It was Father's Day yesterday, and my family planned a bit of adventure for us. I got up early, stretched, meditated, and had a coffee with my wife. The kids came in and gave me some presents. Then, I went to the gym and finished with a sauna and an ice bath before heading home.

Once I got home, I had a shower, and we all headed up to Maleny for a swim at one of the waterfalls. It was a beautiful day, and the water was cold and refreshing. After we got out, we changed and went for a walk through the bush. We saw a snake and appreciated the nature around us.. We then headed into the township, had lunch, I had a burger, sweet potato chips, and a beer. We finished with an gelato, and my wife drove us home.

Throughout that day, I was constantly feeling grateful. I was grateful to wake up early and have some time to myself. I was grateful to be able to freely enter my own mind. I was grateful for a delicious coffee with my beautiful wife. I was grateful for my two wonderful children and the presents they gave me, the pictures they drew me, and the love they shared with me. I was grateful to have a healthy body to train, a gym to use, as well as a sauna and ice bath to use for recovery and to access deeper aspects of my physical and spiritual self. I was grateful for the beautiful day and the freedom to drive to a beautiful little township just over an hour away. I was grateful for nature and the wonderful swimming hole we enjoyed. I was grateful to witness an incredible yet dangerous creature lying peacefully in the bush. I was grateful to have a lovely lunch and enjoy fresh and delicious food with my family. Finally, I was grateful to head home, arrive safely, and relax.

Sometimes, it's easy to take things for granted, but it's vital to always express and understand gratitude for what you have. Something small and insignificant to you may mean the world to someone else. Being grateful is a critical element in our search for happiness as it contributes to living in the present moment and expressing appreciation for ourselves, our environment, and the privileges we all get to enjoy.

The ability to enjoy what we have, right now, in the moment, helps us greatly appreciate the life we live and greatly contributes to our happiness. I've gone through periods when I've thought, "I want this or that," but being in the moment and just appreciating what I have without a preconceived idea around what things would make me happy if I had them is a frame of mind to focus on. I believe it's a fundamental aspect in the search for happiness, it’s also a wonderful mindfulness technique and a great way to frame our world.

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance” - Erkhart Tolle

Thanks,

Dean