A Couple Things I am GRATEFUL for
By in
I try to mix up my morning routine to rid the feeling of redundancy. I go through days or weeks where I focus my mornings on things like being grateful, improving mindset, reviewing affirmations, meditating, journaling, stretching, working out, or a combination of any of these. I was listening to episode 88 of the Brute Strength Podcast, and thought I would switch things up this morning and blog about a couple things I am grateful for. So here it goes:
Having some natural talent at a lot of things in life, but not being great at anything right away
I have always had to work hard at things in order to perform well. My Dad was telling me how much time it took me to ride a bicycle on my own. I didn’t want training wheels; I wanted to ride like a “big boy.” He said I spent the better part of a weekend falling off a bike before I was able to ride on two wheels. I was a mediocre high school wrestler. Not terrible. Definitely not great. I also raced motocross for many years. I would go to a local field and ride circles for hours on an XR80. I didn’t have the resources at the time to go to a track and practice several nights a week, but I rode in the woods every chance I had. I was never one of the super-fast guys, but I was always getting faster and even won a few local races. I went to Penn State and earned a mechanical engineering degree. This wasn’t easy for me either. I failed Calc II, struggled in a physics class, and drank too much at the wrong times (like the night before a crucial midterm). However, I learned how to study efficiently, navigate clunky textbooks, and find information through my peers, on the internet, and in the big books. I learned how to be consistent racing motorcycles and make slow but steady progress. And my lack of success in my short, mediocre wrestling career has motivated me to work hard for the things I want most. When learning how to ride a bicycle, I had an innate drive to not accept failure and to be persistent until I achieved balance on two wheels Ambition has never been a problem for me. I reflect on my prior experiences and realize that I have built in drive, and I need to remember to tap in to the child-like drive I have always had.
Supportive Relationships
When I was younger, I was one of those guys who wanted to be friends with everyone. I had more than a few social circles with which I interacted. One group often didn’t get along with the other, but I wasn’t bothered by that. With these different social circles, I had a feeling of being several different people depending on my surrounds. In my mid-twenties, I came to realize I would less anxious if I would find 1 version of my authentic self. This wasn’t easy, but I do feel like developing a singular character and choosing relationships based on my true self has been immensely rewarding. I love my girlfriend; she exploits my weaknesses and makes me a strong version of myself. She has taught me to compare myself less to other individuals. She has taught me to enjoy the process and the progress I have already made in life. I work with my parents every day. We have good days and we have bad days. My relationship with my parents has been more raw and real than ever. We see each other for who we really are. I love them for their strengths and for their flaws. I am not sure where I would be if I wasn’t blessed with their nurturing and support during my childhood years. I love my siblings. We are all unique, and I try to embrace our differences. I enjoy spending time with them and appreciated their presence much more since they have both moved away from south central PA. We don’t talk as much as I’d like to, but when I do see them it is a treat. I don’t have near as many friends as I used to, but the relationships I have with these friends are SO much deeper than ever before. We are honest with each other. These friends hold me accountable and let me know when they see me stepping away from the best version of myself. We are vulnerable with each other. I share my fears and weaknesses with these people. They support me in all my endeavors, and I also feel genuinely enthusiastic when hearing about events going on in their lives. I have several mentors who help me with tough decisions in the family business. These individuals have a lot more experience than I do and can provide valuable insights into all the demanding situations I encounter at work and in life. These people take time out of their lives to spend time with me, and I hope one day I can do the same for other people.
I could continue to write on this topic, but I’m out of time.. I had originally planned on writing 5 things I am grateful for. Have a grateful day 😊.