So the last word of the three is Gratitude. I think that people do not show enough gratitude for what they have in this world. And it isn't for just material things. I am very grateful for the material things that I have, but more importantly, I am grateful for my family and my friends without whom I would be a pretty lonely person. Each person that I have had in my life whether it be a lifelong family member, a friend for 30, 20, 10 years or even 10 months, has had some kind of an impact on me. Sometimes very obvious and sometimes very subtle. It's these relationships and the experiences with same, that help to shape a person. It's what you learn from your relationships with people and the understanding that you gain of each one that helps to shape the perspective that you take on life. In addition to formal education and what you learn in your professional life, the education that you glean from relationships is much more profound and long lasting. There are people in the world who make a choice to isolate themselves from friends and family, often to the point of becoming reclusive. That is their choice but something I could never imagine doing. I can't begin to picture what my world would have been like without the truly important and special people that have been in my life. Sometimes I lose that perspective and have to remind myself of just how important it is to know that there are people in this world who will listen, those who will support you and be your cheerleaders and coaches, those who will offer criticism, those who will love and trust you unconditionally, those who will walk beside you on your journey, those who advise you and those who will come to you when YOU are the one that THEY need to be that person for them. I am always happy to reciprocate when people ask because my philosophy is "in order to HAVE friends you must first BE one". I didn't always have that philosphy. I spent alot of years having aquaintences but keeping prospective friends at arms length. I was unwilling to make the investment and put myself out there. I am glad that part of me changed.
I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been granted in my life whether it be a divine gift or a reward for hard work, I will never take anything earned or given for granted.
And lastly, the fact that I am allowed the opportunity to get up every morning, that my heart is still beating, I can see, hear, smell, feel, and move is a gift that I am eternally grateful for. For in that gift, I have the opportunity each day to reach out and share MY friendship with the people that I value the most. I have the opportunity everyday to make a difference in someone's life or open the door for someone to make a difference in mine. All of that defines why I chose the word Gratitude to pervade my life during this year. And yes my friend Tom, that includes being grateful for the constructive criticism of my perceived rants.
