Everything in this picture is a cause for profound thankfulness. The vintage leather cover on the notebook came from an antique shop in France; my wife bought it for me because she knew I'd love it. The pen was handcrafted by her in her woodworking shop as another meaningful gift for me. And the Moleskine notebook that’s tucked inside the leather cover: I owe that to my brother Dave, who years ago introduced me to these legendary notebooks used by Van Gogh, Picasso and Hemingway.
Whenever I get ideas for my blog, I jot them down in the pages of this notebook. The items involved – the time-worn leather cover, the creamy smooth pages inside, the handmade pen – are all reminders of how much I owe to everyone around me.
If we contemplate the interrelated nature of things, we see that everything we have is a gift from someone else.
The thoughts in our heads were inspired by teachers and mentors, by the books we’ve read and by countless other influences. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the smartphones we use: they’re made possible by the work of others. Our very existence is a gift from our parents who conceived us and by all who raised and nurtured us; a piece of every one of them is in us, shaping who we are.
I could fill my entire notebook with the things I'm grateful for. How about you?
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