2020 – Being Thankful And The Power Of The Mind

As I sit here writing in the middle of my Thanksgiving holiday break, I find myself reflecting on what a year it has been. A once in a century pandemic alongside seemingly a cavalcade of immense negativity in our faces at an incessant rate. Full disclosure I am tired of it; I had grown tired of it well before 2020 if I am being honest. I returned to my rural roots in search of a more simplistic existence a few years ago in hopes of removing myself from what I believed to be the constant drain of urban living. In my mind that meant the onslaught of consumption I was feeling that persisted all around me. All that being said, I still find myself being thankful.

Oddly enough it seems my own career field would not allow that to pass. Technology via constantly evolving end user devices and social media has extended awareness and information to the masses regardless of where you call home. It follows you if you allow it. That’s ok though, if life has taught me anything it is how to adapt and overcome. Turn off the TV. Put down the devices. Read a book. Go for a walk. Play with your pets. Your mind and spirit will benefit from disconnecting.

What Really Matters

Here’s something you may not see written much about 2020. I am grateful for the life lessons attained this year. Thankful. Tragedy has a way of educating us on what really matters at a fundamental level. We have our ups and downs, employers can come and go. Maybe you didn’t get that promotion, that just seems to be the ebb and flow of life. You win some you lose some. If you have made it through 2020 healthy and you are surrounded by people that love you guess what, you’re doing pretty good despite everything that has transpired. Throw in a roof over your head, food on the table, and a purpose for your life and you’re ahead of the game as far as I’m concerned.

As we transition into 2021, I expect some semblance of normalcy to return. Opportunities will present themselves and we all will get on with our lives hopefully more cognizant of how fragile our society actually is. We are certainly not promised tomorrow, may as well enjoy today as best we can. The gratitude that comes from acknowledging every day is a gift can be life changing. I have had many reminders of this over the course of my 44 years walking this Earth. My mother passing when I was 8, my father’s alcoholism and eventual death at a young age, moving from one relatives home to another, changing schools as a kid more times than I can remember, growing up without much in East Texas. My life could have easily gone another direction if I had accepted what was being thrown my way at an early age.

Life’s Obstacles

It took me a long time to overcome life’s early obstacles. As you will find littered in my previous writings it was a general openness to what life had to offer that drug me out of the cycle of poverty. I am thankful for my receptiveness to what the world had in store for me. I was never capable of accepting minimal offerings in a professional context. For many years now I have refused to accept someone in a position of authority not believing I was capable of more. I have always had a chip on my shoulder, that chip representing refusal to accept the status quo eventually opened enough doors to an existence I wanted.

I moved around a lot, opened myself up to the experiences of the world living and traveling across Europe as a young man in the Air Force. It was an incredible experience, particularly because as a child growing up we never once took a family vacation. We couldn’t afford it, that just wasn’t who we were. I’m not positive I ever left the state of Texas until I joined the Air Force. The military gave me my career and opened my eyes to the world, and I will forever be grateful.

Throwing Caution To The Wind

From 2003 to 2014 I accepted opportunities on both US coasts gaining invaluable experience that has paid off handsomely in recent years. I often tell people there is crazy to my game. I believe that because over the coarse of my adult life I have thrown caution to the wind many times over versus accepting the safe, comfortable, easy way out decision. Being receptive to new experiences regardless of the life difficulties it entailed and embracing change is part of the secret sauce that has provided me a better way of life. It certainly was not given; it was earned the hard way so you best believe I appreciate it each and every day. Often it is said those that earn things in life tend to appreciate them more. I find that to be a 100% accurate statement.

Through the tough upbringing, all the moving around, all the new jobs I find myself back to where it all started in a symbolic sense. Technically I’m 300 miles south of where I grew up, but where I live today in rural Texas reminds me so much of my home 30 years ago. I love it. This is old school Texas. I had to leave to experience what the world had to offer. To educate myself how to dig out of the perpetual cycle I was born into. Conversely I had to leave to fully understand what it means to be a Texan, a badge I wear with pride. Us Texans are an interesting bunch. I have yet to travel somewhere that wasn’t familiar with Texas and what it stands for. You’re a walking conversation piece when you’re visiting somewhere and they hear the accent. I think that’s pretty neat.

Gratitude

Today I have come full circle, living the best of both worlds. I enjoy what I do more than I can ever explain. My life has purpose, I work with and I am surrounded by genuinely good people. I am married to a beautiful woman that has had my back for all these years. She is my rock for certain, no way I would be where I am today without her. She has taught me I can rely on someone other than myself, and she will be there no matter how many times we throw caution to the wind. My wife is my best friend, my partner in life that thankfully enjoys simplistic living at least as much, if not more so than I do. So yes, I have much to be thankful for in 2020.

On top of thankfully my health, my career, my purpose, and my significant other I am also thankful that I understand myself as a man today. I know my limitations. What drives me to get out of bed in the morning and keeps me going when times get tough. I am fortunate to have experienced many facets of life and I possess the wherewithal to apply logic to temporary, albeit extended circumstances like 2020. My soul appreciates the simple things, 2020 has reminded me of that.

Being Thankful

The day before Thanksgiving Mrs. Country Exec and I took our old raggedy Jeep out for a drive. It was mid 70’s, not a cloud in the sky. I took the doors off and put the soft top on. As we were driving around the Texas countryside with no destination in mind, she snapped the photo above. I noticed I had a pretty goofy grin on my face. I enjoyed just being out with her. Cruising around pointlessly on an extra day off I took from work for really no reason. My article on understanding the value of downtime resonated for me personally when I wrote it. I took it to heart, writing has a way of doing that for me. It is therapeutic to share what is going on upstairs in my mind. Yet another thing I am thankful for this year.

2020 has been a tough year no doubt. It has not broken me and if you’re reading this it hasn’t broken you either. If you are struggling, take a step back and think about the good in your life. There will be positive to cling to. You probably have more to be grateful for than you realize. Use those feelings as an impetus to do something you may have always wanted to do. Take that course, apply for that job, start a blog, go learn that hobby you’ve always wanted to try. We get one shot folks, seize the opportunity and make the most of it. Until next time thank you for reading, and please take care of yourselves and the ones you love.