To Inspire:

Gratitude is such an important part of living a great life. I (Matt) am particularly grateful today as our youngest daughter was in a multi-car pile up on the interstate yesterday and came out of it with no injuries. Nor were any others hurt. She was headed to Greenville, SC for the wedding of a college friend when a tractor trailer rig spun out several cars in front of her. A car weaved into her lane to avoid the rig and she braked hard causing a car behind her to slam into her. Her car was totaled but thankfully, she was not hurt.

As I thanked God last night for that outcome, I also had gratitude for how He worked through others. State troopers arrived quickly and she shared how helpful and compassionate they were. The other drivers involved all got out of their cars to see how everyone else was. One car had an infant in it and it took some time to get her out – but she was fine. The tow truck driver was evidently incredibly helpful and calming and got Mary Grace and her car off of the interstate and to a place where a friend could pick her up. And, at my insistence, she had driven my car, a brand new Lincoln Corsair that I recently bought from our good friends, the Dawes family, at Bob-Boyd Lincoln. It performed the most important job a car has – to protect those in it.

The whole incident had me reflecting on the many times in life that I and my family have been protected from harm. And I know that all of you can look back as well and see the many accidents that were avoided. And even those that did occur, God was present and you made it through them.

Jim Kwik is a well known speaker and author on optimal living. He shares that beginning each day with gratitude (prayer or reflection) is a powerful way to turn on your brain for joy and effective living. He encourages keeping a journal to enter those things for which you are grateful. Write in it at the beginning of the day and at the end. What a great idea.

Gratitude – it’s such an important part of living a great life – a life of purpose, joy and giving. Let’s live our lives with a daily spirit of gratitude; we all have so much for which to be thankful.

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-founder