Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Friends

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Comments, Conversations, Friends, Great Content, Interaction, social media, WordPress

Today, I’m thankful for my friends.

One of my goals this year is to be more social on platforms like this and get out and talk with people. I’ve been stuck in the house with Dad lately, because Mom is out of town with a friend attending a religious event in Texas. So, while she’s gone, my social activities will be here on WordPress, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, and TikTok. TikTok is a little new for me, but I’m a big fan of Gary V and he is all over this platform. So I’m moving to this new venue to see what’s up.

As for WordPress, I have found so many great people. I enjoy engaging with folks about their postings. I love to read their posts. I enjoy book reviews, travel blogs, the poetry thats out there, and more importantly, the stories.

Some of you have had a real time of it. I try to pass on a little hope and comfort to anyone that is having trouble in their life and use this platform to vent and get it out. It may be painful, but this is a healthy practice. Even if I am only a little part of it, it’s nice to help a fellow human being out when life just sucks.

Anyway, I’m grateful to have found WordPress and very grateful I decided to start a blog back in 2016. I, like most, had no idea what I was doing, and even a little shy about putting some of the things I’ve put on this site over the years. Most of my articles share what I’m doing, what I  have learned, or a great book I’ve read. Other times, I get right down into it, and let it loose.

For those of you, who have left comments, or have interacted with me, even for a brief time during your day–Thanks. It means a great deal to hear from you. Well, readers, keep posting your great content. It’s hard to read all of it, but I do monitor this site frequently throughout the day, and if I see something that catches my interest, I’ll be in touch.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Kind Words and Friendship

Tags

Blogging, Comments, Connecting, Connection, Friends, Friendship, Grateful, Thankful

Today I’d like to thank the thoughtful bloggers that wished me well this week as I fight through a cold. What a wonderful gift.

What I find most fascinating is that small interactions over time can truly turn into a friendship. I know the terms friend and friendship have changed meaning in our new virtual world, but the sentiment is still the same. Friends are people who care about one another. They may not talk every day, but the feeling is there.

It’s interesting. I have been blogging for a little over 3 years and it took me this long to figure it out. You have to engage with other people to open the door to friendship. If you write your blog postings and never interact with other people in the blogosphere, you will likely remain alone, other than the random like here or there. We all love comments and feedback. To get this feedback and receive comments you have to take the first step. At least that is what I have discovered.

So, THANK YOU! Lillie, CrazyKat1963, and K.M. Allan for your kind words of encouragement. I am grateful for our friendship. It truly means a lot to me. And this is where I will end my posting today.

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Family and Friends

Today will be the last day I post to this blog until the 30th of December when I will reveal my 2020 goals and show you the goals I set for 2019 and where I ended up. 2019 has been a great year, filled with learning, service, and growth.

My brother is coming to town tomorrow and I want to maximize the time I have with him while he’s here. We’ll also be going into full “holiday mode”, since we are only 6 days away from Christmas. He’ll be heading back to Arizona on the 29th.

During the holidays I always think about how lucky I am to have a family who cares for one another. I also enjoy knowing that although my friends are far away from me here in Michigan (most of them are in Arizona, California, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, and Nevada), that they are friends. If I show up in town, there’s always someone who wants to get a meal and have a nice chat to catch up on things. It’s nice to know this. It’s comforting.

When I get to the end of the year, I think about all the adventures and experiences the year has given me. It was a great year!

I’m going to cut this article short, because I want to get some other critical tasks completed before my brother comes home tomorrow. That being said, I wish all of you a Happy Holiday season, filled with love, joy, and good times. Thanks for following me this year and thanks for your comments. I really get a kick out of comments to my blog. It’s nice to hear from you. There are a few of you (you know who you are) that I’ve had some good interactions with. Thanks for letting me be a part of your life. It is a real privilege.

With that, I bid you adieu.

Merry Christmas from Dave at Daily Ramblings.

As always, until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Ah, Holidays!

Tags

Christmas, Coffee, family, Friends, Good Conversation, Good Food, Good times, Grateful, Holidays, Movies, Snow, Thankful, TV

Today, I’m thankful for the holiday season. I don’t really care about the gifts and such, but I enjoy relatives visiting, the Christmas lights, the tree, the snow, and all the food that comes this time of year.

This year my brother and sister are coming to town and it’ll be great. We’ll watch movies, talk as a family in the living room, eat out a few times, and maybe even catch a movie at our local movie theater. Then there’s the Christmas dinner, which will be Mom’s recipe for roasted duck! Yummy!!

Obviously, the gifts are fun, but I get a kick out of people opening my gifts, not so much the gifts I get. It’s nice to get people something you think they’ll like. It’s also fun to just enjoy the vibe of the family being together, reminiscing about times past.

I realize we should all be giving to one another all-year long, but because this time only comes once a year, it is special; you know?

I realize for some this is a traumatic time of year. It brings back memories of family members who have passed and the gaping hole they have left in the family. This is just tough and my heart goes out to all of you who are experiencing this. That being said, I would recommend throwing yourself into a charity or volunteering. I’ve always found that when I give of myself, my problems fade a bit. I know this is probably a simplistic solution to your problem, but I wanted to throw that out there, in case you have never tried it. It works. At least it does for me.

Well, that’s it for today. I hope all of you have a great Thursday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – What I am Grateful For

Tags

Friends, God, Goodwill, Nature, Parents, pets, Siblings, Stepdaughters, Wife

I am thankful for the holiday season. I enjoy spending time with my family, connecting with friends, sending out cards, gifts, and all the great food we’ll enjoy together.

I am thankful for the seasonal shows that warmed my heart as a child that are still on television today.

I am thankful for my Mom and Dad, Brother and Sister, Wife and Stepdaughters, Friends and Colleagues, and the spiritual community I am part of.

I am grateful for the bad times when I learn a great deal and the good times when I can rest and lick my wounds.

I am grateful for a safe place to live, enough food to eat, and my health.

I am grateful for what I have and the blessings that sprinkle down on me in every waking moment.

I am grateful for social media and this blogging community. The stories you share are heartfelt, sad, happy, and span the entire spectrum of emotions we have access to. I am also grateful for those of you who have shared a comment on my writings, interacted with me, albeit briefly, and let me peek into your world for a few moments. These moments are precious to me.

I am grateful for the pictures, the tales of your travels, the recipes, the makeup and clothes you wear, the exercise routines you follow, the books you read, and the food you eat.

I am grateful for the battles you fight, the challenges you face, and the victories you achieve.

I am grateful for the authors that write their books for me, the directors that create movies for me, the musicians that create their music for me, and the artists that create their pictures and drawings for me. I am grateful for the poets that expose their soft center to me.

I am grateful for the teachers who have taught me, the mentors that have coached me, and the leaders who have led me.

I am grateful for the dentists, doctors, nurses, and surgeons that have healed me.

I am grateful for the women who have loved me and shared their lives with me. I am grateful for the friends who liked me for who I am. I am grateful for the stranger that lets me jump the line when they see I have little to purchase. I am grateful for the smiles of the young children who give them to me freely.

I am grateful for the pets that have blessed me with their undying love, loyalty, and companionship.

I am grateful for the beauty of nature. I am grateful for the trees that provide the shade during the summer, and gleam with a fresh snow in the morning. I am grateful for the animals that visit us to enjoy the food we put out for them.

I am grateful for the gifts I am blessed with.

I am grateful for this life.

I extend my goodwill to all in the universes of God.

May the blessings be.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Grateful for Retirement

Tags

Blogging, Exercising, Grateful, Gratitude, Joy, Learning, Loving, Reading, Retirement, Service, Writing

When I was in the Army, particularly when I surpassed 10 years of service, I knew I was going to retire. It just didn’t make sense to leave the service and walk away from retirement. Boy, I’m glad I did.

I am grateful for the time I served, and if young enough, and faced with the same choices when I was younger, I’d do it all again. It was an adventure of a lifetime and it offered me the opportunity to do things I would have never had an opportunity to experience any other way.

I served in Europe for 6 years. I was in Berlin, Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. I was at the retirement ceremony for Checkpoint Charlie. I got to see Reagan give his famous “Tear down this wall” speech. So many memories.

Because of my service, my medical care is literally free for life. I had the opportunity to retire early and come home to help my folks. This has been a great thing. How many people get to celebrate their parent’s senior years? Not many. In fact, most people will never retire.

Honestly, I am not retired either. The key difference between my working life and my “retired” life is that I can do what I want. So, I am.

What do I love? I love reading. I love writing. I love exercise. I love serving. I love meeting new people and having impromptu conversations with people. I also love learning. So this is what I do every day.

What is something I discovered pretty quickly? I learned that I couldn’t just hang out and do nothing. Netflix is entertaining, but watching it all day every day—No thanks!

My military experience has bled into this retired life. I need structure. I don’t need a minute-by-minute schedule, but I need to do the same things daily. I do all the things I enjoy each day. I love blogging. I love working on my book projects. I love learning new things. All the things I do every day are an absolute joy. I hope all of you are in a position some day to do the same if you wish to.

So this is what I’m grateful for. My retirement and the new adventure I’ve embarked upon.

Have a great Thursday everybody!

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Grateful = Happy

Tags

Content, Fulfilled, Grateful, Gratitude, Happy, Joyful, Thankful

Gratitude is the topic each Thursday on this blog, because I believe it is important to express thanks for what we have. According to HealthBeat (2019), a product of the Harvard Medical School, Gratitude will make you happier.

If you look at most folks, they are always pursuing more. We can lay credit for this at the feet of the advertisers and marketers who blast our email boxes, fill up our social media, and bombard us with advertisement after advertisement while we watch our favorite sports team. Subsequently, we work harder, to make more money, to buy more stuff, which cause us to go into debt, and work harder, and so on. They tell us we don’t have a big enough home, a newer car, nicer clothes, expensive trips, and a cooler phone. They don’t do this directly. They show us a family enjoying themselves in front of a large-screen TV or walk out of their home to see two brand new cars sitting in the driveway with big ribbons on them. You see how this works?

Gratitude counters this social pressure, but acknowledging we have all we need. We have a roof over our head, food to eat, and a reliable piece of transportation to get us where we need to go. This allows us to preserve our capital because we aren’t spending ourselves into oblivion.

As we approach the holiday season, cultivate your gratitude for all you have, not what you do not have. It is a great way to live life. Here are a few ways you can grow your sense of gratitude in the upcoming months. To start out, just pick one

• Write a thank-you note to one person each month
• Thank someone mentally if you lack the time to write
• Keep a gratitude journal expressing your thanks and appreciation for other people in your life or something you enjoy
• Count your blessings
• Pray (if you are religious)
• Meditate

I dedicate a day each week to discuss gratitude. How to build it, how I do things to build my gratitude state, or express my gratitude for the things in my life.

If you’d like to read more, the article I used for this posting is below.

Thanks for your attention. If you use another technique or if there’s something you are particularly grateful for, feel free to drop me a note in the comments.

Until next time…

Dave

Reference

Healthbeat. (2019). Giving thanks can make you happier. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Laughter

Tags

Chuckle, Funny, Giggle, Grateful, Jokes, Laughter, Satire, Thankful

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin

I don’t know about you, but I love to laugh. I enjoy finding the funny things that occur every day. I also like reading the comics in the paper, finding funny memes, and even catching a comedy show on Netflix or Amazon from time-to-time. It’s a great feeling to laugh so hard you can’t breathe. I don’t reach this level every day, but I do try.

I’m truly thankful for comedy, funny jokes, puns, funny memes, comedy shows, and even the funny animals or fail videos on YouTube. It’s a great thing to laugh. It just feels terrific.

If you’re down in the dumps, stressed out, or in some mental turmoil, take a few minutes to watch your favorite cartoon, read a comic strip, watch a comedy on Netflix or your favorite sitcom. Get those giggles going and you’ll feel a tremendous lift in your mood, even if it is only for a short time.

Bill Burr and Joe Rogan are my go-tos on Netflix. Looney Tunes are my favorite cartoons (I grew up with them). Funny movies? Dumb & Dumber, Caddyshack, and Liar, Liar, to name a few. Comics? I love The Oatmeal. He is a genius. For political satire, there’s The Onion. There are so many funny things on the Internet it would be impossible to list them all here.

Starting today, laugh, giggle, chuckle. Keep an eye out for funny things. Seek them out. Make a habit of laughing. It is a great thing to laugh. I never feel bad when I’m laughing. I hope you strive for the laugh today. It will do wonders for you.

Have a great Thursday, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

 

 

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Life is a Celebration

Tags

Blessings, God, Grateful, Happy Halloween, Harold Klemp, Life, Thankful

“So few know what a love for living means. They’ve put a web around themselves and called it spiritual. Life is a celebration. Some will read that as wanton living, but true celebration is loving God and Its own.” – Harold Klemp – The Language of Soul

This quote struck me today as appropriate for today, because we are celebrating another Halloween. If you do not celebrate today, cool. We celebrate by passing out goodies to the kids that come around to the house. I enjoy watching scary movies and we enjoy the many costumed kids that come to the door.

Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season for me. When Halloween hits, there’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day and then we’re off to a new adventure. It’s also nice because my wife’s birthday and our wedding anniversary is in December too.

I love life. I really do. I enjoy what I do every day; I feel great physically and mentally, and it is a true gift to spend time with my folks in their senior years. Yeah, as a family we have our days, but for the most part, it’s great fun. My Dad likes telling stories about his childhood and my Mom does too. We eat most of our meals as a family and we are all readers, spending most of the “bad weather” days inside combing through our books.

My love of life is spurred by my gratitude. I try to find gratitude for all I do and receive. I am grateful for my family, friends, colleagues, siblings, and God. It is a wonderful feeling to wake up every day knowing that God loves me and every moment I am here is a blessing God has given me to gain experience and learn how to love and serve others. This is simplicity itself.

Happy Halloween! (for those that celebrate)

Have a great Thursday, the last day of October, and get ready to attack November.

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Holiday Season

Tags

Christmas, Eating out, Exchanging Gifts, family, Friends, Good Food, Holidays, Movies, New Years, Thanksgiving

Today, I’m grateful for the holiday season that is fast approaching. My family celebrates Thanksgiving and Christmas. I used to be a big New Year’s Day fan, but frankly, my religious New Year occurs on the 23rd of October, so other than watching the ball drop on TV if I remember, it’s not that big of a deal.

 

I think the best part of the holiday season for me is the ability to just do whatever on these days, eat what I want (think potatoes, cranberry sauce, pies, cakes, and cookies), and hang out with family that comes to town.

This year, my Brother is coming to visit for Christmas. Mom and Dad are obviously excited about their middle son coming home, but so am I and my sister who is also going to be coming up to hang out with us. It’ll be a grand time!

During the times family comes home we gather in our home theater and watch movies, hang out in our living room over coffee in the morning, and go out to dinner once or twice during their stay to give Mom a break from cooking. If my brother comes, it guarantees us to get in some time on the Xbox.

What is so interesting about this venue is the ability to interact with so many people around the globe. What are the holidays you celebrate in your part of the world, and what do you do?

 

Post these in the comments below!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

Until next time…

Dave