Thankful Archives — Page 12 of 15

Ignoring the Black Dots and Seeing The Good

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Rightsized, Thankful

What do you see when you look at this photo?

This last weekend Thom, Kloe and I took a short trip down to Baja Mexico to visit friends. We hadn’t been to Rosarito in years and we hadn’t visited our longtime friends Larry & Jose since they bought their stunning condo perched on the rugged coastline. We had a wonderful time—lots of great conversation, plenty of laughter, tasty food, soaking in the hot tub, playtime with Kloe and her new dog girlfriend Tasha, a couple of bottles of nice wine and even a sip or two of the “new” almond tequila. But toward the end of the mini-vacation we hit a slight “hitch.” Luckily, we both quickly remembered that we “get to make it up” and decided to ignore the hitch and focus on the good. After all, did we want to remember the fun from the amazing previous four days, or the small “black dot” towards the end? And as usual, what we chose to focus on and remember, is up to us. [Read more…]

Who Needs All The Time In The World If You’re Not Really Living?

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Meaningful, Thankful

Last weekend Thom and I watched a movie on HBO entitled, “In Time.” I don’t recall seeing it in local theaters, probably because its ratings were average and the lead actor was Justin Timberlake. But with a sci-fi theme and on a hot summer evening, we decided to give the movie a chance. Surprisingly enough, it was not only entertaining, but it raised some very provocative questions that have stayed with me all week. Questions like: What lengths will people go to in order to try to live forever? Why do most people say they want to live forever, but often live lives of quiet desperation and routine? Is “living” merely taking another breath or is it something more? [Read more…]

Lessons From Catching A Cold—And Other Tips On How To Be Kind To Yourself While Being Sick

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Meaningful, Rightsized, Thankful

I caught a cold this weekend. Yeah, I know it’s not a popular thing to do—or especially to admit. After all, how many times have you heard someone say, “I NEVER get sick!” Which is odd, when you distinctly recall just a short while (week, month, season) ago they were moaning about feeling awful. Besides, now that most people have a Facebook Timeline we have proof of their past experiences! But being sick and trying to heal while not fighting the process got me thinking. That’s when I decided it might be SMART to come up with a few lessons all of us could remember when we have a cold. [Read more…]

Six Elements That Make A Place Special

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful, Thankful

As some of you know, Thom and I just spent ten days in Taos, New Mexico. We went there to attend a music festival and ended up staying for a week. After seven days in one place, we discovered several things that made Taos really special. And that got me thinking—what is it that makes anyplace special? And is there anything we can do to make wherever we are the same? [Read more…]

Five Life Lessons I Learned From Dad And Other Thoughts about Father’s Day

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Meaningful, Thankful

It’s been over two years since my father made his transition*. I still think of him regularly and miss him more than I actually expected. With Father’s Day (in the US) being just around the corner, he’s been on my mind more than usual. But who says you can only celebrate Father’s Day when your Dad is present and available? Besides, if the true sentiment behind Father’s Day is to honor fathers and paternal bonds, maybe the holiday is a good excuse for all of us to acknowledge the care and guidance our father provided—and to celebrate the fathers among us who take the time to nurture and encourage children in many different ways. [Read more…]

Creating a Complaint Free Life

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Rightsized, Thankful

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Several years ago a book entitled, “A Complaint Free World” became an overnight sensation. To date, nearly ten million people have read the book and obtained purple rubber bracelets to help them recognize how much they complain on a regular basis. The practice was designed so that once people recognized their complaints they could put an end to them and gradually transform their world. This last week I came across my little purple bracelet and immediately realized that the bad habit of complaining was worming its way back into my life. Right then I admitted I could use another dose of “complaint-free living” in my life and in my world. [Read more…]

Consider Yourself Lucky?—Here Are 5 Ways To Increase Your Odds In The Future

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Thankful

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Now that the largest Mega Millions Multi-State Lottery is finally behind us, let’s talk about luck. According to estimates, nearly $1.5 billion dollars was spent with the hope of winning $640 Million. Unfortunately, those who bought tickets were in reality 50 times more likely to get hit by lightening—and some guy in Kansas actually did on his way home from buying three tickets at a local store. But those odds didn’t stop hundreds of people from standing in line over five hours in nasty and cold weather for the miniscule chance of becoming a mega-millionaire. News reports say there are only three lucky winners and dozens of others who will share in lesser prizes. Do those winners have a secret the rest of us can use to increase our odds in the future? The answer is yes—lucky people do have a formula. But it isn’t exclusive and you and I can benefit every day of our lives by knowing certain behaviors that can increase our odds. [Read more…]

Goodness is Catching—The Gift of Unexpected Generosity

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Meaningful, Thankful

Not long ago, a woman named Chris went with a friend to Disneyland. There in the massive parking lot of the Magic Kingdom, two other women approached asking if they would like free passes to the “Happiest Place On Earth.” The women offering the gift said they had two extra, and just wanted to give the other two away. This simple act of generosity reminded Chris and her friend of the kindness of others, and restored within her a reminder that people are intrinsically good. In fact, that charitable act inspired her to be more kind and generous herself. [Read more…]

Five Big Benefits From Having & Keeping Friends

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Meaningful, Thankful

This last weekend Thom and I drove to Carlsbad to visit with our friends John and Michelle. It took some gas money to get there, but once we arrived, we hunkered down with a couple of bottles of wine, a great dinner that Michelle prepared, and talked for hours, and hours. We eventually went to bed (lucky for us they have a guest room) and then got up and talked and laughed over breakfast before returning home to the desert. Once the overnight bag was put away, it occurred to me that our brief trip was one of those priceless moments with friends that takes relatively little money but offers huge returns. In fact, cultivating deep friendships may be one of the SMARTest things any of can do on a regular basis to live a great life. [Read more…]

Three Words That Enrich Your Life

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful, Thankful

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Three SMART words to enrich your life.

I just read a short interview by author and activist Gloria Steinem. In it, she was asked to offer three words that have guided her life. They were: Hope, Ideas and Friends. And while I think all of them are indeed valuable and important in my life as well, it made me ask myself, what three words do I feel enrich my life the most? Whether you agree with Gloria, or me, it may be worth the time for you figure out three words that bring value to your life and help make them more prevalent in your life today. [Read more…]