Day 42/365: Being Awake

I woke up early today, some would say too early.  It probably was.  1am marked the start of the day for me.  Normally that would bother me, but this morning I've chosen to shift my focus.  I'm thankful for a few hours to enjoy the quiet solitude.  Thankful for being alive to experience it.

Day 41/365: Filling in the back log

I know I get a little slack when it comes to updating this experiment daily.  I keep a list in my notebook of things to write about but the bigger blog gets more attention from me.  I'm thankful that I can fill in the blanks and flood inboxes and feeds with reasons to be grateful!

To those who are following this experiment, thanks for following along!

Day 40/365: Vulnerability

In a recent conversation with my wife, I realized that I needed to be more open and vulnerable with her. She thought I had it all together and she was the only broken one in our relationship.  She couldn't be more wrong!

I'm thankful that today I got to be vulnerable and that it was a big benefit to us both.  I exercised my humility and we got to know each other better.

Day 39/365: A new school year

I'm a student again!  Thankful for the opportunity to get back to work on my master's degree.  Doubly thankful that I'm going to be in class with friends and studying under a friend.

Day 38/365: Working outside

As a carpet cleaner I'm not usually enjoying the great outdoors.  Today was an exception though.  It was cool, breezy and I got to clean a load of rugs in the shade.  Hard to beat some time to be quiet, enjoy the day, and be productive all at once.  Very thankful for the turning seasons and an opportunity to enjoy them.

Day 37/365: Open friend time

Today I got pretty irritated with several interpersonal interactions and I was really feeling the tension.  Then I had the opportunity to blow off some steam talking with a friend and mentor at Dunkin' Donuts.  It was a real help to have a non-judgmental ear for a few minutes and then to offer some help in return as he plans out the school year as a first time high school teacher.  I am very grateful for Josh and his insight.

Day 36/365: Good Help

I am really thankful for the men that have agreed to serve with me at church.  Since we are nomadic as a new church plant, we have to load our equipment into and out of our gathering place each week.  The guys I recruited have been a joy to work with and have made my job go smoothly.  Big ups to them!

Day 35/365: A day off

I've been running ragged lately working pretty much every weekend.  Today I got to just sit around and recharge.  Super thankful for days off when you haven't had one in awhile.

Day 34/365: Authentic conversation with my wife

Today I'm grateful for getting to have a real conversation with my wife.  We've been growing in oneness a lot lately and I'm loving her more than I did when we were first married.

Day 33/365: Constructive Criticism

Today I'm thankful for thinking people who offer constructive criticism when asked.  That's pretty specific.  I have a project that I'm working on for my main online home that I sent out to some trusted friends for review.  I got a fantastic response from one of them that led to an overall improvement in the final product.  I am supper blessed to have good friends!

Day 32/365: Prayer

I am grateful for the calming and centering effects of prayer today.  To kick off my first staff meeting as a part of Renewal Church, we had a group prayer time.  After a few moments of reflection on the grace I have received, my mind was settled and I had peace.  Thankful for a God who listens and cares.

Day 31/365: A Drama Free Life

As I read other people posting in social media it makes me really really thankful for my relatively drama free life. I try to treat people with respect and I've been blessed to live among people who do the same.  Remember, there are always better things to talk about than other people.

Day 30/365: Laughing Wife

Today I'm thankful for laughing with my wife.  It's fun to tell jokes and be rewarded with genuine smiles and laughter.

Day 29/365: Instrumental Acoustic Guitar

Just found a big collection of Andy Mckee and some other instrumental guitarists.  It's fun to hear some new music, especially stuff that is so relaxing.  I'm finding it really helpful for spending time writing.  I'm thankful for other people sharing their creative ventures for the benefit of the world.

Day 28/365: Small victories

Finding out that I'm helping people reconsider their lives for the better lately has been a really validating experience.  Opening myself up to criticism and finding that it's more helpful than hurtful has been great too.  I'm really enjoying this writing experiment and doing what I can to improve other people's lives.  Very thankful for a growing audience for my thoughts and that they are actually helpful.

Day 27/365: The War of Art

Today I'm thankful that Steven Pressfield sat down and wrote The War of Art.  It's a great book on overcoming Resistance and doing the work you were created to do.  Not the mind numbing, no thinking for yourself cascade of assignments someone else is giving you.  The work that makes your heart beat fast.  Helped me get back in the saddle today and start writing.  About 1000 words later here I am feeling grateful.

Day 26/365: Revelations

Today I'm thankful that everyone is as insecure as I am.  It feels like everyone else has their lives together, when really they are wondering if you have it all figured out.  It's good to know everyone is human and subject to common frailties.

Day 25/365: Friends

Sorry for the momentary lapse.  Today I'm thankful for friends who let you know that people are watching you.  The accountability is invaluable.  It's also helpful to know that you are adding some value by putting some thought into life.  Thanks!

Developing Self Awareness

Working on a self-knowledge project here.

If you'd be willing to help me answer this question in as much or little detail as you would like, please communicate it to me via private message or email or a phone call or a letter or any other medium besides commenting on this post.

What value do I add to your life?

Day 24/365: Conflicted Minimalism

Everyday I am bombarded with advertising.  It tickles the trained consumer in me to buy the newer, bigger, faster, better, something-er thing when I have a completely serviceable item already in my possession.  The fight for minimalism is a daily wrangling of my idol factory of a heart into submission to contentment and gratitude for what I have been given.  I am pretty annoyed with the fact that I can't seem to just settle into minimalism without temptation to own more or better or more expensive things.

In the midst of all that though, I am very thankful to be having the inner fight.

I am grateful for the people who have written a lot about paring down your things and inspired me down the path.  I'm thankful for the tension where I have to be intentional about what I have and where it goes and what I don't have.

Making conscious decisions about possessions that I have had and need to part with or that I have not had and do not need to acquire has been a healthy exercise for me.

Day 23/365: Harebrained Schemes

I am thankful for people who make me think big thoughts today.  I have a buddy who is a constant stream of ideas.  Not all of them are great, and many of them are downright nuts, but it's always fun to spitball them.  We just throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.

Day 22/365: Date Night

Even though we've been living in the same house all week, I feel like haven't seen my wife at all.  Tonight we had date night at Moe's to remedy that horrible situation.  I am thankful for my wife and for some time to spend just talking with her and eating the loophole food of the universe, the Funkmeister.

Day 21/365: First World Problems

I am thankful that all of my problems are first world problems.  There are no clean towels at the gym.  I'm hungry but I don't feel like cooking.  I am also thankful that this has been pointed out to me so I can train myself to quit complaining about first world problems.  No one likes a whiner anyway.

Day 20/365: When annoying things make you adjust your frame of reference

I was supposed to clean carpets today.  My boss left without me.  At first I was highly perturbed.  Then I saw the opportunity to do the following instead for the morning: encourage a friend to get engaged in a local church, complete some important paperwork, drink coffee, line up some more bike wheel building, get some reading done, and repent of my thinking the world should revolve around me.  Pretty productive change of plans!

I'm thankful for yet another display about how the universe is not about me and another gut check on how tiny the things are that I complain about on a regular basis.

Day 19/365: Earning Money Quietly

Today I'm thankful for a buddy who set me up with a way to make some decent side cash.  I'm a wheel builder now!  I can work when I want to, it is a very quiet job, and I don't really have to deal with much nonsense.  These things all make me very happy.

Day 18/365: Partners

Had lunch with the couple that is partnering with us in starting a new small group.  It was a great time and we got some good planning done for the future.  Thankful for them as friends and for the opportunity to think well about doing something important.

Day 17/365: Learning

Today my wife and I enjoyed 4 hours of training on leading small groups in our church.  I love learning.  Therefore I love good classes.  This was a good class.  We're really looking forward to starting our small group.

Day16/365: Good Examples

Some of our friends had a neighborhood cookout tonight for the purpose of getting to know neighbors and be good neighbors themselves.  I'm all for knowing and enjoying people, so I'm thankful for the good example of getting folks together for the sake of community.

Day 15/365: Work

Today I'm thankful that I have the means to earn income to help support my family.  Worked a longish day and am good and tired.  The honest kind of tired that makes you sleep well at night.

Day 14/365: The New Blaster

Today I took delivery of a new pistol, the Smith and Wesson M&P 9.  I decided to make the switch to the M&P series of guns because Glocks eat my hands and my hands eat Glocks.  Thankful that I have the ability to buy something else and that a lot of my stuff has sold to free up some cash lately.

Day 13/365: Monster Biking

Got to go up to Paris Mountain State Park and hit the trails with a buddy.  Rode my single speed hard tail in and his full squish carbon fiber bike out.  Made me want to put all of my stuff back on the full suspension frame.  Had a blast!  I am thankful for the time and for it not feeling as hot as everyone said it would yesterday.

Day 12/365: Iron Sharpening Iron

Just got home from hanging out with a friend's small group at church.  Had a wonderful time of learning and teaching and considering my own heart and its propensity to sin.  Most encouraging thing all night is hearing my wife start to come into her own as a help mate for me.  Friends who love Jesus really help us see ourselves more clearly.

You were right Bruce Milne, "We Belong Together."

Day 11/365: Dan the Man

Today I am thankful for my good friend Dan who is being ordained as a pastor and will heretofore be known only as Rev.

Day 10/365: Reunions

I got to share a meal with a friend I have not seen in a long time today.  It is always good to be reunited with old friends, especially when you get to hear how things are going really well for them right now.  And especially when it involves all you can eat pancakes.

Day 9/365: Solitude

According to Meyers and Briggs I am an INTJ.  That I stands for introvert.  What that does not mean is that I'm afraid of people, don't like groups, am incredibly awkward in conversation or any of those really weird things that come into your mind when you think introvert.  What it does mean is that I recharge my batteries by being alone.

Today my wife was gracious enough to give me some good down time to charge up the batteries.  I am thankful for the time and for my wife being understanding of how I tick.

Day 8/365: Laughing with my friends

Today I'm thankful for good buddies who are funny.  Spent 14 hours with some friends today and we laughed and laughed and laughed.  Good laughing is good medicine.  I'm also thankful for bed because I'm beat.

Day 7/365: Progress

I am a meat head.  I love picking up heavy stuff and putting it back down again.  That being said, I really love it when I can then pick up heavier and heavier stuff more and more times.  Today was a good day at the gym with positive progress made on all of my lifts for the day.  I am super thankful for a body and mind that can stand the strain and grow stronger each day.

Day 6/365: The Endings

Today I am thankful that things end.  In a big sense, it's good that life ends.  In a small sense, it's good that today is ending.  Ends give me a chance to recuperate, rest, recharge, and restart.  Looking forward to tomorrow and beginning again.

Day 5/365: 4th of July Cookouts

Very thankful to have good friends who invite us into their homes to enjoy good eats and fun games.  Is anything more Americana than 4th of July cookouts?  I submit that there is not.  Grateful to have grown up and live in a country where we have the freedom to do as we please in almost every arena of life.

Day 4/365: The In-Laws

Yeah, you read that right.  I love my wife's family.  Enjoyed lunch at her mom's house today with the extended family.  I am very grateful for a good relationship with all of them.

Day 3/365: My wife, the monster

I just got back from the gym with my wife.  We had the place to ourselves this morning and it was a blast.  She just started the Greyskull LP.  My wife is a BEAST.  Her max rep sets have all been above 16 so far.  I am so thankful for a wife who works hard and has heart.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. Pro. 18:22

Day 2/365: Mexican Chili Candy

What is this, I don't even...

Today I'm thankful for my buddy Mike and seeing him eat these things at the lake.  I had a chance to pick up a pack at the local gas station and found that I too enjoy weird candy.  They are pretty spicy, not for the feint of heart.

Day 1/365: One Happy Thing per Day for a Year

I am going to start posting one thing that I am thankful for or that made me happy each day for one year.  This is an attempt to cultivate a spirit of gratefulness and contentment in myself and maybe encourage a few people to follow in my footsteps.

Today:

I got to share breakfast with two good friends at Ihop where I ate a personal best 11 pancakes in one sitting.  We talked about the problem of evil, molinism, and an old lady running a red light and t-boning another driver. I enjoyed it and am grateful for the time.