A few days ago, I mentioned I was traveling to the East Coast for the holidays. I left home around 10:30 am yesterday morning and pretty much drove straight through with a couple of restroom stops, arriving to my final destination almost 6 hours later. When driving long distance like that, creative ideas tend to come flying out of nowhere, which is why I usually bring a pen and pad with me in the car.
At one point, I was thinking, “When I get to Matt’s house (my brother), I will be writing my last gratitude post of the year. What things can I tell the Adversity University community that am I grateful for this week?”
It wasn’t long before thoughts came flying from all different directions, most of which made their way to the blue notebook that was perched on the edge of the passenger seat next to me. Here are a handful of things I managed to scribble while I sped through 4 states:
- Thankful for not only having a place to go and spend the holidays with my family (my brother’s house) but also grateful that I arrived safely after driving almost 400 miles.
- An opportunity for a speaking engagement in Florida materialized last week for January 2008, thanks to the same article on conflict resolution that led me to be invited for an interview on a popular Midwest radio station a few weeks ago.
- Due to the death of the radio show producer’s father-in-law, the above-mentioned interview that was supposed to happen a few weeks ago was canceled; yet it was rescheduled for the first week of January 2008, still giving me an opportunity to be heard by 50,000 listeners.
- Grateful that I continue to receive divine guidance every day.
- One of the readers introduced me to her literary agent upon which I sent a query letter introducing myself. Many agents prefer to receive new clients by referral these days. I’m grateful for the opportunity to at least get my foot in the door with this particular agent.
- Another reader was recently corresponding with a best-selling author, who enjoys a professional relationship with a man who was once my literary agent in 2000. When I found out about this, I knew it was no ordinary coincidence. It was a divine message to get in touch with my former agent so I asked her to forward my contact information to him. Within 24 hours I heard from him, the result of which was a referral to a former editor of Random House who might provide me with professional assistance on my book proposal (needed to snatch an agent and/or publisher). .
- Today (and one day next week) while staying at my brother’s house, I will have an opportunity to meet up with two readers from the Adversity University community for lunch/dinner!
- Some of you may remember a couple videos about my involvement with the “Flight to Hartford” project where I flew a small plane this past summer from Ohio to Hartford, Conn. A couple of videos were posted on this blog about that flight. Aside from the fact that the purpose was to raise public awareness about the capabilities of people with disabilities, the flight made one disabled man’s dream come true. He acted as my “co-pilot” and together we showed the world that dreams come true for those who believe and take action. I was very grateful to have been the pilot of that historic flight.
Food for thought: What are YOU grateful for this week? Did anything significant happen to you this year that you are grateful for?
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6:40 am on December 21st, 2007 1
My airmen Vincent was able to come home to Ohio
for the holidays for this I am MOST grateful. He arrived 12-14 and will be here until 12-27. I have been quite blessed to have him in town 4 of the past 6 Christmases since he joined the Air Force.
Christmas of 2003 he was in Iraq and last year he was in Korea. 2003 was the most difficult of all.
It was the first time I had not had a child home for Christmas, let alone having him in a war zone.
He was 19 that year and had volunteered to go
to Iraq.
Please take a moment to remember all of our US military who are serving not only in the war zones, but also the ones who just can’t be home and the ones who will never return to their family home.
Enjoy your holiday trip Stephen, and my prayers for your
safe travel back to …. Ohio.
8:40 am on December 21st, 2007 2
Deb:
Thanks for reminding all of us about those who are serving in Iraq who aren’t able to come home to be with their families. I’m glad that your son was given the ability to spend some quality time with you and your family instead of being in a war zone.
8:52 am on December 21st, 2007 3
Thanks Stephen…. here’s a link
to a photo of my Air Force ‘kids’.
Vince married Dana in May of 2006. They decided
to part for the holidays. She is spending time in Texas with her family. I would have loved to see her,
but I totally understand and I am thankful for
both ‘kids’ who way beyond their 23 years in age.
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9759/dvrq1.jpg
9:12 am on December 21st, 2007 4
Deb:
Beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing.
5:46 pm on December 21st, 2007 5
I’m grateful for so many things, including the new friends I’ve met through blogging. Merry Merry to you Stephen.
7:45 pm on December 21st, 2007 6
MichelleVan:
Amen to that! In fact, I was just responding to a series of emails from other bloggers that I’ve made friends with. I find it rather enlightening b/c I’ve learned so much from each and every one of them.
What would we do without the blogging world?
8:55 am on December 22nd, 2007 7
I’m grateful for the blogging friendships that have developed in my year of blogging. Yours is one of them.
9:21 am on December 22nd, 2007 8
Karen:
I agree 100% – like I said in my previous comment to MichelleVan, what would life be without the blogging world? Me too–I’m grateful for your friendship too!
8:32 pm on December 23rd, 2007 9
I have so many things to be thankful for that I don’t know where to start. One of the extraordinary things was that I have been able to meet and correspond with you, Stephen. You are a continual inspiration and I am eternally grateful for you and your influence. May God bless you and Merry Christmas.
Chris Melton
http://www.therotater.com
8:39 pm on December 23rd, 2007 10
I’m also grateful for my awesome kids and the fact that they are happy (when they are not fighting with each other) and healthy and that we can live in a great school district where they have lots of opportunity.
I’m grateful that I made the choice to work for myself and that I can be home with them after school and that I don’t have to miss out on any of their life.
I’m grateful to have realized that just about anything in life is possible if we truly believe we deserve it.
I think I can speak for many when I say that I am grateful to have your blog for insight and inspiration!
8:43 am on December 24th, 2007 11
@Chris: And I continue to be grateful that you’ve become such a strong, viable presence at the Adversity University community. While I thank you for thinking of me as an inspiration, I would like to say that I’ve enjoyed watching your success with the “Rotater.” Have you and your business partner appeared on “The Big Idea” show with Donny Deutsch?
@Christine: I love the weekly gratitude posts because it keeps me going, realizing that if we all stay focused on what we have and not otherwise, it helps all of us keep the flame of hope burning. For some of us, that’s all we have, for others, it’s just enough to keep us going. Thank you for joining us today. And of course I’m glad to know I continue to be an inspiration to many.