Gratitude Archives - Page 39 of 51

Explaining Is An Art

Posted on July 1, 2021

Some people are really good at explaining their point of view to others. It is a real skill. Explaining is an art that is often overlooked.

People can hear a lot of things but with little benefit. However, with a little tweak and the ability to explain things well, you can really advance the cause.

A great teacher is priceless. Anyone who can communicate well is brilliant in our world. There are so many manuals that don’t work or aren’t accessible. Many seem to be written in a hurry with the finesse of a tank.

Too many people speak but say nothing. When there is still little or no comprehension, you have your work cut out for you. Try to see it differently and describe it through that lens.

This is not simply something you turn on and off at will. Developing this particular skill could be one of the greatest you acquire.

There will always be a place for people who can help others understand. These people are in high demand. Some people just aren’t that good at it though.

If you find someone who can make the complex simple and enjoy doing it, keep them around you.

Explaining is an art. Be an artist.

Action Gratitude Health & Fitness Reframe your thoughts

Early Morning Walks

Posted on June 25, 2021

It’s great to get up early and get a walk in. Most days this process starts at 05:30, which is a quiet time. Early morning walks are great for several reasons.

It’s nice that there are so few people out on the paths. Though, like people in other tribes, like dog walkers and gym goers, you will see familiar faces every day. You have something in common. And it is nice to see others out and getting a little exercise in.

It is also quite quiet as the motorists, boating crowd, airplanes, buses and trains aren’t really underway at that early time.

If you caught my carousel on Instagram yesterday (@scottsthinking), you’ll have seen a few photos and short videos of a recent walk. The birds were plentiful and creating a veritable symphony. It felt a bit like we were in a rainforest or a very tropical setting.

Walking with someone is another benefit. It’s a lovely way to share some thoughts or organise some ideas before the day gets going.

Finally, the temperature is very pleasant at this time of year. Often it is between 10C and 18C. This is ideal for being out and walking briskly.

Of course, sometimes a walk is not on the cards. So today it was an 11km run in a little light, and occasional, rain. I’d been advised to get the book Maverick – A Biography of Thomas Sowell, so that was on the AirPods. It’s fascinating.

Early morning walks are wonderful. Enjoy!

Gratitude Observe Progress Time

Those Days Are Gone

Posted on June 16, 2021

Everything that starts will eventually end. Whether it is a game, a job or even breakfast. Those days are gone and not being revisited.

It is such a strange concept how we see things coming in the future. Then we experience something for a brief moment. Then the moment passes us and becomes ever more distant.

For example, we look forward to a birthday, event or holiday for months. Each day that passes can seem to take forever. Our anticipation grows stronger as we inch closer to the moment. Then we want to capture the moment and keep it forever. And we do, but the intensity tends to fade with time. And it becomes diluted by all the other memories we have.

This struck me while going to pick up my daughter from school the other day. She’ll be able to walk to school on her own in September. Mom and Dad will no longer be required. Those little chats we have and seeing her interact with her friends at the school gate will be things of the past.

These days are coming to an end. I recall the sentiment of other parents with older children. Some were elated to no longer have to be there each morning and afternoon. Others were saddened by the end of the era. I presume many were both. I know I will be.

This is simply the way life is. We all pass through stages. Things start and things stop.

Enjoy every moment you can before those days are gone.

Action Gratitude Reframe your thoughts

Smile And Laugh More

Posted on June 14, 2021

Force yourself to do it if you have to. This idea seems crazy but we can forget to see the lighter side of things. Smile and laugh more because it feels good and others respond well to it.

Sometimes we take life, or ourselves and our situation, a little too seriously. It is easy to do. We can get caught up in the hub bub of daily life and just press on through. But it is so nice to see people smile and hear others laughing. It often makes us want to smile and laugh too. It is a wonderful way to quickly feel better about things.

Think of a fun time you had with a friend recently, or 20 years ago. Hold that thought. Hear the laughter in your mind and feel the giant smile on your face. Maybe you did something that scared you a little. Maybe it felt daring or a bit crazy. You did it though! And you can relive that memory as often as you like. It is free and provides a great feeling.

Think of those favourite songs of yours. Think of the happy ones, not the break up, drown your sorrows ones. Maybe some favourite scenes in some great movies do it for you. A great vacation or an activity you did or shared with others could be the smile trigger. Get five or six of these great memories and moments and write them down. Note a few key words to remind you of each one. Keep it in your pocket or on your phone. Look at it often.

Smile and laugh more. We’ll all benefit.

Financial Gratitude Think About It

Feeling Grown Up

Posted on June 13, 2021

At what point do people feel like an adult? There are many times that people say they feel 18, 23 or 28. Feeling grown up means different things to different people.

Some people feel grown up when they can drive a car on their own. Others are instilled with civic duty, so voting is their grown up moment. For others it could be travel overseas on their own, getting married, having kids, buying a property or having a senior role in a prestigious company.

There probably isn’t just one grown up moment for anyone. Different moments will elicit a range of feelings and emotions. Perhaps they build on each other until you feel you are doing grown up stuff all the time.

There can be a lot to unpack in just how people approach this term. Are you grown up because you are serious or take on a level of responsibility? Owning an impressive house can feel grown up to some. It may depend on what they say ‘grown ups’ do or what seemed to be expected for that group when they were young.

Being grown up may just be moments of taking particular responsibility for yourself, your future and others around you.

Feeling grown up can be a mental burden for some. Remember to let your hair down occasionally.

Gratitude Health & Fitness Observe Think About It Time

The World Is Amazing

Posted on June 6, 2021

Without context this might seem a bold statement to some. However, with historical data one can see the world is amazing and getting better.

Why you might not believe this could be for many reasons. It doesn’t make it less so though. It is certainly how I see the world. There are a lot fewer bad things happening than 100, 500 or 5,000 years ago. In addition, we can see quite a few good things in this era that didn’t exist previously or weren’t as good.

With this is mind, I have been wanting to read Factfulness by Hans Rosling for several years. I received it for my birthday last week and thought I would read a few pages today to see what it was like. Wow! I am really enjoying it.

It is loaded with facts, psychology and ideas. That is my kind of book. It was so easy to read a few pages quickly as it makes sense and I already believe it so there is no convincing needed. Nor is there any rebuttal of the ideas or data as I am already on that same page. In addition, it is great to have it as a reference book with all the data, graphs and charts.

The world is amazing and it keeps on getting better. It is not perfect, and it is unlikely to ever be so. But, it is so much better than 20 years ago, let alone 200.

Action Gratitude

Discovery And Comfort

Posted on June 1, 2021

Do you love trying new things? Some people do, but others prefer their known comforts. Discovery and comfort both have their place in our lives. I imagine that most people would benefit from a little bit of both.

We need discovery to find and try new things. Then some of those things will become our favourites and give us comfort because we know them. However, if we get too accustomed to the known we will miss out on the not known.

Herein lies the conundrum of searching for more, new and novel versus sticking with what is known, safe and easy. Discovery allows us to find things that could bring us greater joy. However, comfort allows us to enjoy and appreciate that which we already have.

Many of us will have a favourite album, book or film. In addition to those, you might have a preferred restaurant, dish or dining companion.

Sticking with a favourite dish in a preferred restaurant eliminates the opportunity of finding something equally enjoyable or even better. Sometimes it is just the idea of having something different that is appealing.

Always searching for the latest, newest or most enjoyable item can also be quite tiring and leaves little time for appreciation. Although it can be rather exciting with many wonderful consequences.

There are upsides and downsides to discovery and comfort.

Gratitude Reframe your thoughts

Deciding What Is Important

Posted on May 31, 2021

What is the deciding factor for relative importance in your life? For most people it is their values. Deciding what is important is an ever-shifting game you play in your head.

Do you remember what was important when you were three days old? Perhaps it was food, warmth and comfort. But when you were eight, 16 and 21, what you prioritised may have been different. I am almost certain that it would have been.

What is valued by a 30 year old is unlikely to be the same as that valued by an 80 year old. Time, location, wealth, health, education and family will all have an impact on what you think is valuable. In addition, what you value can shift as your life shifts or with new information. It is inevitable.

A good way to discover what is truly important to you, is to check how you spend your time. If you spend your time at the pub with friends, family may not be as high on your list as you thought. However, working everyday to bring in the income, so your family can be fed and safe, may take precedence over spending time with them.

Deciding what is important can be tricky and have many layers.

Action Gratitude Health & Fitness Reframe your thoughts Time

Have A Fabulous Day

Posted on May 29, 2021

I love great days. It’s brilliant when everything is firing on all cylinders and everything is feeling right. Have a fabulous day like I did and it will make you feel 10 years younger.

Clear the decks from all responsibilities and go enjoy. Be present and let the day unfold. Attack it with a lively and positive attitude. Let little things slide. Give every moment a smile. Do it even if you would rather flip it the bird. Life zips by as we zoom around the sun.

Take advantage of every moment you have. You will reach a moment in life when it will get quite difficult to do things. Even thinking or remembering could get difficult. So pick a day here and there and dedicate your life to it.

It does not have to be expensive or difficult. We went for a family walk / hike at Box Hill. It was a brilliant day out. We brought water and snacks. So a bit of petrol and a small car park fee were the only costs. Pretty awesome for five people to have a fabulous day.

Use a simple outing to create a great and lasting memory. Maybe book one of these days in every month. I’m looking into it now.

Gratitude Progress

Reaching Magic Numbers

Posted on May 24, 2021

Certain numbers feel good. They look right and have meaning. Reaching magic numbers can make us feel great whether it’s a significant date, time, score, weight, income or something else.

Hitting a certain target is fun and exciting. Roger Bannister cracking the four-minute mile is one of those moments. Three minutes and 59 seconds for anything else is not very stirring. But that barrier, at that time, for that distance, will be remembered by many.

Birthdays have this appeal too. Celebrating one’s 10th, 16th, 40th and 65th birthday seems to have more emotional and social significance than many of the other milestone figures, before, during or after these.

I hit some magic numbers this week which felt good. Yesterday I posted my 500th daily consecutive blog post. Staying with that 500 milestone, my Instagram account has attracted that number of followers from a dozen in January. There may be some relationship between those two milestones.

I’m grateful for all the follows and hope everyone is getting good value from my daily posts. It is interesting to see things grow and develop. It will be nice to see what numbers will be significant in three and six months from now. In addition, I’ll be interested to see what milestones will be reached in 5 and 10 years.

Reaching magic numbers is exciting. What numbers are you getting excited about?