Temperature Tolerance

I have noticed, throughout the past several years, how tolerant I am with indoor temperature. You know, those "thermostat wars" we hear about (unless you've fought in those wars with your family or roommates). As for me, I almost never bother. I tend to be quite tolerant and comfortable in a wider range of degrees Fahrenheit than some people I know.

For example, at my work, we've had thermostat issues, particularly during the winter. Certain conference rooms would feel so cold that our team would avoid meeting in them at all. As for me, yeah, I feel that it's colder, but I can generally handle it. It never bothered me (anyway).

Or those few months when my co-workers needed a space heater near their cubicles, but I didn't. Even if I ever do feel cold, I like to put my coat on and deal with it.

Anyway, perhaps that makes me weird and sometimes less sensitive to those who care more about the particulars of room temperature (like the time today when my wife observed that we forgot to turn the thermostat back up, and I never noticed that it was colder than normal in our home).

Call it a blessing or a curse, I am grateful to be temperature tolerant.

P.S.—As always, my intention is never to ridicule or downplay anyone else's experience of life, but only to point out the little things I notice each day that I'm grateful for.

A Valentine's Day Dance, Again

My wife and I attended this Valentine's Day Dance this evening (second year in a row, actually). Of course, we had a lot of fun, and part of that was watching other couples dancing. I've taken dance classes before, but I haven't incorporated those lessons into my dancing like those other people have. I love watching couples, young and old, bust a few moves in swing and Latin dancing. I was especially impressed with the older folks. How young they looked when they danced!

I am grateful for dancing, especially those people who are really good at it. Watching any kind of good, confident dancing is inspiring to me. It doesn't have to be very good. It could be downright silly (like exaggerated spins, dives, and jumps with "Near, Far, Wherever You Are" in the background), and I would smile and be happy to be alive.

Tim Burton

Have I expressed gratitude for Tim Burton before? Well, if I have, I'll do it again. My wife and I both had long days at our respective workplaces (her especially). We decided to do something fun after we shopped for groceries (with a new diet plan in place), made a yummy meal together, and took out the garbage.

We opted for a movie, and found "Corpse Bride" on Netflix. We were both fans of Tim Burton's work, including this film, so we watched it, and loved it again!

I'll admit, sometimes Burton's aesthetic is a little too macabre for me. But for the most part, I find his work and art quite delightful and clever. I also like how often he enlists the talents of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny Elfman, and others. For all these reasons and more, I am grateful for Tim Burton.

A Fitness Professional

My doctor recently referred me to a fitness professional (mostly because he saw that I was showing signs of potential health problems in the future, problems that could be solved with better fitness; I have nothing serious at this point). I met with that professional today, and I was impressed. I know there is a lot out there about fitness and I approached this with a bit of skepticism. But, I appreciated the man's sincerity and his genuine passion for his work. I truly felt that he could help me begin constructive habits for my well-being.

I am grateful, not for specific fitness programs or regimens, but for a greater understanding of the principles that will help me feel physically better in my life.

Graduate Gratitude

I don't know everything, or even most things, but know how to learn, and I'm grateful for what I do know. I'm grateful for what I've learned. I'm grateful for the training I've received in my chosen fields of study. Whether you're glad or outraged about today's political events, I hope we can all realize that, though we may not all agree on method, we can all agree on purpose: ignorance is not bliss; knowledge is power.

Even Joseph Smith, the first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, declared that "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" (Doctrine & Covenants 131:6). Not only do I believe in learning by study, but I also believe in learning by faith, growing by study and faith.

I hope we can all have continued faith in ourselves, our communities, and our countries. I am grateful for what I have received from the American education system.

Dollies

I'm not referring to the toys my sister played with and that my brother messed up when we were all little. No, I'm referring to the lever contraption people use to move washers, dryers, and refrigerators. I got to help a friend move into a house today, and their cargo included a washer, a dryer, and a refrigerators. I am so grateful for moving dollies. Without them, moving those things would be so much harder and much more painful.

Service in a New Community

I've been looking for opportunities to serve and interact with my new neighbors, and such an opportunity came today. A family in a nearby apartment was moving out soon and needed more boxes. Well, there were still plenty of unpacked boxes at my home, so my wife and I were able to give the family five empty boxes to use. The family was very grateful, and we even had a pleasant chat for a few minutes. I am grateful for a pleasant service opportunity in my own community today.