Growing up around little airplanes and little airports led to a love of flying, for this I am grateful.
Having a grandmother who was born near London, and a great-grandmother who was born in Wales that I was able to spend a great deal of time with, inspired a curiosity in me for exploring the world, for this I am grateful.
I encountered a handful of great teachers, Mr. Snoffer - who left teaching shortly after I graduated and died far too young, Lee Schlicker who taught me the fundamentals of communication. Carl VanHoff who challenged me to read, for all of them I am grateful.
At University there was the stoned young adjunct who exposed me to the fundamentals of writing well, the professor who helped me gain understanding of how my brain works and encouraged me and the adjunct at Rollins who took my writing a step beyond. The lawyer who suggested law school. For all of these I am grateful.
In law school there were a dozen professors who challenged and inspired me, for all of them I am grateful.
Education changed me, and changed my life. I am grateful for the opportunities and the people who made a difference.
At Rollins College, I peeked out of the closet. And I met my Sweet Bear. Rollins changed my life I am forever grateful.
Back in 1980 I ran into a John at McDonald's one morning, we talked, I was having a rough time. He suggested I try a new job, he referred me to someone, who referred me to George and my first real job, my first home builder job. A couple of years later I built my first home. I am grateful for the connections and the opportunities, that built the foundation for where I am today.
I have been relatively healthy, at times neglecting or abusing my being. When I needed it, I have been lucky to have talented doctors, I am forever grateful for Dr. W, and Dr. Z.
I have a good life, and I wouldn't be here, if not for the amazing people and opportunities I have experienced, I am grateful for all of them.
I can only hope, that in some small way, I helped someone, even one person, the way I have been helped in my life.
The last line, you may never know who, but I am sure you have helped many.
ReplyDeleteI have tried
DeleteA few years back, I met you and J. And I’m grateful.
ReplyDeleteAnd we look forward to seeing,
DeleteOne never knows the impact we have on people that have traveled in our orbit. Your post on gratitude was a good one as it prompted me to think of all of the people in my life that have made a difference.
ReplyDeleteGood things to think about.
DeleteI'm grateful for women. My two grands, my mother and my aunt all let me experience what I wanted growing up and they gave me no limits on what to explore. I am grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are still exploring the world.
DeleteIt does the soul a great service to focus on gratitude for who you are and how you turned out.
ReplyDeleteAnd so many times it's teachers.
And every time you speak or write you help someone who maybe hadn't thought about the things you mention.
Thank you, I was thinking the other day, I should write more carefully.
DeleteA great post! This is what life is all about.
ReplyDeleteAnd a warm cat, and fresh baked bread with real butter, and Chocolate, and at this hour of the day Coffee.
DeleteVery nice Sweetie! ❤️
ReplyDeleteI am so lucky I met you.
DeleteI'm sure you have. I think we help people in little ways that we don't even realize.
ReplyDeleteAnd we are helped by doing so.
DeleteA lovely post about gratitude. We all have things to be grateful for. It's good to have a positive post right now, David. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI will work on positive posts.
DeleteAn attitude of gratitude is such a positive way to look at life
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate we are to live here, to have the opportunities we have had.
DeleteYou are an interesting man with a wealth of experiences.
ReplyDeleteAll of us are, when we talk about our lives.
Delete