Gratitude
This past week, my wife completed her yoga retreat in Japan with her sister, while I debated whether to make the 12-hour drive to our North Carolina house one last time before it sells. Fortunately, the South Florida forecast forced my hand: five days of nonstop rain or five days of 65-degree, mountain-fresh weather. I packed the car and left at zero-dark-thirty and set off for the mountains.
My only gripe regarding the trip is Atlanta traffic, which adds an inordinate amount of time before the final two hours of the trip to the house. So I decided to route my drive through Jacksonville, Florida, then along the back roads of East Georgia into North Carolina. It tacks on about an hour, but trading gridlock for open country—and the freedom to open it up on a winding country road—is well worth it.
In one of my previous blogs, I wrote about the importance of self-care—especially recognizing when your mental health needs a tune-up. Between transitioning from brick-and-mortar to a virtual one, listing our house for sale, and juggling the regular demands of running a business, I was overdue. Full disclosure: I invited most of this chaos. Change is necessary in business and in life, and that only makes a break more essential. My trip to the mountains was exactly what the doctor ordered—time away for clarity, gratitude, thankfulness, and affirmation.
Dinner at our house is typically just my wife and me. We begin with a prayer that goes something like this:
“Dear G-d, thank you for the food we are about to receive, for our blessings and our challenges, and for the strength to navigate them all.”
I provide this only to illustrate that without challenges, we can never know victory. Without noise, we can never appreciate tranquility. Being able to experience all aspects of life’s intricacies allows for an appreciation of the full spectrum life has to offer. Both good and bad. Don’t curse adversity, lean into it and learn from it. It showed up on purpose.
The ride home provided the finishing touches on a week of self-discovery and introspection. Again, I left pre-dawn with the top down, inhaling the smell of forest smoke, fresh-cut grass from the day before, and a whisper of mountain mist. Deep gratitude washed over me—a reminder of how fortunate I am. Truthfully, I don’t give myself enough grace in that regard: I’m almost always in “doing” mode, not “being” mode—and for many entrepreneurs, that’s the deal. You never rest on your laurels… until now.
A few days later, I was enjoying some time by the pool with a friend and fellow entrepreneur who’d heard my mountain-week recap. Toward the end, he paused and asked, “Have you ever considered how far you’ve come?” At that moment, a full-blown “This Is Your Life” montage played in my head—and that became the inspiration for this blog. I’m grateful not for material things, but for experiences: the love I share with my wife, my family and close friends, the team I work with, and the community ONE-FED serves. And more importantly, the journey. And it was at that moment that I was truly thankful for my friend’s words. “Have you considered how far you have come?” Have you?
In addition to my morning meditation—to promote clarity and set a positive agenda—I’ve built a simple daily gratitude routine into my life, and I suggest you do the same:
- Morning “Gratitude Trigger”
Right after you wake (or pour your first cup of coffee), silently name three specific things you’re thankful for. Go beyond basics—swap. I am grateful for my health, for “I am grateful for the way I am able to work out at the gym.” Then, choose one of those items and visualize how you’ll carry its energy into your day. - Midday “Pause & Appreciate”
Pick a natural trigger—refilling your water glass, a calendar alert, or even the ding of an email. Take a deep breath, look around, and acknowledge one small detail you might otherwise miss: the pattern of light on your desk, the smooth click of a pen, or a friendly nod from a colleague. Whisper, “Thank you for this moment,” before diving back in. - Evening “Reflect & Record”
Just before bed, jot down three new things from your day that brought you joy or taught you something—people, moments, or personal wins. Add a sentence on why each mattered: “I’m grateful for the extra sunset light, because it gave me space to clear my mind on my drive home.” Optionally, share one thought with a friend or your partner to double the impact.
By weaving these small pauses into your natural rhythm—morning, midday, and night—you’ll gradually rewire your brain to notice life’s blessings and carry a deeper sense of gratitude with you every day.
