Thankful

As I think about what I am thankful for my mind wanders to the movie American Beauty as Kevin Spacey is on the ground as his life flashes by and he thinks about the happiness he had in his life. From the mundane to the extraordinary, I have so much to be thankful for and so much to be happy about in my life. 

 http://www.movpins.com/dHQwMTY5NTQ3/american-beauty-%281999%29/still-854098176

Let’s start with the extraordinary. I can give two dates that provide the most happiness and thankfulness I have had in my life. The first date is December 22, 2007. The day my wife and I were married. That day forever changed my life. It started to lead me to the realization that I am not so big after all.  I was not the center of the universe anymore because I had someone to share this extraordinary journey of life with. 

 The next day that made me fully realize where I stand in the universe was May 10, 2011. This was the day my son was born. This is the day that changed everything in my life. The only thing that mattered was him. I was thankful when I heard him cry out into this world and it made me see how beautiful life truly is. It was truly a day to be thankful for. 

I know that family, happiness and love are all things that someone should be thankful for because there are many who are without these things. Beyond this though, the mundane things, the little things that can brighten the day are the interesting things that I am thankful for. 

I am thankful that I can still put my headphones on and listen to music and just take time to relax. I am thankful that I can take the time to sit and enjoy an ice cold drink that is hard or soft. I am thankful that I have made it this far and I have made it far enough to see those two extraordinary things happen in my life. I am thankful that I am able to keep moving forward whenever it sometimes seems as though someone is tapping the brakes. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to continue my education and have the opportunity to work hard to provide for my family. 

The list of things I am thankful for could go on and on. Quite simply, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be thankful and the opportunity to live life with people that I love and who love me. There used to be a time that I did not take the time to actually think about what I was thankful for and it was during this time that I was truly not happy. Sometimes the extraordinary things that come into your life are the things that make the mundane things that much better. The extraordinary things make everything brighter, clearer, beautiful and sweeter. And for this, I am truly thankful and fortunate beyond all belief.