Thanks for the Chat, Dad. :)

I had a really great conversation with my dad this morning. I was feeling frustrated about a few things in my life, and it felt great to talk with my dad about it. Along with advice and insight, he shared some of his experiences of when he was my age. That meant a lot, and helped me a lot.

I also learned, from a side comment, that not much has changed when it comes to good dance parties. My dad mentioned that during college he and his friends enjoyed going to dances, where they made long dancing trains of people (conga line, if you will), and would sometimes gather in a large circle to watch people get in the center and do crazy dance moves. That's been my experience with dance parties, so not much has changed these past couple of decades!

I am grateful for this morning's conversation with my dad, especially the insight and encouragement he provided by talking about his own college years. It helped to know that he went through the same general issues I;m going through now. :)

I Can Read Lips...Not

I was sitting in a room, meditating (almost dozing off, actually, I was so tired). Across the room, I noticed a couple of women chatting with each other. Though I couldn't hear them, one of them moved their lips in such a way that it seemed like she said, "Oh my gosh, it's Nick Totten." She didn't look familiar to me at all. It turned out, it was a total stranger, and I had misinterpreted her. Talk about bad lip reading!

For a while, I have believed that I am slightly better at lip reading then the average person because I have a slight hearing loss. Today, I am grateful for this small, silly, humbling experience. I now know that I am not an expert in lip reading, and that's okay with me. :)

"She Could Use Some Help."

On my way to class, I saw a girl on crutches. A thought entered my mind: "She could use help." I remembered, as I did whenever I see someone on crutches, the week I myself was on crutches and how several people helped me by opening doors, carrying my backpack, and talking with me. Unfortunately, I hesitated. Fortunately, I decided to walk back to her and offer to carry her backpack. She accepted my offer, and was surprised how much the lack of burden made her journey easier. I walked with her into the building and returned her backpack when she reached her destination. It was clear from her expression of gratitude that my service was very helpful and appreciated. Crutches are harder than they look.

I am very grateful for this special service opportunity. I am grateful that I listened and looked for such an opportunity.

Together, We Set Up A Success

This morning, I got a lot done on my own. This was a day of errands. This evening, however, I had a lot to do to put together a barbeque activity for me and my neighbors. I didn't think there would be that much to take care of, but I quickly learned from my mistake. I was able to recruit some friends for help, for which I am tremendously grateful. I am grateful not only for the success of the activity, but also for the people who helped me make it successful. It is true what John Donne said: no man is an island. Alone, I would have set up an average activity. Together, we set up a success.

Letting Go

I have just returned from a wonderful vacation. I said "goodbye for now" to my friend's great family as we parted ways in our travels back home. I recently wished my good friend all the best in his new marriage. A major theme in a movie I watched with friends tonight was moving beyond the past and continuing forward progress. Today I received several reminders about letting go and moving forward. This thought is expressed really well in the musical Children of Eden: "The hardest part of love is letting go."

It is often very easy for me to spend time reliving good moments in my mind over and over and over. I would wish it would happen again. I would wish for those good, simple moments again. This isn't all bad, unless I make poor comparisons between the state of the past and the state of the present.

What I'm trying to say is, I am grateful for today's reminders to ease my grip on the good times of the past and look ahead to find that the best is yet to come.

A Boston Duck Tour

I had never heard of the Boston Duck Tours until today. I am grateful for our tour guide today! He was entertaining and knowledgeable. He is very good at his job.

I am also grateful for the awesome "duck" vehicle we rode in for the tour. It was a large car that looked like a boat because it could drive on roads and travel on water! I was so impressed! What a great experience. I was blown away by the amphibious vehicle, our hilarious tour guide, and the stories that make Boston what it is. I am grateful for a truly eventful, enlightening, and entertaining tour of a wonderful city.

Most Beautiful Moment was the Most Important Moment

For the second time in my life, I attended a friend's wedding ceremony. This time, I was also actively involved as a groomsman. The past 24 hours have been quite the exhausting adventure, and I know my now-married friends (I am friends with the bride and the groom) are more exhausted than I am. The reception was beautiful and well-executed. Everyone in the wedding party looked wonderful in coordinated outfits. Many beautiful candid photos were taken to preserve the emotions and events of the day.

As I review the day, I realize that the most beautiful moment was during the ceremony itself, before all the pictures and the reception. That moment I saw my great friends married for life and for eternity. I am well aware of their personalities, as well as some of their imperfections and talents. In that moment I knew in my heart that true happiness comes from the most significant relationships in your home. There, true love exists, and I saw true love manifested today.

I am grateful and very honored that I was able to be there today when my good friends officially established their new marriage and family.