Today, I am grateful that my backpack is clean. While I was working today, I took a little time and sorted out my backpack. I carry this bag pretty much everywhere I go and it tends to build up a lot of junk. Having it nice, neat, and a bit lighter is excellent. For this, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for rhubarb. Rhubarb is such a wonderfully versatile plant. Rhubarb can be used as an ingredient in pies, crisps, and other wonderful recipes. For rhubarb, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for old pictures. This past week I celebrated my 48th birthday and I was able to revisit some old pictures from when I was young. It’s so fun to look at these pictures, remember the fun times we had, and see the faces of those long gone. For old pictures, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful that I am able to read. Books open up whole new worlds and provide access to important information. WIthout being able to read all of this information would be locked away and unaccessable. For the ability to read, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for NHL Playoff Hockey. Go Minnesota Wild! For playoff hockey, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for being able to check things off my to-do list consistently. Over the past year, I have developed consistency by using my checklist to ensure I get things done each day. I have lists for body, mind, and spirit, as well as work and other tasks. Each day I work my way through my critical tasks, get them accomplished, and move on to get more work completed. For getting things done, I am grateful.

Today, my birthday, I am grateful to be alive. I spent the day with my family and had a wonderful day. I am 48 years old and, arguably, in the best shape of my life - at least the best shape I’ve been in 10 years. I feel stronger and better every day. Life is short, and I intend to savor every moment and not waste a single day. For being alive, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for stimulating intellectual conversation. I truly enjoy an opportunity to listen to intelligent people discuss deep and meaningful topics. Not every conversation needs to be an argument to be of interest. The most interesting discussions are not arguments but authentic conversations based on mutual respect. For intellectual conversation, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for Ibuprofen. Regardless of if you have a fever, a headache, or a sore back, Ibuprofen gives relief. Listed by the World Health Organization as one of its “essential medications,” Ibuprofen is used by millions worldwide. Today, I am grateful for Ibuprofen.

Today, I am grateful for yard work. I spent the day outside today, sweating, working, and making my yard look awesome. It was a lot of work, but looking out at my well maintained yard now makes me feel proud. For yard work, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for the farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets are essential and valuable for so many reasons:

1. They allow farmers to bring their produce and goods directly to the consumer. By doing so, they can lower prices and increase profits.
2. They allow for a more diverse set of goods because multiple vendors are all selling different things.
3. The quality is usually top-notch.

For the farmer’s market, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful that I get to go to work every day and do impactful, meaningful work that helps others achieve more in their lives. Many people are very pessimistic about higher education, but education can and does change lives. Education changes the lives of those who can attain higher levels of education and the lives of those who benefit from their expertise. For my work, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for my oldest son Alex. It’s his 20th birthday today! As I get older I find that time goes by more and more quickly, it seems impossible that it’s been 20 years since we brought him home from the hospital. He has grown into an amazing young man. Smart, happy, and full of life. I could not be more proud of the man he is becoming. For my son Alex, I am forever grateful.

Today, I am grateful for my wife’s delicious homemade banana bread. Whenever we have leftover bananas, my wife bakes a loaf of banana bread. Sometimes she adds chocolate chips, sometimes blueberries. No matter how it’s made, it’s delicious. For tasty, mouth-watering, sweet banana bread, I am thankful.

Today, I am grateful for my childhood. I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s in a smallish town in south-central Minnesota. I played outside every day all summer long and was typically gone from after breakfast to before dinner. Just out, running around, playing, having fun. The streets were quiet, the neighborhood was full of other kids, and we always had a game going. I remember riding my big wheel up and down the sidewalk for hours. We weren’t rich, but we never felt poor. For my childhood, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for my mom. She is, without a doubt, the most thoughtful, caring and loving person I know. She always makes sure her kids and grandkids know just how much they are loved and she works to make every Christmas and Birthday as special as possible. For my Mom, I am grateful and blessed.

Today, I am grateful for Minnesota State Parks. There are 75 state parks spread out throughout the state of Minnesota. Each has a unique personality with a variety of features and activities to explore. I’ve visited many (but not all) of Minnesota’s state parks, and each one has been fun, entertaining, and different. For Minnesota state parks, I am grateful.

More information on all 75 of Minnesota’s State Parks can be found HERE

Today, I am grateful for poetry. Honestly, I don’t read poetry as much or as often as I should. However when I do, I find that every emotion can be found. Wisdom, support, anguish, love, laughter, sadness, pain, happiness, and faith can all be found in the written word. My grandfather wrote beautiful poetry and reading it helps me remember him. My favorite poem is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. For poetry, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful that May is Mental Health Month. Working in the Emergency Medical Services as long as I have, I’ve seen many patients suffering from mental health issues, are unable to live everyday lives, and are often seen as outcasts. These outcomes need not be the norm. Mental illness should not have a negative stigma. There should be help available for all who need it. This past week one of my co-workers quit her role as an EMT because of PTSD and the inability to do the job. We all need to be willing to ask for help and talk about our struggles. For Mental Health Month, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for Google Maps. Seriously, I have no idea how any got anywhere without GPS and Google Maps. Today, I had the simple task of getting my son, and his teammates delivered safely to their baseball game at a different school. Getting there proved to be a challenge - even with Google Maps and GPS. We found our way eventually, but I would have been totally lost without the aid of my trusty smartphone and maps. For Google Maps, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for friendly people at the gym. The gym can be an intimidating place. When its busy you always feel like you might be in the way and when it’s slow you feel like everyone is watching you. Finding a friendly face that is willing to help you when you have questions or need guidance is great. More people need to go out of their way to be friendly at the gym and help others. For this, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for getting things done and checking them off my list. Each and every day I ahve a list of items that I need to get done. Everything from exercise to reading the Bible. Each time I get one of these things done, I check it off my list and move on to the next item. For being able to check items off my list, I am grateful.

Today, I am grateful for physical fitness. I have been blessed to have somewhat of a second chance at living a life with a healthy body. In my youger years I started down the road of obesity and ill-health. Thankfully, I recognized where I was headed and took steps to change my path. It was not on my own and I certianly had a lot of help along the way. Maintaining physical fitness and health is a daily battle. Some days I win and sometimes bad habits, junk food, and laziness take over. For phycial fitness, I am grateful.

Gratitude Journal - May 1, 2021 Today, I am grateful for electricity. The power of electricity brings so much into our everyday lives; heat, air conditioning, lights, television, internet, and much more. Many of the modern conveniences we take for granted every day would not be possible without electricity. For electricity, I am grateful.

Gratitude Journal - April 30, 2021 Today, I am grateful for the spellchecker. I spell words wrong all the time and, thanks to my trusty spellchecker, they usually get corrected. Having words misspelled looks unprofessional and reduces confidence. For spellcheck, I am grateful.