around me.

Top 10 Lessons from a Million Words

Daily Practice Builds Consistency: Small, daily goals culminate in significant achievements. How can we harness the power of consistent, incremental efforts in our own lives?
Create Space: By minimizing “dead time” and dedicating moments to reflection, I found ample time for gratitude amidst the hustle.
Reflection Soothes the Soul: In silence, clarity emerges. Time spent introspecting has been invaluable in navigating thoughts and emotions.
Give Myself Grace: Imperfections aren’t stumbling blocks but stepping stones for learning and growth.
Journaling is Timeless: These daily entries are a gift to my future self and loved ones, an autobiography woven with gratitude.
Appreciation of the Mundane: The mundane holds profound beauty when seen through the lens of gratitude.
Proactive Gratitude Creates More: Actively seeking moments of gratitude amplifies their presence in our lives.
Appreciation in Adversity: Choosing gratitude amidst life’s storms empowers resilience.
Appreciation Creates Intentionality: Observing recurring sources of gratitude helps shape a life aligned with joy and purpose.
Choose Growth, Appreciation, Presence: This triumvirate fuels an upward spiral of fulfillment even in life’s toughest moments.

The 11th Lesson: Endless Gratitude

There’s an abundance of gratitude in the world waiting to be acknowledged. It’s not just about seeing these moments; it’s about pausing to embrace and appreciate them.

Embracing Choice and Intent

Amidst life’s uncertainties, our response remains within our control. Choosing intentionality, growth, appreciation, and presence allows us to bridge the gap between who we are and who we aspire to be.

Join Me in This Journey

To all who have supported this odyssey, your encouragement has been the wind beneath my wings. As I look forward to continuing this voyage, I invite you to share your own stories of gratitude and embark on this journey together.

Let’s choose joy. Let’s choose gratitude. Here’s to 3,000 days and the countless moments of appreciation that lie ahead.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Mike

Day 1,970 – Thankful for the Serenity of Sorting the Gratitudes of the Day

LOL – so I started on my title and ended up writing and re-writing it several times. None of the revisions had quite the right vibe so I’m blowing them all up, deleting the title, and starting with the body. Yes, this is the exact opposite of how writer Carmine Gallo teaches us to start writing a TED talk… thank goodness this is a blog and Carmine won’t be reading this 😉 Forget starting with the point, I’m letting my brain run wild and will come back to the point at the end. {fingers crossed}

Funny, I think I just landed on the topic, it wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but it is spot on. I’m grateful for creating the habit of writing about my gratitude each day. In the past I’ve written similar posts, but it just feels right to focus on it again this evening. As someone once wisely said, “we never step in the same river twice.” Though the topic may have similarities to what I’ve written in the past I am seeing it through a slightly different lens, changed by the perspective of time and experience.

In the past I’ve written about the beauty of having a journal of sorts to go back and rekindle old memories. I’ve also blogged about the peace of having time alone to wrap up the day. This is slightly different, tonight I’m thankful for the ability of writing a daily blog to allow me to sort out my thoughts, emotions, and experiences from throughout the day.

By pausing and reflecting on the day I create an opportunity to let the solids slowly precipitate out of suspension. This is my time to allow my brain to put together the 5,000 piece puzzle of experiences from the day. By writing I’m forced to process the day, think on it, and then translate it into written word. Writing in of itself is difficult, putting words to so many thoughts and ideas can be exhausting. Similar to distance running or weight lifting the exercise strengthens me though it may be uncomfortable at times.

This evening my brain was going to go down so many different paths, but after taking time to pause and reflect there are really only a couple of themes… rekindling and strengthening relationships, creating, moving in the direction of dreams, and pausing to appreciate all the gifts surrounding me – especially life itself. In taking time to process it all today I will be going to bed with a smile and a full heart. My gratitude becomes the lullaby which carries me off to peaceful rest. I sleep with the joy which can only come from thankfulness and stillness.