by Evan | Jun 22, 2019 | Gratitude
I am sitting here at a very busy brewery on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. The room is filled with people, some playing games, some just having conversations and all enjoying each other’s company. I can’t help but “people-watch”. One of the individuals that has captured my attention is a little boy, no more than 5 years old. This boy is running around the brewery to different tables, talking to different people and handing out high-fives to each group of people he passes, laughing all the while. I think we can learn a lesson from this boy’s attitude.
As a little boy, I am sure he doesn’t fully understand the concept of gratitude – he may have never even heard the word before. However, his display of gratitude is nothing short of inspiring. He seems truly happy to be interacting with others and his surroundings, enjoying life without being dragged down by ‘boring adults’ or not having any fun 5-year old activities. He is making the most of the moment he finds himself in, and I think that’s something that we can all learn from.
The journey of life is beautiful. It can be hard and it can be scary, but nonetheless it is beautiful. So often, I think we are so focused on our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey. We are caught up with getting that promotion, getting into a great school or moving to a new city that we forget to stop and look around us and appreciate all that we are surrounded by. So do that. Stop. Look 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? Or is there a new song playing that you’ve never heard? And in this moment, find something to appreciate. Follow the lead of this little boy. Be appreciative of the situation you find yourself in, no matter how hard or scary – there IS something beautiful around you right now. Notice it, and dwell on it for a few minutes, and be grateful for it.
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. We can be grateful for things that will happen in the future like that promotion, or acceptance into a great school or a move to a new city. But if we don’t appreciate the things that lead us there, we may never get the joy out of life that this little 5-year old boy is experiencing right now. So live in the moment, but don’t forfeit your drive and motivation to get where you want to be. Notice the little things along this beautiful journey you find yourself on.
I think I’ll order another beer now. Cheers, friends.
by Evan | May 22, 2019 | Gratitude, Inspiration
Before we grow up and become “real adults,” those who work a 9-5 job, your “job” is to go to school. From the time we are 3 or 4 years old, playing in preschool, to college graduation or even graduate school for some, we are greatly influenced by our educational system. Education is at the very root of our society and something for which we should all be grateful. But at the root of the education system, is teachers. Teachers have an undeniably large impact on today’s youth and play a huge role in their mental, physical and emotional development. Teachers help to raise children into functioning members of society and provide them with the skills and abilities to be successful as they transition into adulthood.
Yes, teachers will teach students about english, math, science and history, but they do so much more. I’d like to highlight teachers that really teach. I am not talking about teaching the facts in subjects like english, math, science and history – but those that teach us about life. I am talking about the teachers that teach students about respect, compassion, love, honesty, and gratitude. When many “real adults” look back on their childhood and educational experience, they seldom remember the teacher that simply taught english, math, science and history. Rather, they remember the teacher that taught them to be respectful, how to show compassion, how to love others, and how to be grateful.
Personally, as a student who grew up in Chaska, Minnesota, I know I am not alone in believing that our schools had plenty of teachers who made an impact on their students. However, one that specifically sticks out to me as a teacher who really taught his students was Mr. Downs. Mr. Downs was a social science teacher at a middle school in Chaska that had a great impact on my educational experience. Filling each day with laughter and positivity, Mr. Downs fostered a classroom environment that welcomed each student and made them feel comfortable. Through his daily lessons, Mr. Downs conveyed the information needed to successfully pass his class, but he also cultivated a classroom that really focused on becoming the best version of yourself you could be. He taught that honesty is important, respect is necessary and appreciation for the little things in life is what matters. I remember Mr. Downs would play his guitar and sing Bob Dylan’s “Blowin in the Wind,” which students loved. Mr. Downs, along with so many others in the education system, is a teacher who really taught. I am sure I am not alone in my appreciation for the life lessons that Mr. Downs taught so many of us.
Who is that teacher for you? Who is that teacher that really taught? It is important to reflect on these people, because they helped us to develop into the people we are today. Likewise, it is important to recognize the impact current teachers have on today’s youth – and appreciate the life lessons they are teaching our students. Be grateful for these people. Be grateful for teachers who really teach.
by Evan | Apr 8, 2019 | Connection, Gratitude, Inspiration
Life is a beautiful thing – full of excitement, love, pain, and constant change. Change often brings about new opportunities for us to express ourselves, assist others, and find new avenues for us to influence the world around us for the better. Recently, my family has undergone considerable change. From my departure to college three years ago, and my sister following my lead just last year, to the unfortunate passing of loved ones, we have undergone changes that will impact us for the rest of our lives. This is not unusual for families, but it always comes with a certain amount of uncertainty, that can often be scary. However, change can be beautiful, and it is something that I am grateful for.
Throughout this time of change, I have been able to step back and look at the world around me, and more specifically, the people around me. My grandmother has moved from her home of 40+ years and is meeting new people everyday in a new town. My mother has become much more involved in family life, and plays a huge role in the lives of my sister and I, maybe even more so than when we lived together, from 300-some miles away. It has been especially fun to watch my dad change throughout these past couple of years. Recently, he has started to focus on gratitude, using it as a lens through which to examine the world around him and his experiences everyday. Countless times, he has mentioned to me the things he is grateful for – my mother, his family, sunrises and sunsets, a good book and a cup of chai tea on a cold morning. After focusing on gratitude for some time, he had the idea to start a community centered around gratitude – a place for people to share what they are grateful for, and use it as a means for people to take a step back from our busy lives, and notice the things in life that are beautiful. Hence, begins The Gratitude Spark.
My dad started The Gratitude Spark as a way for people to connect and share things that they are grateful for. He hopes that through this focus on gratitude, people will change the way they look at the world. To find the beauty in everyday life, rather than to focus on the pain and negative experiences many of us have. This shift in focus can be incredibly powerful. It is so exciting to see people’s perspectives change after developing a focus on gratitude.
This community is in its infant stages and it is so exciting to see how this group will progress and change as it grows. And I hope that this mindset change can change our communities for the better. If we work together, we can make our families stronger, our workplaces happier, and the lives of others better by focusing on this little thing called gratitude. So, invite your friends, family members and acquaintances to embark on this mindset change with you. Tell them about the impact of focusing on one beautiful thing everyday can have. Let’s see where this takes us!
