Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post find you all having a great day on this sleepy, rainy Sunday afternoon in my Sweet Home Alabama
Wow! This is the 2nd time in a month I find myself writing Happy Friday on a Sunday! This week the Haslam's were on vacation in Gulf Shores, AL and we drove the 6 1/2 hours home yesterday. I then did pretty much nothing until this morning and now, here I am! :)
Early last week during my quiet time, I started thinking and praying about what this Happy Friday would be. As I did this, the word "Gratitude" came to my mind over and over again. And as it did I started looking for, and giving thanks for, things that were happening in and around me for which I am thankful. During the week, I racked up quite a list...
- I am grateful for early mornings on the beach, watching the sunrise.
- I am grateful for quiet, peaceful moments early in the morning on the beach, watching
ghost crabs scurry about and dig out their holes.
- I am grateful for wiffleball games on the beach with my boys.
- I am grateful for banana boat rides with my boys...and not falling off! :)
- I am grateful for wave runner rides with Landry - flying across waves, yelling and
screaming, saltwater blasting our eyes...and not falling off!!! :)
- I am grateful for the countless times we threw the football and skip ball...and that my boys
still want to do these things with me!
- I am grateful for the nights playing Yahtzee back at our condo...no cell phones allowed at
the table!
- I am grateful for the night at a restaurant where we sat outside...and simply stayed visiting
for 2 hours after the dinner ended.
- I am grateful for those sprinkle donuts...those were amazing!
- I am grateful for a son who loves to cook on the grill and selflessly served his family all
week.
- I am so very grateful for some real quality time with one of my boys who I don't often get
much time with!
- I am grateful for an amazing Bride who selflessly serves everyone, all the time...and that
I convinced her that this was her vacation too, that she didn't have to do EVERYTHING,
and she believed me!!! :)
- I am grateful for the hours of conversation as we drove to and from Gulf Shores.
- I am grateful for the time golfing with my boys and brother-in-law...and everyone stayed
off their cell phones!
- I am grateful that several dolphins came and played right near the shore on our last day.
- I am grateful for the wrestling matches with my boys out in the water...they are getting
so big and strong!
- I am grateful for another fireworks show watched from the beach!
- I am grateful Uncle Phil was able to join us on another vacation!
- I am grateful for the genuine quality time I had praying and visiting with the Lord.
- I am grateful for the time helping Landry digging a massive hole in the sand.
- I am grateful for the time we all spent under the umbrella's just visiting.
- I am grateful for boys that notice when someone needs help or is struggling with something
on the beach and they help.
- I am grateful for those mahi-mahi tacos...A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
- I am grateful for a work family that honored my family and I by allowing us to enjoy our
vacation without interruption.
And these are just the things that immediately come to mind! You see, I have so much to be grateful for...and so do you! We simply have to choose to look for them and, when we do, all kinds of things come flying at us. If only we will look, if only we will choose to have a grateful heart.
Jon Gordon is, in my opinion, a great writer and speaker. He is very passionate about having a heart of gratitude and mentions it often. I found a newsletter he had written on November 20, 2017, titled BECOME A GRATITUDE MAGNET. I want to share a few excerpts from the newsletter with you to hopefully empower and equip all of us to have a grateful heart.
I believe that...
Abundance will flow into our life when gratitude flows out of our heart.
When we live this way we become a gratitude magnet and experience more joy, love, peace, and happiness.
Once I started being thankful for the simple gifts in my life and became excited about the road ahead I experienced a complete different journey.
You can too.
Here are a few ways to start...
1. Create A Gratitude Journal
...write down 5 things you are grateful for. Every day do this and reflect on what you wrote down and why you are grateful for these things.
2. Take A Thank You Walk
You simply take a walk...and while walking you think about all the things, big and small, that you are grateful for. The research shows you can't be stressed and thankful at the same time so when you combine gratitude with physical exercise, you give yourself a double boost of positive energy.
3. Appreciate Others
Take a moment to let someone know that you appreciate them...whatever it is, just be intentional to let them know how much they matter.
4. Give The Gift of Kindness
As you go throughout your day look for opportunities to serve and help others. We often think helping others is about the big things but it's really about doing the little things with a kind, compassionate and grateful heart.
5. Say Thank You And Goodnight
At bedtime reflect on your day, identify and share all that you are thankful for.
Before ending this Happy Friday, I also want to share a few quotes with you...
"Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart." - Zig Ziglar
"A joyful spirit is evidence of a grateful heart." - Maya Angelou
"The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude." - Aesop
"Allow yourself to experience fully every step of the journey, both the joy and the pain. You're alive. Greet the moment at hand with a grateful heart." - Eleanor Brown
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life."- Melody Beattie
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus
"When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears." - Tony Robbins
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great Sunday afternoon, a wonderful week and please stay healthy & well!
Kev
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