We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
Cynthia Oziek
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In less than 2 months, I have had several celebrations.
First, we were celebrating the New Year, then this blog’s third anniversary and today its 500th post.
When I noticed the surreal 500th mark was approaching, I was careful not to miss it. Why? Because I knew I wanted to make something special for that specific post.
A post is composed of many elements. However, before the creative process starts, we need a topic. Or, in other words, we have to focus on something that has inspired or captivated us.
Travel has certainly provided me with a humongous amount of topics. So, I asked myself, can I come up with 500 things that have inspired me to write throughout these years?
Let me be honest. I started at a steady pace but hit the brick wall around 150. That is when I started to go throughout the old posts and pictures. More and more words started to fill the list.
The exercise was not that simple. Behind each item in the list, there are emotions popping out. There was a lot of pausing to remember specific moments. And for that, I am grateful (hence the name of the post).
I am also grateful for all those of you who have stuck with me for all (or some) of these 500 posts (I know it is not an easy feat). I invite you to think about what inspires your life. There are so many beautiful things and people out there. It would be a shame not to pause to acknowledge the positive influence they have over our lives.
Things to Be Grateful For
Hope you have not only 500, but thousands of reasons, to be grateful for.
1. My husband
2. Rocky beaches
3. Tide Pools
4. Sea arches
5. Piers
6. Friends met on the road
7. Taxi drivers
8. Artisans
9. Mountains
10. Lakes
11. Rivers
12. Waterfalls
13. Petrified Waterfalls
14. Small towns
15. Colonial Towns
16. Big Cities
17. Fish Tacos
18. Sailboats
19. Markets
20. Badlands
21. Salt flats
22. Canyons
23. National Parks
24. Children
25. Sand dunes
26. Mayan ruins
27. Colors
28. Sunsets
29. Coves
30. Elephants
31. Funny signs
32. Oases
33. Palm trees
34. Deserts
35. Desserts
36. Bloggers
37. Smiles
38. Islands
39. Locals offering their help
40. Gardens
41. Skylines
42. Monkeys
43. Traditions
44. Artisans
45. Hikes
46. A refreshing drink on a hot day
47. Viewpoints
48. Flea markets
49. Blowholes
50. Rainbows
51. Back Roads
52. Highways
53. Rock formations
54. Valleys
55. Convents
56. Haciendas
57. Forts
58. Heroes
59. Big breakfasts
60. Adventurers
61. Volcanoes
62. Oaxaca’s seven moles
63. Tall buildings
64. Zip lines
65. Cruises
66. Vineyards
67. Sandwich shops
68. Cafeterias
69. Geometric patterns
70. Pyramids
71. Sushi
72. Cultural centers
73. Museums
74. Festivals
75. Legends
76. Ghost stories
77. Plazas
78. Trees
79. Alebrijes
80. Giant food servings
81. Coffee farms
82. Epic falls in foreign countries (i.e. getting hurt in another country)
83. Helpful police officers
84. Chapulines
85. Crafts
86. Weird names given to places
87. Murals
88. Architecture
89. Street food
90. Buses
91. Airplanes
92. Capitals
93. Tour guides
94. Tropical beaches
95. Ferries
96. Bicycles
97. Temples
98. Subterranean rivers
99. Cenotes
100. Swimming pools
101. Rainforests
102. Unique doors
103. Guide books
104. Camping
105. Bluffs and cliffs
106. Missions
107. Lighthouses
108. Beach Walks
109. Dolphins
110. Whales
111. New Experiences
112. Parks
113. Ice cream
114. Tea houses
115. The sun
116. Starry nights
117. Hearty lunches
118. Clouds
119. Full moon
120. Marinas
121. Ethnic neighborhoods
122. Diversity
123. Culture
124. Surfers
125. Boardwalks
126. Aquariums
127. Harbors
128. Sea lions
129. Mansions
130. Statues
131. Apple pie
132. Mining towns
133. Orchards
134. Bakeries
135. Promontories
136. Food festivals
137. Scenic Roads
138. Foreign languages
139. Caves
140. Cottages
141. Art Festivals
142. Photographs
143. Paintings
144. Waves
145. Red rocks
146. Thai food
147. Birds
148. Lagoons
149. Tourist attractions
150. Night markets
151. Tasting rooms
152. Boutiques
153. Galleries
154. Miniature horses
155. Cowboys
156. Antique stores
157. Pelicans
158. Spices
159. Sea stars
160. Red rocks
161. Ghost towns
162. Bridges
163. Dams
164. Air shows
165. Helicopters
166. Tuk-tuks
167. Villas
168. Candies
169. Wildlife
170. Bells
171. Bubblegum alleys
172. Castles
173. Foraging
174. Sea salt cookies
175. Canals
176. Chinatowns
177. Windmills
178. Flowers
179. Beauty
180. Smorgasbords
181. Ostriches
182. Walking tours
183. History
184. Jellyfish
185. Clam chowder
186. Food tours
187. Dumplings
188. Butterflies
189. Petroglyphs
190. Big boulders
191. Rocking chairs
192. Mosaics
193. Clock towers
194. Boathouses
195. Calendars (with destination pictures)
196.One of a kind finds
197. Gazebos
198. Blessings
199. Dreams that come true
200. Cable cars
201. Travel shows
202. Filming locations
203. Fall foliage
204. Berries
205. Road trips
206. Parrots
207. County Fairs
208. Cacti
209. Food trucks
210. Street art
211. Farmer’s markets
212. Hotels
213. Old towns
214. Ferris Wheels
215. Memorials
216. Craters
217. Tapas
218. Postcards
219. Exotics eats
220. Umbrellas
221. Hill tribes
222. Cooking demonstrations
223. Fast food
224. Malls
225. Parrots
226. Weird moments
227. Fossils
228. White Sand
229. Island Hopping
230. Wi-Fi
231. Monkeys
232. Jeep tours
233. Kayaking
234. Fruit smoothies
235. Palaces
236. Busy crossings
237. Trains
238. Mountain passes
239. Facades
240. Reflections
241. Cathedrals
242. Carnivals
243. Buffets
244. Soft beds
245. Dinners
246. Trams
247. Futevolei
248. Money saving tips
249. Soccer
250. Fountains
251. Rainy days
252. New beginnings
253. Clean rooms
254. Sunny days
255. Cozy interiors
256. Sandbars
257. Blue holes
258. Remote Villages
259. Dirt roads
260. Iced coffee
261. Bucket lists
262. Cheese plates
263. Rest stops
264. VW Campers
265. Movies
266. Teardrop campers
267. Playlists
268. Stories
269. Sunflowers
270. Treehouses
271. The end of the road
272. Amazing design
273. Thank you notes
274. Milkshakes
275. Inspirational quotes
276. Maps
277. Comfortable clothes
278. Passports
279. Music
280. Computers
281. Light baggage
282. S’mores
283. Rowboats
284. Fluffy pillows
285. Pedal boats
286. Hot chocolate
287. Campfires
288. Bonfires
289. Good walking shoes
290. Cheap hostels
291. Letters
292. Magazines
293. Chatting with locals
294. Dawns
295. Snow
296. Pandas
297. Balloons
298. Dreams
299. Kites
300. Stairs
301. Cupcakes
302. Textiles
303. Babies
304. Fast rides
305. Laughs
306. Eating in the sidewalk
307. Infinity pools
308. Views from a plane
309. Small toiletry containers
310. Airport naps
311. Money belts
312. Nice weather
313. Scooters
314. Fireworks
315. Chilies
316. Libraries
317. Wilderness
318. Wisdom learned from others
319. Books
320. The Internet
321. Bandanas
322. Hot showers
323. Spas
324. Pizza
325. Recipes
326. Interesting characters
327. Visas
328. Chocolate
329. Horse Rides
330. Picnics
331. A Sunday in a foreign country
332. Simple hairstyles
333. World globes
334. Useful souvenirs
335. Local recommendations
336. Breakfast included
337. Restaurants open 24 hours
338. Camels
339. Wildlife refuges
340. Rangers
341. Stained glass windows
342. Pagodas
343. Musical instruments
344. Flight attendants
345. Cave tubing
346. Common sense
347. Surprises
348. Theaters
349. Frozen Ponds
350. Friends
351. Sleights
352. Empanadas
353. Lava tubes
354. Chefs
355. Alphabets
356. A hat protecting you from the sun
357. Sequoia forests
358. Light traffic
359. Gyros
360. Fishing boats
361. Swings
362. Exploring supermarkets
363. Durable cameras
364. Slang
365. Leis
366. Dogs on the street
367. Creativity
368. Spontaneity
369. Terracotta roofs
370. Cobblestone streets
371. Beach Towns
372. Pioneers
373. Bird viewing
374. Hidden Spots
375. Cane fields
376. Rhythm
377. Blogs
378. The quietness after a storm
379. Cheerfulness
380. Marine life
381. Food prepared in a wok
382. Orchids
383. Street names
384. Sunken ships
385. Submarines
386. Snorkeling
387. Benches
388. Snowmen
389. Snow angels
390. Eating seafood right at the beach
391. Sunglasses
392. Barbecuing
393. An expedition
394. Digital nomads
395. Expats
396. Mysteries
397. Date Shakes
398. Bubblegum in tropical flavors
399. Ranches
400. Strawberry fields
401. Happy people
402. Complex spider webs
403. Ice
404. Candied apples
405. Foreign money
406. Visiting historic spots
407. Chimneys
408. Actual buildings carved in stone
409. Bays
410. Free entrance fees
411. Drinking straight from a coconut
412. Visitor centers
413. Lifeguard towers
414. Imaginary creatures people believe in
415. Museum stores
416. Little things
417. Buying cheap jewelry
418. Questions
419. Clothes left to dry outside
420. Souks
421. Safaris
422. Cooking classes
423. Missionary trips
424. Neon lights
425. Local businesses
426. Investing in small communities
427. Caribbean waters
428. Taking photos during the golden hour
429. Silhouettes
430. Golf carts being the only transportation medium
431. Kelp forests
432. Migrations
433. Wood Ovens
434. Thin peninsulas
435. Solstices
436. Beach chairs
437. Hammocks
438. Cajun cooking
439. Sweets dusted with powdered sugar
440. Seashells
441. Bursts of joy
442. Quick drying clothes
443. New Year’s celebrations
444. Hamburgers and hot dogs
445. Marshes
446. Farmers
447. Houses dangerously built on steep cliffs
448. Eating outdoors
449. Transcontinental flights
450. Directions
451. Admiring the works of the masters
452. Tight-knit communities
453. Menus
454. Smooth flights
455. Elevators
456. Ice skating
457. Midnight diners
458. Sangria
459. Itineraries
460. Earplugs
461. Travelogues
462. Soda made with real sugar
463. Diversity
464. Clear days
465. Glaciers
466. Thermal waters
467. Fishing
468. Crepes
469. Double-decker buses
470. Getting asked to take a local’s photo
471. Dew drops
472. Newspapers
473. Clothes that can be used for different purposes
474. Squirrels
475. GPS signals
476. Slot canyons
477. E-mail
478. Backup Drives
479. Pharmacies (for when you need them)
480. Sandcastles
481. Biscuits
482. Compliments
483. Venetian glass
484. Kilts
485. Churches
486. Lavender fields
487. Bumper stickers
488. Sundresses
489. Sandals
490. Backpackers
491. Tulips
492. Owls
493. Getting off the beaten path
494. Crossing a stream using a fallen tree
495. Victorian houses
496. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
497. Hugs
498. Courtyards
499. Porches
500. Moments that will live in your mind forever
How many of these have inspired you? What can you add to the list? What are you grateful for?
Pin “500 Things to be Grateful For” for later!
Dan Bibb says
This is so nice to see… A list of things to be thankful for. In this world of instant gratification people rarely take to time to count their blessings. You have just scratched the surface of things you are thankful for because when we get down to it 500 things is just a start if we are honest with our selves. Everyday we spend on this side of the dirt is a blessing and an opportunity opening for thankfulness. Even the clean air we breathe is a blessing. Thank you for reminding me to take an inventory of accomplishments and focus on things to be thankful for before even thinking about the work ahead and challenges lying just of the horizon.