by Mike | Aug 10, 2021 | Gratitude, Inspiration, Regrets
Imagine, for a moment, an older gentleman sitting on his porch. It’s dusk with the sun slowly setting in the distance. The only sounds are the bird chirping, the wind gently blowing through the trees and the squeak from his rocking chair. He is alone, with his thoughts, contemplating life. As we all approach the latter stages of life, it’s not uncommon to contemplate and wonder, to consider our “what if’s”, to think about the regrets we might have, to wonder about how our life might look had we done some things differently.
If I were a betting man, I’d bet money that this gentleman wasn’t sitting on his porch thinking about how much he regretted not spending more time at work or how he wished he had spent more weekends away from his family as he worked toward that next promotion. However, according to Bronnie Ware in her book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, it would be far more likely that our friend on the porch might be contemplating on one of the following:
- “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
- “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
- “I wish I had the courage to express my feelings.”
- “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”
- “I wish I had let myself be happier.”
Pretty deep topics huh? I might suggest that it’s not only in the latter stages of our lives that we might contemplate these types of thoughts. In fact, I’ve had several of these thoughts over the course of my life. However, the beauty of all this is that no matter how old you are, whether you’re a teenager, whether you’re middle aged, or whether you’re in the latter stages of life, we all have the opportunity to live our lives in a way such that we can avoid these types of thoughts. Perhaps all we have to do is approach life a little differently and look at things through a certain lens. Perhaps that lens could be the “lens of gratitude”.
So, work through this with me. What if we took time to be grateful for our own dreams and the pursuit of them? Perhaps then we might find a path that aligns perfectly with our life purpose. What if we were grateful for the opportunity to work, but more grateful for the opportunities that came outside of work? Perhaps then a completely new life path might open for us, one that is consistent with our true passions. What if we took the time to express gratitude and appreciation for our own feelings? Perhaps then we may be able to express them easier. What if we were present and grateful for every interaction with our friends? Perhaps then those friendships could turn into life-changing relationships. And finally, what if we really lived in the moment and noticed, appreciated and were truly grateful for the little things in life? Perhaps then we could find true joy and happiness.
Don’t get me wrong, gratitude isn’t necessarily the cure-all. It doesn’t protect us from wondering about the what-ifs or possible regrets we might experience over the course of our life. But that being said, incorporating gratitude into your life certainly doesn’t hurt. A life lived with a grateful mindset can provide us with a blanket of contentment, a unique perspective that can help us focus on and emphasize the goodness in our lives.
So, won’t you join me in viewing life through the lens of gratitude? That way, instead of sitting on the porch contemplating a life full of what-ifs and regrets, perhaps we can be sitting on the porch with smiles on our faces as we look back over our lives with a sense of contentment, joy and happiness.
by Mike | Jul 17, 2021 | Connection, Gratitude, Inspiration
So, it’s confession time. I’m a big fan of breweries. I just love them. The reason – they are “happy” places. Every time I visit a brewery, I look around to the other patrons and undoubtedly, one thing comes to the surface – happiness. There are smiles. There is laughter. There is friendship. On this occasion, the room is filled with people, some playing games, some just having conversations, but all simply enjoying the company of their friends and family. I just can’t help but “people-watch” when I’m at a brewery, and today, the people-watching activity has me focused on one person in particular today – a little boy, probably no more than 5 years old. This little guy is truly the definition of happiness. He is running around the brewery to different tables, talking to everyone along the way, handing out high-fives to each group of people he passes, laughing all the while. He’s having the time of his life!
As I let this soak in, it hit me that I think we can learn a lesson from this little guy’s approach to life. As a little boy, I am sure he doesn’t fully understand the concept of gratitude – in fact, he may have never even heard the word before. However, his display of gratitude is nothing short of inspiring. He seems genuinely happy to be interacting with others and his surroundings. He is enjoying life without being dragged down by ‘boring adults’. He is not letting the fact that there aren’t any of the typical “fun” 5-year old activities like video games he might find in other establishments get in the way of his happiness. This little guy is truly living in, and appreciating, the moment in which he finds himself. It seems that for him, it’s not about what happened an hour ago, or what might happen later in the afternoon. It’s about right now…this moment. It is lessons like this that we, as adults, can, and should, take as learning opportunities.
The journey of life can be pretty amazing. Sure, it can be difficult, challenging and uncertain at times. There are always bumps along the way – that’s just life. But even with those challenges, life truly is a beautiful journey. Far too often, I think we are so focused on our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey. We are caught up with getting the next “thing” – the promotion, the house, the car. We let the pursuit of what’s next get in the way of allowing us to fully appreciate the moment we are in. We forget to slow down and appreciate all that surrounds us in the moment. We miss far too much goodness in our lives because we are focused on the pursuit of what we think should be next.
So do just that, slow down. Look at the goodness around you. Look at the people around you, those you know, and those you don’t know. Notice the smells – maybe you are sitting by a flower bed or by a kitchen creating delicious food. Notice the sounds – are the birds chirping outside? Is there a new song playing that you’ve never heard? In this moment, find something, anything, to appreciate.
That is what The Gratitude Spark is all about. It is that ‘spark’ that pushes us towards a more gratitude-centered mindset. That gratitude-centered mindset starts in the here and now. It starts in the moment. We can be grateful for things that will happen in the future like that promotion, the house or the car. But if we don’t appreciate the things that lead us there, we will never experience the happiness and joy that is undoubtedly connected to the moments along the way.
So, join me in learning a thing or two from this little 5-year old boy. Be appreciative of the situation you find yourself in, no matter how difficult, challenging or uncertain. There is something beautiful around you right here, right now. Notice it, appreciate it and be grateful for it
by Mike | Jun 24, 2021 | Podcast
It’s a walk down memory lane!!! In this episode, Mike and Gina will be doing a recap of the incredible journeys of gratitude that was Season 1!!! Listen in and learn from some amazing people as we talk about the themes that we touched on over the course of our first season like mental health, entrepreneurship and the workplace, parenting, job transitions, resiliency and life-changing traumatic events. The Gratitude Spark Podcast is about sparking change in our world…and this group of people do just that…in a major way!
The stories of our guests’ are inspiring, uplifting, encouraging…and, of course, filled with a perspective of gratitude that can change the way you approach your life.
In this episode, we remember the challenges and struggles that many of our guests spoke of but also the drive and determination that they all had to make a positive impact on our world through their focus on a grateful mindset.
We were beyond grateful to have had each of our guests share their story this season. It goes without saying that they all embody what this podcast is all about…The Gratitude Spark.
by Mike | Jun 20, 2021 | Connection, Gratitude, Inspiration
It’s hard to believe that it’s already June! We are almost halfway through 2021. With June comes lots of familiar things – rising temps and the lovely Minnesota humidity that comes with those temps. Yard work…oh, the yard work. Bike rides, boating and cookouts. Weekends at the lake. And of course, the day that we get to celebrate the men in our life who have made such an impact, Father’s Day.
Last month I wrote about Mother’s Day and how we might focus on celebrating those women in our life, not just for one day, but for the whole month. The same is true this month, but, now, it’s those men (your Dad, Grandpa, Step Dad – whoever those men in your life might be) that get to soak in the limelight for the month. June is the month that we get to celebrate that man (or men) who somehow, over the course of our life, magically turned into a friend, a role model, a mentor…a superhero.
As I started to think about what to write for this article, my mind drifted back to the many amazing moments I was able to spend with my Dad. So many awesome memories flooded my mind. Playing catch in the back yard literally every time he was grilling. Heading to the lake to go fishing in our little 14-foot Lund fishing boat. Sitting in the living room watching the Twins or Vikings and remembering him just shaking his head and rolling his eyes at the mishaps by our hometown teams. Heading to the golf course – only to get frustrated with my game as I watched Dad drive the ball straight down the fairway on each hole. Going into Brown Printing to hang out in his office and being amazed at how much he knew about all of the massive printing machines.
It’s no secret that society tells us that we are “supposed” to go out to find the perfect gift for that special someone on their day. But, when I was reminiscing about my Dad and Father’s Day, I honestly couldn’t remember anything that I had ever purchased for him. I’m sure there was the proverbial polo shirt that I got him from time to time, maybe some new golf balls, tools maybe? I don’t know. What I do know is that my memories of my Dad on Father’s Day immediately went to the experiences and the moments that we shared together. I really had no recollection of the “things”. And, to be honest, I’m ok with that, and I think he would be too. Those polo shirts, they get old and worn and need to go to Goodwill at some point. Those golf balls will inevitably get lost in the woods or water hazards. Those tools, they are left to sit in the dark garage only to be used from time to time over the course of the year. But the experiences…the moments. Those are the things that will stay with us forever and those are the things for which I am eternally grateful.
Over the past few years, I have realized how truly grateful I am for time. Time is a limited resource for all of us. With time comes the opportunity to engage in real and meaningful experiences and to create those moments that will be with us forever. Time has nothing to do with material “things,” but everything to do with providing us the opportunity to cultivate experiences and memories. So, on this Father’s Day (or any day for that matter), make use of the time you have to spend with that superhero who also happens to be your Dad. If you must, get him the polo shirt or the golf balls, but in addition to that, just “be” with him. Create your own experience, you own moments. I have no doubt that is what you will both remember from the experience – just “being”. And I also have no doubt that you’ll both look back on that experience and those memories with a true and genuine sense of gratitude.
Happy Father’s Day!
by Mike | Jun 15, 2021 | Podcast
In this episode, you’ll learn strategies on becoming a better and more effective leader. We will focus on how an intentional practice of gratitude and a focus on empathy and compassion can change the way you lead within your organization. You’ll hear the story of Carolyn Mozell and how those three things have led her on her journey from being an organizational leader, to coaching organizational leaders.
Holding some of the highest staff level leadership positions in local government for over 20 years, Carolyn learned early on that leadership is a privilege and that it can literally change someone’s life. She’s seen it happen; She’s made it happen. Although she is an entrepreneur who consults and coaches on leadership, communications engagement, and building better business relationships, her previous experience within the government and public sector taught her to be grateful for each day that she got the privilege to use her gift of leadership to improve the quality of someone’s life.
Carolyn is the CEO and President of Leaders Who Connect And Inspire – a coaching and consulting firm that focuses on teaching business leaders how to lead their organizations through compassion, integrity and accountability.
You can learn more about Carolyn and her coaching and consulting work at: https://www.leaderswhoconnectandinspire.com/
