Thankfulness stream of consciousness

I took some time out of my work day just before the Thanksgiving break to write down a few of things I am Thankful for.  Presently I am teaching about neurology to my 7th graders and there is a lot of interesting research about the importance of reflecting on what we are grateful for and the positive effects it has on our brains, our mood, and our health.  It is highly recommended that everyone create the habit of writing down three things they are grateful for each day.

The following was just a stream of consciousness regarding things I am thankful for.  It is not even close to being a comprehensive list, just what came to mind at the moment.

Written Nov 26, 2014:

Thankful

First of all, I am thankful to everyone who is reading this right now because if you are, that means you are someone who has touched my life in a positive way and I have been so blessed to have so many incredible friends, such a wonderful family, and so many people with whom I have connected in some meaningful way over the years.

I am thankful for all the incredible people I have met over the years who will never read this because I have lost touch with them (mostly folks I met prior to the whole internet thing). 

I am thankful that I have such an incredible family who loves me and puts up with me.  I am thankful for all that my beautiful and loving wife Anke does for our family and for our two boys Noah and Hendrik who are growing into this world as incredible individuals.  I am thankful for Noah’s enthusiasm and Hendrik’s attention to detail.  I am thankful to have the opportunity to watch them learn and develop interests and identities of their own. 

I am thankful for my Mom for dedicating so much of her life to raising me and now to help raise her grandchildren.  I am thankful to have her live with us in Half Moon Bay and for all her wisdom, energy, positivity, generosity, and determination. 

I am thankful to have a home to call our own.  I am thankful to live in Half Moon Bay, four blocks from the beach.  I am thankful that our house is walking distance to our kids’ school, farms, multiple taqerias, nice restaraunts, a skate park, the best supermarket possible – New Leaf, pubs, etc…

I am thankful for the incredible coast that we live on – countless wild beaches, the Pacific Ocean teaming with life, harbors for fishermen and women, sunsets, hiking, redwoods, and world class surf spots.

I am thankful to live only a 30 minute drive from one of the best cities on the planet (If not THE best) – San Francisco!!!  I am thankful for the music, food, dancing, surf, museums, people, art, parks, and other things that the city has on tap for us anytime we need it.

 I am thankful for my job.  I am thankful to have a job (I know there are far too many who would like one but do not have one).  I am also thankful to have the particular job I have.  I am thankful to be able to teach young people, to teach them about science, but also to have the freedom to teach them about being an ethical caring human being.  I am thankful that my students are engaged and interested in learning from me.  I am thankful to be able to work with incredible people, all of whom want to make the world a better place and have chosen to spend their valuable life energy to educate the next generation.

I am thankful to the parents of the students I teach who often show their support for us by doing nice things like making us special dinners on our birthdays, by providing special breakfasts or lunches at work every so often, and simple by telling us how grateful they are when they have the opportunity.

I am thankful for all this beautiful planet has given us – animals and plants to many to list but which enrich our life beyond words,  I am thankful for the fungus and bacteria without which we would certainly be dead.  I am thankful for the beaches, and waves, and waterfalls, and rainbows, and icicles, and sunrises, and rain, and snow, and rivers, and oceans, and oxygen, and stars.  I am thankful for the seasons, and the cycles of the moon, and the smiles of strangers.

  I am thankful for those moments I get to sit and read for pleasure.  I am thankful when I can be comfortable in bed.  I am thankful for the times I get to go camping and travel.  I am thankful for the fact that I have so many friends who even though I don’t get to see them often enough, when I do see them we can share strong positive connections. 

  I am thankful for all the experiences of my life – growing up in north county San Diego, being active in 4-H, my time at UCSB, the years I spent traveling the world, my years working as a naturalist, my years working for Sea Trek as a kayak guide, my years living in my car. 

There are so many other things I am thankful for, I feel like I am just scratching the surface.  But I am going to stop writing now and engage in the world around me for which I am forever grateful.

 Peace.