The Positivity Thread

Great thread. I'm a pretty positive person, but with age I've noticed I can sometimes get a little negative. The good news is I think I'm better at identifying what or when that might happen so, with age, I've gotten a bit better at avoiding it.
One of the ways I stay positive is to be thankful.
This year, I'm thankful that me and my family are healthy. I'm thankful my adult kids still like hanging out with us. I'm thankful I'm 100% vested in my 401k (as of December 12th) after 3 years of a new company. I'm thankful I got to fish about 40 times this year.

I'm one of those hopeless romantics that love sad songs that somehow have a positive or redeeming message.
I'm really digging this chorus from Whiskey Myers Rowdy Days lately-

Oh, my rowdy days don't seem so long ago, they say I'm gettin' old
I think the truth is, honey, I'm just now gettin' right
'Cause rock bottom don't make a man
It's where you end up after you take a stand
It's when you finally figure out of the finer things in life
And it's what you do with the rest of your time

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
 
Great thread. I'm a pretty positive person, but with age I've noticed I can sometimes get a little negative. The good news is I think I'm better at identifying what or when that might happen so, with age, I've gotten a bit better at avoiding it.
One of the ways I stay positive is to be thankful.
This year, I'm thankful that me and my family are healthy. I'm thankful my adult kids still like hanging out with us. I'm thankful I'm 100% vested in my 401k (as of December 12th) after 3 years of a new company. I'm thankful I got to fish about 40 times this year.

I'm one of those hopeless romantics that love sad songs that somehow have a positive or redeeming message.
I'm really digging this chorus from Whiskey Myers Rowdy Days lately-

Oh, my rowdy days don't seem so long ago, they say I'm gettin' old
I think the truth is, honey, I'm just now gettin' right
'Cause rock bottom don't make a man
It's where you end up after you take a stand
It's when you finally figure out of the finer things in life
And it's what you do with the rest of your time

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Gratitude...hard to be negative if you can live in that state:).
 
Yes, year-end is a time when we reflect on times gone by. Very natural thing for sure. Commercials only take advantage of that,

But life is a year round thing and should be reflected upon year-round. We live day to day and encounter challenges not only at year-end but each day we live...

I understand why commercials abound around year-end.

Just remember life goes on day by day, month by month ---> the need to help is always there.

The need to donate $19 a month is a tax limitation. It is not a limitation on what is truly needed...
 
This has been a mixed bag year for me. But I focus on the positives. Here is a list of some of things I'm grateful for, focusing on, and look back on as I keep on keep'n on:

* Planning our 30yr anniversary trip for next summer (Hawaii - will include some fishing)
* My dad is beating his cancer
* My twin daughters are playing college basketball
* I got my first blacktail this year
* Still riding the high of last season as well: triple deer trip and first tattoo
* I will be a grandpa this spring as my oldest son and his wife are expecting! Going to be my new hunting and fishing buddy (boy or girl)
* And I love looking back on these memories and look forward to making much more!
 
This has been a mixed bag year for me. But I focus on the positives. Here is a list of some of things I'm grateful for, focusing on, and look back on as I keep on keep'n on:

* Planning our 30yr anniversary trip for next summer (Hawaii - will include some fishing)
* My dad is beating his cancer
* My twin daughters are playing college basketball
* I got my first blacktail this year
* Still riding the high of last season as well: triple deer trip and first tattoo
* I will be a grandpa this spring as my oldest son and his wife are expecting! Going to be my new hunting and fishing buddy (boy or girl)
* And I love looking back on these memories and look forward to making much more!
That's an awesome list !
 
Wanted to run a half marathon before the year end and did it on Friday. Went a lot better than expected and I think I'm going to try to work in doing one a month during my running months (basically October to June). Felt good to know I can do that distance and could probably knock a lot off that time/pace if I wanted.
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Former Seattle Seahawks Justin Britt even patted me on the back on Strava :ROFLMAO:

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Former Seattle Seahawks Justin Britt even patted me on the back on Strava
I hadn't heard of Strava until my "techie" daughter went to work for them in their Berlin Germany office a year or so ago.
 
I hadn't heard of Strava until my "techie" daughter went to work for them in their Berlin Germany office a year or so ago.
I used to have it when i ran.
Remember an article of a guy arrested for something, maybe burglary because strava showed him run by house when something happened lol.
 
I hadn't heard of Strava until my "techie" daughter went to work for them in their Berlin Germany office a year or so ago.
Yeah most outside the running/biking world haven't heard of it. Not much reason to know about it otherwise. It's basically social media for running and biking. I'm not a social media person at all, but it's just too good at what it does with all the activity tracking, metrics, etc. Plus for my coaching side job, I program running stuff for some athletes, and it's an excellent tool for me to track their progress and adjust their programs.
 
This time of year is very stressful for many of us for various reasons. Stress can be very detrimental.

Remember your family and extended family, neighbors, and our PNWFF family, and keep them in our positive thoughts wishing them the best. Reach out and help them any way we can.

How each of us do that does not matter, What is important is the positive step forward making this a better place.

I like to make plans for future trips so there is something to look forward to. Planning for the future lets me know that we will get passed the issues we are currently experiencing for happier times.
 
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I have always loved the words of the Desiderata and it helps me maintain a positive outlook on life:

Desiderata: Original Text​

This is the original text from the book where Desiderata was first published.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann ©1927
Zak, Thank you for sharing this-it is remarkable and will go on the wall in my home office.
 
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There comes a time or many times in ones life that you realize you have to clean up your shit , your attitudes your habits your reactions to stimulus or so many other possible imbalances by self impositions or just that need for an attitude adjustments. I woke
up long enough to start the coffee a while ago for us. Perhaps I will go back to sleep.
 
After losing my best friend to cancer 45 years ago, and getting older, I'm thankful for today. I try my best to be kind to people and lead a moral life. I fail all the time, but I try. Every day is a good day if you look for it.
Too many of us forget to look for it. Lately I think about it more often. Negativity spinning has so many potential provocations and humans can be exceptionally creative at finding them.
 
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