Well, it’s about 7 am, on my birthday, and I haven’t been to bed yet. I’ve had a lot on my mind for the last few hours, so I thought I would try to write it all down.
It all started when I decided to take a dip in the hot tub at about 5 am. I had been working all night, and I thought a ‘quick dip’ would help me relax…
I started thinking about what my plans were for my 24th birthday, and my mind became overwhelmed with my business. I’ve just had so much going on, that it’s been hard to think of ANYTHING but my business.
You see… I have been somewhat oblivious to everything in my life but my business… until this morning.
As I stated earlier, it’s my 24th birthday today. And I am not saying that to get a bunch of “happy birthdays” on this blog… I am saying that to share something special.
A good friend of mine was paralyzed when he was 24 years old. He is 45 now, and almost 22 years of his life has been in a wheel chair. I’m not necessarily trying to make you feel bad for Jerry… he loves his life.
But I do want you to think about something… think about the things you take for granted in life… and I don’t mean just ‘you’ … I am just as equal to blame here, and I am not trying to point ANY fingers.
I wanted to just take a second to give thanks for what I have in life.
I want to first off give thanks for my wonderful wife. She means the world to me (even though I don’t show her near enough)
I want to give thanks for my wonderful friends and family… without them, my life would be VERY boring.
I want to give thanks for my health, as well as all my senses (sight, hearing, etc.) I really take these for granted.
And I wanted to give thanks for being able to walk. Before I met Jerry here in Florida… I took walking for granted. Jerry would give anything to be able to walk again, and I get upset when I have to walk across the street for something.
Think about some things with me for a second… I want to try something a little ‘out of the ordinary.’
The next time one of these things happens to you… instead of getting annoyed or frustrated… ‘give thanks’
- When you hear your alarm clock go off … give thanks that you can at least hear it… some people would love to be able to hear again… even if it was the sound of an ‘annoying’ alarm clock.
- When your contacts start to bother you… give thanks that you have eyes to put them in. Some people would love to see again… even if it was through irritated eyes.
- The next time you are standing in a long line (airport, grocery store, etc.) … instead of getting frustrated about the time you are wasting ’standing’ in line… give thanks for the fact that you can stand.
- The next time you stub your toe on something… instead of getting pissed at whatever you kicked… give thanks that you have a toe to stub … 
Well… I think you get the point.
Life’s too short to be upset over trivial things.
Take some time to ‘give thanks’ for what you have in life, and make this day a wonderful day!
Have a good one,
Ryan
p.s. Please feel free to send this to anyone that might enjoy it.
p.p.s. Also, feel free to leave a comment of what you ‘give thanks’ for!
62 comments ↓
I give thanks every day to God for my health and for all the many blessings in my life. I do not believe I take anything you mentioned for granted.
One of the things I am most thankful for is my wonderful, healthy, intelligent, creative, delightfully funny son.
Happy Birthday Ryan, I love you
Ryan,
This was a good one bro.
Very good read.
Great post Ryan,
Things can change in the blink of an eye. Enjoy what you have, enjoy life and give thanks for it.
Oh and Happy Birthday Ryan!
Have a great weekend,
Roger
wow, your post really made me think a lot about what I take for granted and what I’m thankful for.
One thing I can thank you for personally is what you did for me years ago in Glorietta, New Mexico at Centrifuge… thanks again Ryan.
Hope everything is going great for you in FL.
Take care,
Stephan
That was awesome man!
Thanks.
Gratitude is a very powerful emotion.
Koorosh
Hi Ryan , I would like to thank you for sharing that article with me. I feel very fortunate and thankful to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with all that He has blessed me with. Good health, a wonderful wife, 2 wonderful kids, a roof over our heads, and food on our tables.
Thanks my friend.
Ryan - Great reminder of our blessings. Remembering that everything we have is a gift from God helps us to be thankful…to HIM.
Have a great Birthday…my wife’s birthday is today too.
I’m thankful for the 38 years we have had together.
I am thankful for you. Keep up the good work.
I am thankful that the minor amount of Cerebral palsy that I do have is what has kept me from being a super aggressive self centered jerk. Instead I can see lots of things from all sides and appreciate how we all think in the world we “walk” in. I feel blessed to be able to give, and write , and share… and inspire.
Thank you Ryan for leading the way. Know well that I stand ready to protect your flank
Tony Gentle Warrior
Hi Ryan:
Your letter was so touching and so imspiring. I too give thanks. I give thanks every day that I have all the abilities that you mentioned, as due to a bad fall 9 years ago, and 17 operations later I’m still walking, still talking, still able to see those that I love, still able to hear the sounds of my grandchildren at play, and still able to make new friends each and every day. I try to give something to everyone I meet, even if just a smile, to brighten their day. I always get a smile back. I make sure to laugh every day and have fun playing Canasta with my group called “The Golden Girls” as I’m the one that always comes up with something to make them laugh. I make sure to thank God each and every minute of each and every day for keeping me hear on earth knowing that there was more He wanted me to do. So, my dear youngster (I’m 62), keep giving thanks for all that you do have. We all have to make a living, but take the time out for those you love, as moments in life slip away all too quickly. Happy Birthday with many more to come blessed with wisdom and God’s love.
Ryan,
I echo a lot of your comments here. I’m greatful to God for my beautiful wife of almost 20 years, my 5 beautiful children ( you can see them by clicking on my name above ) and for all of the every day things most people take for granted here in the USA.
God Bless you & your family Ryan!
Tony Torres
powerhouseincome@gmail.com
Geat to see you slow and enjoy some of your blessings.I’m kinda like Dennis on the previous post, I work at remembering that all things are a gift from God,and try to slow down
and enjoy life.
One of my favorite quotes.
As you climb the “ladder of success” make shure the ladder leaning on the right building.”
Happy Birthday
Al
Ryan… nice post bro.
I’d like to give thanks that I’ve gotten to know you over the last few years and that I’ve had the opportunity to work with you on multiple occassions.
You’re a genuinely good guy who cares about people.
Happy birthday young-un…
Bram
OMG Ryan! 24 is sooooooo old - NOT!
Happy Birthday!
Being 44 and being disabled at such a YOUNG age by Fibromyalgia, I recently have had a difficult time NOT sitting on the “pity pot”. I guess struggling in internet marketing and watching so many be successful, bragging abt their great lifestyle constantly doesn’t help. BUT - I am reminded everyday by the people who visit my website that there are many out there who are worse off than I am, because of Fibromyalgia and the terrible ways it steals the lives of the people who suffer from it. I have learned to measure my successes in different ways other than my bank deposits, website ranking and traffic counts.
Sometimes you just have to be thankful that you can make a difference, whether it “pays” you or not. There is more than one way to be “rich” in this life.
Thank you for reminding me of that.
Wishing you all the best! Enjoy your day!
Tammy Elaine
The Ultimate Fibromyalgia Resource Center
Thank you Ryan,
I thank God every day. I have a dog whom I dearly love.
He is older now and has health issues. He is a Chow mix
and is prone to tumors. In the last year and a half he has had 2 surguries for tumors. Fortnatley they were not cancer. He may have to have surgury again. I found 2 more growths. I don’t have the money to take him to the vet right now. He has insurance but his tumors is and is a pre-exiting condition; therefore, it is not covered. He is 11 years old and still acts like a puppy.
I have put it in God’s hands and if it is God’s will, Kia will be okay until I can get him medical treatment. God has given him to me and Kia has had an exceptional life I thank God for the time I have had with him, and only ask I be able to except God’s will no matter what.
Take care.
That is AWESOME! I give thanks all the time to different things in my life but not nearly enough. No matter how many times we give thanks, it is not enough. Mostly I give thanks to my business and the ability to have it. I had a back injury that cost me my job among other things, and that is what brought me to my business. I am truly blessed. I am also blessed that you sent me to this, until I read your post I was having some what of a bad day, and you brought me out of it.THANK YOU and I wish you tremendous success as I know you will have it!
I don’t think we realize that we are taking things for granted, until it’s to late. I lost my husband of 27 years to cancer after 5 short weeks of finding out he was sick. Never in my wildest dreams did i consider that we would not grow old together. I give thanks every day for knowing his love and what i still have.
Happy Birthday Ryan
Hi Ryan
Jim here in New Zealand well Happy Birthday all the best for the day, I am happy for you doing so well on the net many are not I am glad that you are helping so many with this. I have found this amazing old but made new product called Ganoderma it is good for all of todays health problems ,even for nerve damage (lions main) more info on my web site if interested . I just want to help people to have a better and healther life in the time we have on this planet .
All the best to day Jim Jones in NZ
It’s nice to know that some people take time to sit and reason with they way they are thinking. I always say the mind is the most powerful tool that exists.
All the best!
Marsha
HAPPY 24th TOO YOU……
TODAY IS MY 53rd BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET’S ENJOY THE DAY AND DO ANYTHING WE WANT.
ANYTHING LEGAL THAT IS……………….
I have found that the universe in general in an abundant place, full of gifts, IF you’re ONLY open to them. I remember once instance in particular, I’ve written about it before. Seems there was this woman I’ll call Sammi who was down on her luck, and had a boy to feed. They didn’t have any money, so I decided to send her $50 by paypal. She was so grateful, and it made me feel great to do it. Wouldn’t you know though, less than two hours after I did that, I received an email from an acquaintance who told me she was shutting down her ebay business and would I like 435 customers? The payback for the good you do for others is 100 fold. If you give without expecting anything in return you always get more than you receive. It’s a law of the universe I firmly believe in. Good for you Ryan, for stating your thankfulness and gratitude towards everything you have. It’s so important.
Thanks!
Steve
Way’ta-go Ryan!…well said. I love it!!
Now that I am going on 47 in JUly I do have so much to
be thankful for more, and more, for “life IS too short”!!!
So, as only one place in the gospels says of our “Savior and Ultimate Friend” Jesus the Christ, “GO, and OCCUPY til I Come”. Success to and your TEAM always. LWichiG. http://www.wichimurals.com
Hello Ryan
That was a really good post and I am too guilty of taking those things for granted. Thank you for waking me up thing that I do take for granted and will start giving more thanks.
Happy Birthday! Ryan
Donna Gain
I give Thanks to God for My life. I just found out today a guy I went to school with Overdosed and died recently. He lived in the house I grew up in. My ex brother in law is in Jail. My ex best friend is in Rehab. I am thankful to be happy and healthy with My family this holiday. I am also thankful that God has kept me throughout the years. If it wasn’t for Jesus I don’t know where I’d be.
Thanks Ryan for Your Help.
I thank God has given me the opportunity to serve in my local church and my Sunday School class.I remember in 2003 thinking of killing myself.However,particuliary in the last year,I think God has given me a new lease on life.Thank you for Ryan for giving me the opportunity to make this post.Thank you.Patrick Hopkins.Take care.
Thanks Ryan For Your Help ,God Bless Us All.
Mr. Ryan Sir: thanks for the post, might I suggest putting Jesus First in your life if you know Him, then every thing will fall into place. Stan.
Thank you Ryan, you are so right, if we gave thanks for all the things that the Lord has done, is doing, and is going to do in our lives ,we would not have time to complain over things that we cannot change,but the wisdom to change the things we can and enjoy every day like it is our last day.
Thank you so much,this was right on time for me.
Mattie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: And God be with you for many more.
Mattie
Happy birthday.
I will be turning 24 too, but later this year.
Hi Ryan,
Good to know there is some youngh people out there that knows the importance of givings thanks to all the little things we all take for granted.
I myself have a diary in which I write down and thank God for 5 things every day to give thanks for as well as one highlight of my day.
I am going through a tough time at the moment and giving thanks to God every day is part of my healing process.It strengthens my faith,gives my hope and makes me possitive, helps me to forgive people that so much disappointed me in live.Live is too short to spend on negative things and why should I let anything steal my joy in any case ?!
Keep up the good things Ryan, hope you had a wonderful birthday! Love Salome
Nice post Ryan,
Have a good B-DAY
Gates
Nothing like Gratitude is there…. lifts us up from fears, doubts - all the little negatives …..back to peace and harmony, our natural happy state.
Always just a “choice”.
Claire.
Great,very timely post,Ryan.I guess many of us are guilty of taking things for granted.As a well-known song lyric says..you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…..
I turned 65 last week(probably your oldest reader!) and I wish (lousy word)I had your wisdom and talent.
Thanks,and Felicitations,Lad.
Brian
Thank you for being thankful. To many people think they can do it all alone, but we know our blessings come from above and you have made God very happy today.Your faith is the greatest gift you can have.
Sharing your thoughts have brought a smile to many hearts . God Bless and Happy Birthday. Nice to know you.
Flo
Whenever I feel sorry for myself, all I’ve got to do is throw in an inspirational movie like ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ or ‘Awakenings’ or ‘Rudy’…
…And when I see other people going through stuff that is soooo much worse than what I’m going through, I learn to ’stfu’… It’s easy to take things for granted.
Thanks for your reminder and story.
Adam Holland
I am thankful for meeting folks like you and this site where we can communicate with each other share ideas and share our businesses and experiences with each other. Five years ago I came across a prduct and it has change my life since then. It has given me a new lease on life as far as my health is concern my blood pressure is now normal , my vertigo is gone, my eyesight is much improved and that product is Xango. In addition I have shared this product with relatives, friends and acquaintances who have seen remarkale result. Finally and most importantly I want to give thanks to God for providing me with knowledge and the ability to learn and use the things which he has made.Go to my site and check this remarkable product.
God bless all of you.
Ryan not even sure you will read this probably just the guy (or girl) above and below me. Just wanted to start off with what you didnt want” Happy Birthday”. Ryan I am 53 years old and very thankful for life in general but thats not why I am really writing. As I was reading your article It hit me when you said you was 24. I thought WOW he is one smart guy for 24. I really thought you was older. The reason I say that is not just all the grateful stuff but you have been emailing me for months and I keep reading your ads instead of just deleting them. You got a gift dont give up on your efforts. You will succeed.
May God Bless You and Yours
Hi Ryan
After breaking 2 bones and dislocating my ankle in my right foot last year, I cannot tell you how thankful I was to be able to bear weight on it after 7 weeks of hopping around.
Some things are meant to slow us down for a reason.
Viv
Ryan,
Your post says it all. I don’t think I can add anything that has not already been said except be thankful for all the great people on your blog. We are all very blessed because we are still living. I am 74 years young. God Bless.
Ryan,
I enjoyed your words about giving thanks for what you have. I have MS and lost my ability to stand or walk about five years ago. Like you, though, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have my wife, my grown children, grandchildren and lots more. Even my ability to work on the internet and make some money. It’s all great!
Be happy,
John
What a beautiful post Ryan.
So appropriate to give thanks as we can lose sight of the little things (and the big things) important in our lives.
Isn’t it true that when we set out on the IM path we become some what insulated in our thinking to the extent that we begin to feel like the world revolves around the internet and us making a buck online.
Like you I’m also thankful for so many things.
I have two daughters around your age Ryan - both happy, healthy girls.
I’m thankful that I have a loving and supportive family and network of friends.
We are all thankful that we live in such a ‘lucky country’ here in Australia - free from many of troubles and turmoils so common in other parts of our world today.
And I am especially thankful today that I can send this post now that I have my life Back on Track after overcoming debilitating depression; losing all hope for a future and the very will to live.
Today I am healthy, happy and prosperous.
Yes Ryan, we have much to give thanks about.
Michael Searles
Back on Track
I am thankful for the Lords saving grace and His forgiveness, With this, the path of righteousness still leads on for those who choose to stand after they stumble.
let me give thanks for having my wife pat as she has died for fifteen minutes and the doctor said if we could revive her she would be a vegetable and not know that seh was here anymore well he was terrible wrong she carries on intellagent conversations and does all the average thangsa that people do thanks to god for hearing the prayers that was sent to him because without him we wouldnt exist now thank god signed by cbarles baxte_____r
I’m thankful that my son-in-law survived an IED explosion when he was on foot patrol in Iraq. He lost his right arm and right leg, had shrapnel throughout his body, collapsed lungs, damaged his spleen and his liver, spent a year rehabing in Bethesda hospital and made it home with a fantastic attitude.
let me give thanks for having my wife pat as she has died for fifteen minutes and the doctor said if we could revive her she would be a vegetable and not know that she was here anymore well he was terrible wrong she carries on intellagent conversations and does all the average thanges that people do thanks to god for hearing the prayers that was sent to him because without him we wouldnt exist now thank god signed by cbarles baxteR
Thank you for allowing to blog my website and Iam very thankful.
Happy birthday Ryan. Hope you have a great day.
you are so right I am thankful everyday to wake up and see my three young sons and my wife.
Some Peoples problems make our everyday problems look so insignificant.
We are so lucky to have our health and our familys health.
My four year old boy took a fit bacause of a temperature and went blue we rushed him to hospital I went into a frenzy I though he was dying.
So all my problems right now are insignificant he is fine and life is great.
once again have a great Birthday
Sotiris
You just about said it all,so i’ll just say AMEN!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GOD BLESS YA!
DAVID
Hey Ryan,
HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY. Mine is tomorrow - yours x3 + 7. My Dad lived to 6 weeks short of 103. As a consequence, I expect to have at least 10 more productive years - with your help.
Best wishes,
Ray
Ryan ”happy birthday” it’s amazing how ones mind seems to work. God works wonders in all of our lifes.
God Bless! and thanks for sharing
Ryan I never expected that you will be 24 yrs old.I thought that you are much older.
Like your friend I was paralyzed 6 years back,I am fighting hard to get back to normalcy,if not 100% at least to a extent of maintaining myself.I am confined to my cot.Regarding Thanks Giving ,except for my Family members I do not have any one to thank.All the people who benifited because of me and who owe me a lot have forgotten me,they do not even make a call.In online circle I joined few business and was scamed,these people knew about my condtion pretty well,I never expected to make millions in online business,I just wanted to earn enough to take care of my self and family.
But I would like to thank you for providing me an oppurtunity to air my thoughts and for your excelent Blazinglist which I am using to promote my new online business.
http://freedom.ws/varen
Ryan;
Being able to give thanks makes one aware…..
Often we are so preoccupied with the daily activities of our lives that we fail to see the many blessings as well as opportunities that surround us.
“AWARENESS” = Is how we perceive,understand,and evaluate everything that affects our lives.
There is an old saying that reminds me to be thankful and that is….”I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes,until I met a person that had no feet.”
THANKS FOR YOU !
Well Ryan, I hope that yesterday was a great 24th birthday for you!
Among all the other things that I give thanks for each day, I give thanks also for having you as a friend;
the opportunity to read all the inspiring posts on this blog;
and by all means, having the Freedom of Choice!
Winning is a habit… so is losing.
Which is why I freely aim to win !
Good Morning, Ryan!
I hope you had a great birthday! That was an amazing blog and I am so thankful for you and that you are Leslie’s husband! I love you and am proud of you both!
Lots of Love, Cindy
Have a happy birthday Ryan. And may you have plenty more. Just to comment a little on what your topic was about today. You are are so right when you said that we should not take what we have for granted. And yes, we should be counting our blessing instead.
I count blessings everyday too, Ryan. We take everyday for granted sometimes. Enjoy what you can. Keep everyday happy!
Hey Ryan, Great post, Happy birthday, 24 is a great age in life, not to young and not to old, just right only because you don’t have the growing pains of the old folks, and you are gown up enough to understand the reality of life to enjoy it,It is good you have you health, because with out hat you can’t do many things in life, you either don’t have the ability or the inthusiatum to do anything
Hey Ryan, Great post, Happy birthday, 24 is a great age in life, not to young and not to old, just right only because you don’t have the growing pains of the old folks, and you are gown up enough to understand the reality of life to enjoy it,It is good you have you health, because with out hat you can’t do many things in life, you either don’t have the ability or the inthusiatum to do anything. Well just keep up the good work . and always keep your head above the clouds, if you know what I mean. and again HAPPY BIRTHDAY, L-U-Dorie
Hello Ryan, it’s good to here a young man such as yourself express himself in such a way. A very rare quality living in today’s world or should i say by today’s standards just read 2 Timothy 3:1-5. When one read that scripture it’s like reading today’s headlines. So being thankful for life itself is a beautiful thing.
Ryan
Yes, everything and everybody deserves a big thanks.
I am thankful that we are taking our 5 year old
grandson to see “Speedracer” today. And that I came
in contact with you at a time when I needed that
(old kick in the) boost to remember that is never to
late to try something new. Thank you. Your
enthusiasum is refreshing. I wish you all the best
and continued prosperity and good health.
Happy belated. Have a great day.
Lana
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