Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start. I’m vertical with a cup of coffee, so life is good!
You know, sometimes it’s the little things that make us happy, or at least contented. We tend to go through life looking at the big things, thinking if we could just do this or acquire that, life would be perfect. And that’s okay. If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m a strong believer in the power of dreams. If not, we need to fix that. I don’t bite!
Yes, it’s important to have dreams. They motivate us to go a step above, to put in that little bit of extra effort that somehow seems to multiply and bring us exponentially closer to our goals. They give us a glimpse of life beyond what we know today. And they have a way of elevating our spirits when life is trying its best to hold us down. We all have those days.
Our dream was to buy a motorhome and explore the country, hopefully finding a place to retire along the way. I kept a picture of a motorhome on my desk where I would see it all day as I was working. It was a constant reminder of what I was working for. Six years ago, that dream came true. We bought the coach, traveled across much of the country, and found our new home.
And that doesn’t mean my dreaming days are over. Not by a long stretch! There are still lots of things I’d like to experience before my time is up, and I plan to check off as many of them as I can. They range in grandeur, from taking my wife on a bucket-list trip to Hawaii all the way to learning how to relocate a live rattlesnake. My wife isn’t so happy about that last one.
And I’ll do those things in a relatively short period of time, simply because at this age you don’t take time for granted. I’ve already had a heart attack and a stroke. The fact that I’m still here tells me God still has plans for me, and I believe one of them is to spread a message of optimism to anybody who’s willing to listen. Especially now, we need all the positivity we can get.
And part of that message should always be to appreciate the blessings that surround us every day. Little things, like a child’s laughter, a spring rain, the sun’s rays peeking through the clouds, chipmunks playing in the yard, birds playing in the air, or the warmth of a summer day. Yes, too much warmth isn’t always comfortable. Neither is snow. But it’s pretty … on postcards.
Beyond that, think of all the people who genuinely care about you. They may be family, friends, mere acquaintances, or even the cleaning lady who always has a kind word as she empties your trash. And it could be somebody you’ve never met. Don’t believe me? Sit down in the middle of a store clutching your chest. You’ll have lots of concerned friends.
Okay, don’t do that. But the point is that we’re surrounded by blessings we don’t always perceive. The secret to happiness lies in our ability to recognize and be grateful for them. And if we’re not finding them where we are, maybe we need to get up and go looking for them. That can be as easy as taking an evening walk or watching kids in the park. Just don’t stare.
Some people may not think they have much to smile about because of health issues, chronic pain, or personal loss. Still, off the top of my head I can think of two women I watched as cancer took its horrendous toll, and they both lived their best life to the very end. We all have challenges. But a challenge isn’t a roadblock – it’s simply daring you to step over.
That’s all for today. I hope you’ll all take time this weekend to immerse yourself in life’s many blessings. They may not make your problems disappear, but problems have a way of fading in the presence of a smile. Try it. And be sure to let me know how it works! Meanwhile, enjoy your day and have an awesome weekend!
© 2026 Dave Glardon – All rights reserved
