I will never forget the day I was running a new trail and I came up this really steep ascent and as I came to the top the picture before me literally took my breath away. I was a bit in front of the person who was running with me and as I took in this sweeping body of water ringed with trees all around and the sweeping mountains in the background I was nearly in tears at the beauty. As I stood there in breathless wonderment all I could do is whisper to myself “Thank you, thank you, thank you God”. I am so thankful for times like these in the mountains and on the trails when I either run around a bend or come down into a canyon or top a hard ascent and I’m greeted with such incredible beauty and majesty just set right there for me to admire and be thankful for. 
This characteristic hasn’t always been a part of my lifestyle. I grew up surrounded by incredible beauty, had the privilege of sailing around the world in the Navy, have visited some of the most stunning places all around the world and I missed the beauty. I missed the beauty not because I didn’t see it but because I was so busy expecting the beauty to do something for me. I have also, regretfully, missed the beauty of people around me because I was expecting them to notice me, promote me, help make me wealthy or make me feel important. I missed the beauty because I was jealously expecting something for myself instead of being thankful for the opportunity to experience such natural beauty and human beauty. I decided as I began running and losing weight that I would be thankful for everything around me, even when there are times when I’m not enjoying life or faced with a struggle that will be difficult.
Being thankful allows me to see people, nature and even traffic differently. I notice that as my attitude changes that situations change. I’m not wealthier, healthier or have more friends or prestige but I am at peace. Being thankful has brought me a peace that I could never have achieved trying to get people to notice me or promote me or think I’m awesome.
Thankfulness keeps propelling me relentlessly forward in this great adventure called life. I would love to see you join me on this adventure, with a thankful heart and attitude.#RelentlessForwardMovement