Early Wakeup

Today, I'm grateful for waking up earlier than I have been lately. There's nothing quite like the morning sun. As an added bonus, I get to take a bike ride. If this morning is a forecast, today is going to be a good day.

(photo as it appears on http://pksbikeshop.com)

Mind Palaces

Ironically, I don't remember if I've made a post about these, yet. But that's OK. I don't see anything wrong with extending my gratitude multiple times to the same subject. In fact, I would say that's a sign that my perspective is beginning to incorporate mindful gratitude more readily. Just because I've expressed being thankful for chairs once doesn't mean I should never be thankful for them again. 

Anyways, mind palaces. I believe I first came across this concept in the recent popular (and awesome) rendition of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock). When confronted with a puzzling clue, our detective simply retreats into his mind palace where he has stored (seemingly) every fact and bit of information he has ever come across. Essentially, it's a library or filing system for the brain and, ideally, a means to a perfect memory. 

(photo as it appears on http://sherlockianlandscapes.tumblr.com)

Later, I got to explore the concept further and read a first-hand account of developing and training one's mind palace in Joshua Foer's "Moonwalking with Einstein." Over the course of the book, Joshua invites the reader to actively participate and try making his or her own mind palace to memorize a shopping list of about seventeen random items. Wouldn't you know it? It totally works. I read that book three or four months ago and I still remember that list. That's totally insane! My brain was able to absorb and retain a group of random words that I have zero connection with and do so long-term. That is absolutely incredible. I recommend that everyone try it, if only to feel the true power of our minds for a moment. 

It does take some effort and I've only used it a few times (once for a shopping list, and another time to memorize the top ten exports of Russia and the top ten countries to which they export—I decided I should use it for something more relevant to my interests for once). It really works and it's really amazing. I am grateful for these little mental explorations and discoveries of our own abilities. Thank you, mind palaces, for not only making memorizing fun and interesting, but for giving me practical power that I can readily apply to both my personal and professional life (should I choose to harness that power). Here's to a lifetime of expanding our architecture.

Computer

This computer allows me to do so many things that are pretty much essential in this modern life. Most professional and informal contact is conducted by email (or Facebook). I monitor, make adjustments, and control my bank accounts online. I pay many of my bills via the web. My computer helps me keep my translations accurate, organized, and quick. I can research future expenses and products to make sure I'm making the best decision. I use internet learning tools to expand my knowledge and skills. I can buy books, clothes, and replacement toothbrush heads. I can record and mix music (though to be fair, I haven't in a while). This list would go on far to long if I was to sit and write out every single advantage this computer gives me. Honestly, I probably couldn't think of every one.

The point is, this machine is powerful and enables important, everyday functions in my life. Of course I could live without it and be just fine. But would I be able to compete with translators who can turn a project around several times faster than me because I'm stuck using a paper dictionary and writing everything out by hand? Nope. I would probably get very little work because no one would be willing to wait not only for the slower translation time, but for actually receiving the finished product via snail mail (many clients live halfway across the world). This thing makes things much more efficient. And who am I kidding. A few silly cat pictures never hurt anybody, either.

So thank you, computer, for guiding me through life in the 21st century. May you continue to be a tool for good and help me lead a more flourishing life.

Oxygen

It is a beautiful day today. Warm, sunny, no clouds, and a strong breeze. I was walking my dog earlier and I couldn't help but stop and listen to the wind swirling and blowing through the trees, bending them and tousling their long pine needles. I thought to myself that this mundane occurrence is the result of earth's bountiful and magnificent atmosphere—the very one that made life on this planet possible and sustains it to this very day.

That's not just wind blowing about, that's life force. Most of us don't struggle to find enough oxygen to breathe—it's simply everywhere! I don't have to worry whether or not I'll have enough once I set foot out my door or whether I have to order more from the utility company to supply the house (cue sci-fi/dystopian story plot). I step outside and breathe deep, taking in the sunshine and blue skies. Earth is an incredible planet.

Thank you, earth, for giving us the oxygen we need and for making it so enjoyable for it to flow through our hair and fingertips.

Water—Beautiful, Beautiful Water

Today, my wife and I (and our old boxer) went for a little hike in the Florida forests. And sand. There was lots of sand. But that's Florida for you. It wasn't an especially grueling hike, but the sun was out and it was relatively warm for the season. Unfortunately, we didn't bring all that much water. We brought one bottle, but it wasn't much between the three of us. Pretty soon, we were at the halfway point and out of water.

Like I said, it was nothing grueling and it wasn't all that long of a hike, but it made me acutely aware of how much my body needs water and how much I take it for granted. I walk over to the kitchen sink, turn on the faucet, and clean drinking water comes pouring out whenever I please. Same goes for the bathroom sink. Heck, I could even drink the water that comes out of the shower head. I literally bathe myself in drinking water while some people would kill for a weekly ration. It truly is amazing how much I have been afforded in this life. And that's largely what this journey is about—realizing just how much I have and how much I have to be grateful for.


(Cup of cold water, Gunnar Pippel / Shutterstock.com)

So as I sit here, glass of clean water by my side, I am grateful for the access I have—and the access my family and friends have—to this incredible chemical concoction that is H2O. Thank you for nourishing my body and mind and for allowing my cells and organs to do what they need to to keep me going. It pains me to think of others who do not have this access and whose bodies nonetheless require the same H2O that mine does. I hope someday we can come up with a creative and practical solution to the issue of having universally-available clean drinking water. This is a fundamental human need and no one deserves to go through life unsure of whether or not she or he will have enough of it.

Calculator

(photo as it appears on http://geb.ebay.in/g/ImportHubViewItem?itemid=191454821584)

I am grateful for this old RadioShack calculator that I just picked up from my wife's parents. They're going through all of their belonging so they can hold a massive garage sale and I happened upon this little guy the other day. It's nothing fancy, i.e. no graphing function, but it is a scientific calculator nonetheless. This means its going to come in handy as I go through this calculus textbook (finally, a solid calculus textbook!) that I got from a Goodwill not too long ago (which I'm also grateful for). Two solid finds that will enable my intellectual self-exploration. Thanks to both of you.

Vanilla Chai

Right now, I am grateful for this incredibly delicious-smelling cup of vanilla chai that's sitting next to me. It's still brewing and I'm looking forward to that first sip. The warmth from hot tea is always revitalizing and it's a great way to start the day.

(photo as it appears on: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/370421138072237497/)

I'm not sure who grew the tea leaves or vanilla beans, or who harvested them, who drove the trucks that transported them to be dried, who packaged them into those little filter bags or stapled the paper tags to the string, who organized them into boxes and who shipped those boxes across the world, but thank you. My morning is more pleasant because of the hard work you do.