"I felt gratitude wash over me. Not the loud kind. The quiet kind. The kind that settles in your chest and reminds you that something is already good." - YES! As someone who loves to make things better, optimize, and keep growing, this resonated with me. Love this whole post. I am grateful for you.
Couple of thoughts this week (I didn't want to disappoint you.:) First, anticipation....next time you see my boys, ask them what my favorite day of the year is. They will tell you Christmas Eve.....it's about the excitement, joy, family and friends celebrating the anticipation of Christmas...not the actual day itself. I often feel a type of "let down" on the actual day. I agree....anticipation and the "thrill of the hunt" are where it's at for me.
Also, there is a whole science around gratitude and happiness. "Three Good Things" (an exercise in gratitude) is well published in the literature and when done as outlined, actually has the same or better results in serotonin levels than taking Prozac for that same period of time. So, there's an actual measurable physical benefit to practicing gratitude...in addition to the calm, peace, and happiness it may bring mentally in the moment. So, carry on my friend, and while you are, remember I'm grateful for you. :)
Thank you for sharing moments that are offen taken for granted. Precious moments captured with friends, family and love ones in our photo gallery continues to bring smiles on our faces, sets our mind in a different zone as all the memories fill and warm our hearts. I'm grateful for family time, our children, grandchildren and now great grand children. Pictures mean so much to capture those moments in our lives. Tomorrow is not promised to us so as you write, capture those moments, reminisce over them, smile, fill your heart with love.
Live with no regrets, shack hands, hug and embrace, encourage someone, lift someone's spirit.
You're right that life isn't about money or what we have accumulated because when our life is over, hopefully the love we shared, the help we gave, all the special moments we had will remain in people's lives.
Give thanks and praise to our Great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all the blessings He continues to pour out in our lives, shielding us for harm, blessing our health and providing all our needs.
You are truly blessed and I'm thankful how you bring to remembrance to capture those the moment, doesn't have to be special, just the moment(s).
Chris, this post was truly outstanding. I do scroll photos at various times, but I have not made it a habit. That is an excellent suggestion. One of my favorite moments is morning sitting quietly with my wife reviewing emails and discussing various posts and articles in the paper. I intend to take a photo of that tomorrow to remind me of this simple pleasure. I am a big believer in living with gratitude. My wife and I will say to each other, at least three times each day, how we appreciate each other, our friends and our life together. It is such an enriching act. I feel a calming warmth each time we say this.
The reframe of the NSX story is brilliant. Most folks think happiness is in the destination but it lives in the messy middle and the looking back. Capturing those ordinary moments is kinda underrated; once tried a similar practice with voice memos and realized most of what brings real joy isn't even teh big milestones. Gratitude as an interrupt really sums it up well.
I love that reframe. Those little in-between moments are everywhere, and gratitude fits perfectly there. Way better use of that time than doom scrolling.
"I felt gratitude wash over me. Not the loud kind. The quiet kind. The kind that settles in your chest and reminds you that something is already good." - YES! As someone who loves to make things better, optimize, and keep growing, this resonated with me. Love this whole post. I am grateful for you.
That quiet gratitude you described says it perfectly. Thank you, Lara. I’m grateful for you.
Couple of thoughts this week (I didn't want to disappoint you.:) First, anticipation....next time you see my boys, ask them what my favorite day of the year is. They will tell you Christmas Eve.....it's about the excitement, joy, family and friends celebrating the anticipation of Christmas...not the actual day itself. I often feel a type of "let down" on the actual day. I agree....anticipation and the "thrill of the hunt" are where it's at for me.
Also, there is a whole science around gratitude and happiness. "Three Good Things" (an exercise in gratitude) is well published in the literature and when done as outlined, actually has the same or better results in serotonin levels than taking Prozac for that same period of time. So, there's an actual measurable physical benefit to practicing gratitude...in addition to the calm, peace, and happiness it may bring mentally in the moment. So, carry on my friend, and while you are, remember I'm grateful for you. :)
This is such a great reflection. Anticipation and gratitude really do change how we experience life. And I appreciate you and your comments!
Thank you for sharing moments that are offen taken for granted. Precious moments captured with friends, family and love ones in our photo gallery continues to bring smiles on our faces, sets our mind in a different zone as all the memories fill and warm our hearts. I'm grateful for family time, our children, grandchildren and now great grand children. Pictures mean so much to capture those moments in our lives. Tomorrow is not promised to us so as you write, capture those moments, reminisce over them, smile, fill your heart with love.
Live with no regrets, shack hands, hug and embrace, encourage someone, lift someone's spirit.
You're right that life isn't about money or what we have accumulated because when our life is over, hopefully the love we shared, the help we gave, all the special moments we had will remain in people's lives.
Give thanks and praise to our Great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all the blessings He continues to pour out in our lives, shielding us for harm, blessing our health and providing all our needs.
You are truly blessed and I'm thankful how you bring to remembrance to capture those the moment, doesn't have to be special, just the moment(s).
Thank you Chris for sharing your stories.
Regards,
Salvatore Cortese
Thank you, Sal. I appreciate your words and your reminder to give thanks for the blessings and moments we’re given.
Great message. The NSX was pretty cool though.
Agreed - great car, great memories.
Chris, this post was truly outstanding. I do scroll photos at various times, but I have not made it a habit. That is an excellent suggestion. One of my favorite moments is morning sitting quietly with my wife reviewing emails and discussing various posts and articles in the paper. I intend to take a photo of that tomorrow to remind me of this simple pleasure. I am a big believer in living with gratitude. My wife and I will say to each other, at least three times each day, how we appreciate each other, our friends and our life together. It is such an enriching act. I feel a calming warmth each time we say this.
Thank you for your post.
Don, thank you for this. That daily practice you and your wife share is truly special, and a beautiful reminder of what a rich life really looks like.
The reframe of the NSX story is brilliant. Most folks think happiness is in the destination but it lives in the messy middle and the looking back. Capturing those ordinary moments is kinda underrated; once tried a similar practice with voice memos and realized most of what brings real joy isn't even teh big milestones. Gratitude as an interrupt really sums it up well.
So well said. The messy middle is where most of life actually happens. Gratitude helps us appreciate it while we’re in it.
I love that reframe. Those little in-between moments are everywhere, and gratitude fits perfectly there. Way better use of that time than doom scrolling.