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 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 | May 9, 2021 | Connection, Gratitude, Inspiration
“To the world, you are a mother, but to your family, you are the world.” —Author Unknown
The second Sunday of every May – oh what a beautiful day it is. It’s the day that the calendar tells us we get to celebrate a certain woman. The woman that has been there from the start. The woman that would trade places with you in a second if you were in harms way. The woman who would do literally anything for you. The woman that gave you the best gift of your life…life itself. But why just one day. There are 364 more days in the year. Why just one? I’d like to invite you to join me in a month-long celebration of that woman – the one that has dedicated her life to ensuring your life is the best it can be – your mom (or your step-mom, or your mother-in-law, or your grandma, or your foster mom, or whoever is “mom” to you).
We all have a special place in our hearts for the woman that we call mom. For me, that place in my heart is immense. My mom is one of two of my life role models (my dad being the other). She has taught me what it means to love unconditionally, to respect completely and to live with compassion. She has been by my side during every challenge and struggle I have faced over the course of my life. She is one of the most selfless people I have ever known. She is the one that taught me, perhaps without even knowing it, what it means to be grateful.
Ah yes…being grateful. It’s something that I’ve thought a lot about over the last few years. In fact, it’s what The Gratitude Spark is all about – viewing life through the lens of gratitude. Luckily for me, that’s one of the lenses through which I see my mom. I am grateful for everything about her – for her dedication, for her selflessness and for her approach to life. I’m grateful for the life lessons she’s taught me, for the connection she cultivated in our family and for the sacrifices she has made for me so many times over the course of my life. I’m grateful for the walks we’ve taken, for the phone conversations we’ve had and the text messages we send on virtually a daily basis. Most of all, I’m grateful for time – time talking to her, for time learning from her and for time spent with her. For me, she is the definition of how I approach gratitude in my life.
I know I’m not alone with those types of thoughts. I have no doubt that you have stories and memories of how your mom impacted your life in the most beautiful and amazing way. So, doesn’t it make sense to honor this woman for more than just one day a year? The answer to that is a resounding yes! If you’re with me on this, let’s make this more than just Mother’s Day – let’s make this “Mother’s Month”. Let’s take the opportunity to shower the moms in our life with love and gratitude each and every day for the rest of May (don’t worry dads – your month is coming in June). Every day, let her know how much you appreciate her for all she has done for you. I think a phone call to let her know how grateful you are that you get to call her mom will simply make her day. Perhaps some unexpected flowers delivered to her home might put a smile on her face. I kind of suspect a hand-written note telling her how much you love her will warm her heart. There is so much to be grateful for when it comes to the woman that gave you life. Whatever it is…whatever that expression of gratitude might be, don’t let it slide. Because, to the world, she is your mother, but to you, she is your world.
by Mike | Apr 20, 2021 | Gratitude, Inspiration, Routines
It’s 5:20 am and my alarm goes off. I hit “snooze” button – just once, not twice, just once. I stretch. I grumble. I get out of bed and head downstairs. I feed the dogs. Same order, same amount of food, same everything. I make a hot chai tea – that’s a must. I take a pitstop on the deck to get my first breath of fresh air. I head upstairs to get ready for work. I come down and make my way to the den, flip open my laptop and dig into tasks for work that day. It will be a rinse and repeat for the next day…and the next…and the next.
Routines. We all have them. I am guessing that, as you read this, you could rattle off your morning routine. It might look similar to mine. It might look completely different. But, I am guessing you have a routine that you hold pretty true to each day.
If you’re not familiar with this concept, routines are widely known as part of a bigger picture in success planning. A “routine” takes a collection of small, sometimes mundane practices and groups them together, and when practiced daily, this grouping of behaviors becomes habitual and not easily lost in minutia.
Which means, the things you fill your routine with are important. If you choose to include things in your routine that are unhealthy, you might find it hard to achieve the success that you’re striving for each day. However, if you take time to include positive practices that become habitual in your routine, well, this can lead you to a whole bunch of goodness in your life.
So, what’s your routine? Think about those small practices that you engage in each day that have become your routine? Confession – I didn’t fully disclose my routine at the start of this article. One of the other practices I engage in each day is incorporating a practice of gratitude into my morning routine. Right between the grumble and getting out of bed to head downstairs I take a minute to think of three things for which I’m grateful – right there, right in that moment.
Having a morning routine protects certain rituals from being overtaken by the need to “get on with your day”. In fact, many spiritual teachings and philosophies highlight the importance of “first thoughts”. It’s no secret that the way in which you start your day often drives the course your day takes.
There are several benefits to inserting gratitude into our morning or evening routine. The beauty of it is that working practices of gratitude into your routine doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. It can be a simple as thinking about one thing for which you’re grateful even before your feet hit the ground in the morning. It can be as simple as writing in a gratitude journal as you enjoy your morning coffee. It can be as simple as a reflection on the goodness of your day as you drift off to sleep.
The best part about all of this is the opportunity for these practices of gratitude to turn into a habit by incorporating them into your routine. Even better, a habit of gratitude can lead to some amazing results.
- You’ll feel happier.
- You’ll boost your energy levels.
- You get healthier.
- You’ll be more resilient.
- You’ll improve your relationships.
- You’ll be a better person to be around.
- It can help reduce depression.
Being grateful shifts the lens from what is lacking or not ideal to what is already present and good. By incorporating the practice of gratitude into our lives, we can begin to reap the emotional rewards of this state of appreciation and gratitude. Recent studies have found that ‘counting your blessings’ on a regular basis not only leads to feeling more optimistic and enjoying a greater overall satisfaction with life, but it can also have some pretty amazing physical and emotional benefits.
So, routines – start a routine….and in it, throw in some practices of gratitude. You’ll be happy you did!
by Mike | Feb 21, 2021 | Connection, Gratitude, Inspiration
“There were many mornings where I would just cry in the shower before work. It was brutal…the position I was put into. However, looking back at it now, I would never take it away.”
“You don’t really have any other option but to be grateful, when you can see “this”, because “that” happened. I’m not saying everybody should have experienced [what I did], but that experience truly catapulted me and gave me the glasses to look through life with positivity, and for that, I am grateful.”
“I started really cultivating this understanding that instead of focusing on what I want and being goal oriented, if I recognize that I’m doing the right things, with the right people, in the right direction, everything will take care of itself. You start taking the focus off of what you don’t have and focus more on what you do have, and that’s how you grow.”
These were just some of the comments I’ve heard during some pretty powerful conversations I’ve had over the last few weeks. I was lucky enough to have these conversations with some amazing guests on “The Gratitude Spark Podcast”. This is a podcast that we just launched on February 1st. Let me tell you – I could not be more grateful for the opportunities this will provide to me to learn, first hand, the ways in which others leverage gratitude in their lives. This has been a dream of mine for quite some time and after months of trying to figure out how to start a podcast and getting over some major personal fears in doing something like this, I have to say, the conversations I’ve had so far, and start of the journey, has been pretty amazing. Shameless plug – if you’re a podcast fan, check us out and subscribe to The Gratitude Spark Podcast..you can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Ok…shameless plug complete.
Anyway…the power of a conversation. It’s a real thing…and something for which I am particularly grateful. I’m a talker. I think this is something that I inherited from my Mom. She can talk to literally anybody. It’s something that I’ve always admired about her. The conversations that we’ve had together are some of my most cherished memories and I look forward with anticipation to our very next conversation. Like her, I view conversations as an opportunity to create a meeting of the minds, to create a common understanding, to create empathy for one another and, most importantly, to create connection.
I think that’s something that we all could stand to do a little more often – seek out connections through conversation. Sometimes all it takes is a quick phone call to a friend that you haven’t spoken to for awhile. Maybe it’s a pit stop on your next neighborhood walk to chat with a neighbor with whom you haven’t had a chance to speak to recently because of your busy schedules…or the frigid February temperatures in Minnesota. Perhaps it’s a conversation you strike up with a stranger in line at the grocery story. For me recently, it’s been the podcast. The conversations I’ve had with guests have provided me the opportunity to build deep connections that will last far beyond the conversation itself.
Whatever it is, know that there is always an opportunity to create an amazing connection through a simple conversation, no matter if it is with a dear loved one or a complete stranger. And in all honesty, isn’t that one of the most beautiful things in life? Building connections? So, maybe today, maybe right now start a conversation with someone. Tell them how important they are to you and the impact they’ve had on your life. Let them know how grateful you are, for that moment, for that conversation, for that connection. I have no doubt it will be a win/win situation for both of you.
by Mike | Jan 3, 2021 | Gratitude, Inspiration
Problems. Three things are certain. We all have them. We all don’t want them. We all know that they often get in the way of living a joyful life. But, the reality is – problems are a normal part of life. A part of life that will always be with us. While our problems might bring new hardships to our life every day, consider this, what if…just what if, we chose to be grateful for the challenges our problems bring to us?
Grateful for our problems? What? Are you crazy? That’s simply ridiculous!!! You might be thinking “my problems are way bigger than yours” or “how could I ever be grateful for all of the chaos my problems bring to my life.” Thoughts like this are not unreasonable. In fact, they make perfect sense. Problems are bad. Gratitude is good. They just don’t seem to go together.
In our Facebook community called The Gratitude Spark (feel free to join by the way!), we were recently talking about the definition of gratitude. One of our amazing members from Australia made a great connection between problems we experience and gratitude for those problems.Imagine for a moment that you and your friends decide to write down all of the problems each of you are currently experiencing and you place them in a big pile in the middle of the table. As each of you start to pull out slips of paper that describe a problem someone close to you is experiencing, I suspect a few things would happen. First, you might feel shock, surprise or sadness about some of the things those close to you are going through. Second, I don’t think it would be too long before you would want to put all of those problems back and stick with the ones you wrote – your own problems – and you’d probably be grateful for the opportunity to do so.
That’s the thing with problems. We don’t often talk about them. We tend to keep them hidden. In fact, everyone you meet might be dealing with problems and fighting battles you really know nothing about. Mahatma Gandhi captured this perfectly when he said “I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.” While your problem might be that you did a poor job on a work assignment, know that there is someone out there that actually has no job. While your problem might be that you aren’t feeling well enough to hang out with your friends, know that there is a child out there that is not feeling well enough to leave the hospital. While your problem might be that your home isn’t as nice as your neighbor’s home, know that there is someone out there that is homeless. It’s all about perspective.
Speaking of perspective, I got a whole bunch of it on a recent walk with my daughter. We were talking about what I was going to write for this article and she said “people always say that we should be grateful for what we have and part of what we have is our problems.” The wisdom and truth behind her words can’t be overstated. We have to own our problems – no matter how big or how small. Some of the slips of paper in that pile of problems on the table are ours. They might not be fun. They might be daunting. But, nonetheless, they are ours.
This leaves us with a choice. We can choose the lens through which we view our problems. We can choose to see our problems as challenges that keep us from a joy-filled life we deserve or, we can choose to see our problems as opportunities when viewed through the lens of gratitude. The beauty is that viewing our problems through this lens will allow us to see them as necessary for incredible personal growth. It will allow us to see our problems as opportunities to push ourselves to new heights. This lens will allow us to address our problems in ways that allow us to become stronger than ever through overcoming the hardships they may bring.
So yes, no doubt the problems in our life can cause chaos and challenges. But, if we take a moment to consider the lessons we can learn from them and the personal growth that can come from them, perhaps it’s not so crazy or ridiculous to be grateful for the problems we experience each day of our life.
