How can I not be thankful this week?  But before we go into that, here’s a random quote about the meaning of gratitude: (Photo Credit:  Gabo)

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.  Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”  Margaret Cousins

Now, I don’t know who Margaret was but think about what she said.   Imagine if you expressed appreciation with a simple smile for a stranger.  You have no way of knowing if that person was on the brink of committing suicide but decided to give it another chance just because you warmed his/her heart with a genuine smile.  What’s not to like about that?

“Putting gratitude into words is all that is necessary.”

Wow.  I won’t even try to analyze that so let me get to it and put my gratitude into words right now!

Received a Card of Encouragement!

Among many envelopes that came in today’s mail, there was one from Chris and Lisa Cree at Success Creeations.  I met them at SOBCon08 in Chicago earlier this year (blogging conference).

While we were there, we didn’t have much of a chance to talk but when we did, we made an instant connection.  We kept in touch, saying hello here and there but that’s about it.

So when I saw their names on the return portion of the envelope, it made me more then curious.  What could they possibly be sending me?  I knew it wasn’t a wedding invitation.

I ripped it open and pulled out what you see in the photo.

I was absolutely floored.  Then I started crying river of gratitude tears.  Ladies and gentlemen, never has anyone done something so creative for me like that!

Chris just wanted to let me know they were encouraging me on my “Tim Ferris Diet” 30 day experiment.  WoW.   I’m telling you, while I’ve received many cards over the years, with many of them touching me, this one really hit it out of the park!

I’ll never, ever forget this unusual gesture of encouragement for as long as I live.

Had I been a gazabillionaire and they  were trying to get my business or something, I would have been on my private jet as fast as I could and taken them to Europe for dinner!

Now imagine you doing that for people who you want to do business with.  Think about how they’d feel.

Thank YOU Chris and Lisa for making my day with your love and encouragement.  We’ll be doing business soon, although I don’t know in what shape or form.  You’ve already formed a lasting bond with me with this incredible gesture.  Unbelievable.

Your gorgeous card touched me deeply.  Very deeply.

Politics and Obama

Adversity University has never been and probably never will be a political blog.  But I have to admit I am fascinated with the political process and love watching people like Obama come out of obscurity to cinch the presidential nomination against impossible odds.

In a way, he and I have something in common because both of us have had to work our way through obstacles (mostly other people’s beliefs and perceptions about our ability to do something).  Sound familiar?  Me and my next-to-impossible aviation/Wall Street dreams?  Obama and his next-to-impossible political dreams?  Yep, you got it.

I definitely don’t care for negative attacks politicians hurl against one another like a bunch of bullies in the playground.  In fact, it embarrasses me that grown men and women feel they need to resort to that sort of verbal violence to “win.”   (Photo credit:  jmtimages)

Unfortunately there’s always been an audience for that kind of behavior but I do believe, thanks to Obama, that the tide is slowly but surely turning.  A seed has been planted.  Yes, he will use Joe Biden as his “attack dog” but Obama has set things in motion by taking the high road throughout his campaign and setting an example for the rest of the world.

This is why I think he will have the courage to change things and bring people together after he takes office.

At any rate, I’m grateful to watch history being made with Obama cinching the presidential nomination because it goes to show that while racism and hatred are still ever present in certain parts of America, there’s always hope.  Not only that, but the American Dream that we speak of is still alive and well.  That, to me folks, is incredibly encouraging.  It means that if any of us have a dream, it’s entirely possible to go after it despite the astronomical odds that might be stacked against us.

Of course, you have to want whatever it is you want badly enough to endure whatever comes at you like what happened to Obama.  He’s endured so much adversity, it’s unbelievable.  I often wondered how he slept at night with all these things happening.  Incredible.

This week’s gratitude post is dedicated to my hero, Obama Barack, who has a huge chance of becoming the nation’s next president who I believe will actually work to promote change from within the corridors of Washington DC.

I have hope.

I believe in him.

Do you?

One more thing.  I’m also grateful the Clintons have finally exited the stage and handed over the spotlight to Obama.   It was long overdue.

Both of them did a fine job with their respective speeches.  I’m especially grateful that the fears of eruptions from the convention floor never materialized.  I was concerned about that.  (AFP Photo credit:  Times Online)

The Clintons will be remembered for saving the day with their full endorsements of Obama.  In my opinion, their speeches already elevated them to the next higher level in politics, if that was possible (for Bill anyway).

Think about it.

Hillary may make a run for president again in 8 years.   You can bet that Americans from both sides of the aisle will reward her with their gratitude.  In fact, barring any Democratic party disasters and assuming Obama is re-elected to two terms, it’s almost guaranteed she’ll be nominated for president at that time.

In the meantime, while she bides her time, Hillary could very well end up replacing the ailing Kennedy as the Democratic party’s powerful “elder stateswoman.”  There was even talk about possibly nominating her to a seat on the Supreme Court.  Who knows?  The possibilities are endless.

As someone who was once exceedingly frustrated with her and Bill’s antics throughout the campaign, I’m happy to say that whatever bad feelings I might have harbored against them have completely vanished, due in no small part the way they handled themselves this past week.  (Photo of Hillary and Chelsea:  AP Photo at Huffington Post by Charlie Neibergall)

You watch what happens.

They’re not done.

Quick Update on the “Tim Ferris Diet”

I’m not going to go into great detail here because I’ll be giving a full blown update the beginning of next week but I had to tell you that not only am I so grateful for the tremendous amount of support I’ve been receiving from you, but that the scale registered 167 lbs. the other day!

Do you know what that means?

I lost 5 lbs. since starting the “diet.”  Finally!  Some real numbers here!

WOOT!

Well, that’s it for this week!

Food for thought:  Okay, let’s see what kind of a question can I ask you this time?  I’ve already said, “What are you grateful for?”  Ditto with “What does gratitude mean to you?”

Okay, how about this:  “What did you do to promote the power of gratitude this week?  There!  That ought to make you THINK and REPLY – let’s get busy with the comments, thoughts, ideas and responses!  You know how I love “hearing” your voices and responding back to each and every one of you!

Come on, admit it, you love it when I lavish attention with comments directed back to each of you, don’t you?  Well, God willing, I will continue to do that for as long as I’m able.

If you liked this post and you want to be notified of the next one, subscribe via Email or Full Text RSS Feed. I would love to have you as part of the community!