The challenges of showing gratitude and saying thank you

I had an interesting realization the other night. I have been wanting to write this all last month. There is a pattern within me that has come to the surface. It's the inability to thank those whom have had a profound impact on my life. If someone I’ve known for short time impacts my life it's much easier because I feel that my gratefulness will match the impact received. 

When it comes to people and in this case an entire community like GLP whom have had a profound impact on my life, my feeling is that there is nothing that I can say or do that would demonstrate the appreciation and love that I have in my heart. 

My thank you could never be enough, any words of gratitude truly would not match the amount I have received.  

Literally, not a single day passes without me verbally expressing my love and admiration for the GLP community. Speaking about how all of you have impacted me is one of the proudest moments of my day. You have taught me how to give and receive love, you have taught me that I am good enough, you have even taught me about the power of social media and that it isn't all negative and very much can be used to have a positive impact on myself and others.  

You have given me permission to dive deeper within and to be unapologetically myself. 

As I entered a new decade I decided to reflect on the decade that had past. It was challenging times to say the least in my early thirties but I got through it and I knew that one day I would be rewarded with a gift. In 2014 I received the greatest gift that is still unfolding. 

It is all of you. 

I won the happiness lottery, the lottery that gave me a pass to enter the world of feeling good enough, a lottery that allowed me to throw away all the hats, a lottery that gifted me awareness and acceptance of my self. The lottery that left me with only one hat to wear. 

Everyday I feel like the luckiest man in the world and you are all responsible. I love you all very much. Thank you for being in my life and being incredible examples to follow. 

Many see the world in a negative light. I choose to see all of you. This community gives me all the hope a human needs. When people complain about the state of this world I think about all of you and smile, internally and externally. I know that each and everyone of you are shifting within and without and you are impacting the world just by showing up as yourself. You give me all the hope that I need. Regardless of how much darkness engulfs us, this community will always be the flashlight that I and the world needs. 

It’s only by standing on the shoulders of this community that I am able to see the beauty that lies ahead.