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Gratitude For My Father

I’ve been one of the lucky ones. It’s sad to report that there have been many kids that had their fathers abandon them, avoid their responsibilities, or even if around, they might as well as have been gone. Not my dad. He’s always been a family man, balancing work and home life. He doted –Continue reading “Gratitude For My Father”

Gratitude For Self-Directed Learning

When I was in seventh grade, my English teacher was the worst I’d experienced in my life up to that point, or ever since. She had a nickname that seemed to be perfect for her nature – “the Cockroach.” She lectured, condescended, and tested, all without engaging. I didn’t do well in that environment andContinue reading “Gratitude For Self-Directed Learning”

Gratitude For Fantasy Novels

Other than a mystery genre based reading contest in the third grade, I’ve been a solid fantasy and science fiction fan for most of my life. The bulk of my teenage years were stuffed with book after book, sometimes reading two or three books at the same time. I am immensely grateful for these authorsContinue reading “Gratitude For Fantasy Novels”

Gratitude For My Mother

When I mention that I am the oldest of seven boys, I’m asked if we drove our mother insane or if she’d gotten her sainthood. Every time, I answered, “sainthood.” It is not that I think that she’s perfect, as we all have our faults, but her virtues and the sacrifices that she made overContinue reading “Gratitude For My Mother”

Gratitude For Boredom

After work last Friday, I was sitting in front of my tv watching a show and playing a game on my tablet. I was bored. Considering everything going on, that didn’t seem possible. I was tuned in to a show that I liked and binging and the game was enjoyable as well. Yet there IContinue reading “Gratitude For Boredom”

Gratitude For Heartache

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000168 EndHTML:0000012355 StartFragment:0000000438 EndFragment:0000012338 Gratitude For Heartache A quick search of online dictionaries gives a very mediocre definition of heartache. They define it as emotional pain or sorrow. I think it goes much deeper and reflects an emotional wound that a simple salve or bowl of ice cream will not solve. Perhaps this poemContinue reading “Gratitude For Heartache”

Gratitude For Exercise

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000168 EndHTML:0000004548 StartFragment:0000000438 EndFragment:0000004531 I was thirty pounds overweight and uncomfortable in my body. In an upright position, if I attempted to bend over with knees locked, I couldn’t touch my toes. Run for ten minutes without breaking a sweat? Forget it. Try thirty seconds. I had been thinner in my past and hadContinue reading “Gratitude For Exercise”

Gratitude For Friendships – A Second Look

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000168 EndHTML:0000005838 StartFragment:0000000438 EndFragment:0000005821 Aside from family, friends are the most important relationships that we have. I am not talking about “Facebook friends” or some other euphemism, because in the majority of cases, we don’t know those people – we connected through some event or share an emotional experience. The way that I seeContinue reading “Gratitude For Friendships – A Second Look”

Gratitude For Friendships

I am grateful for friendships. Although I am not the easiest person to get along with, I feel deep appreciation for those that care enough about me to stick with me through the hard times. It’s easy to be a friend when times are good and the laughter comes often. I am struck with theContinue reading “Gratitude For Friendships”

Gratitude For Writing Conferences

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000168 EndHTML:0000003585 StartFragment:0000000438 EndFragment:0000003568 I am grateful for writing conferences. I had the opportunity to to attend the Life, The Universe, and Everything Writing Conference in Provo, Utah about two weeks ago. I attended the conference last year and I had enjoyed it then, and I wanted to go again for several reasons –Continue reading “Gratitude For Writing Conferences”