My thoughts on being grateful sparked by this story:
The other day we had some friends over to the house for a BBQ and while in the back yard enjoying ourselves one friend noticed that the area by our air conditioner was a little flooded. I assumed the area was flooding because we had been running the sprinklers too much but my wife assured me that we stopped watering that part of the lawn as much because of the flooding going on. So we investigated further. The valves for the sprinklers are right next to the air conditioning unit so we opened that up and used a cup to bail the water out of the box. We found that a sprinkler valve was leaking and when we tried to adjust it so it would stop leaking we made it worse. I ended up shutting the main water line off thinking I would fix it the next day without too much trouble.
The next day came and I went out to fix the valve. I unscrewed the top and tried to clean it out so the valve would make a good seal but had no luck. I decided the best option would be to just buy a new valve so I headed to the store. I brought the valve along so I could make sure that I got a valve with the same sized pipe connections and one that was the same length to ensure I would be able to put the new valve in place of the old without any trouble. While at the store I forgot about the length part of the equation and just bought a Rainbird valve because I like the quality of the brand and returned home.
I removed the solenoid from the valve and screwed it onto the pipe. At this point I realized that the valve was a little longer than the old valve and since there were three valves all connected to a main pipe the valves needed to be the same length. So with a few choice words muttered under my breath and feeling a bit frustrated with myself I took the valve off and decided to go to the store and find a valve of the same size as the old valve. I came to find out that they didn’t sell the same valves at the store so I got stuck buying two more new valves. Feeling even more frustrated now I went back home and just kept feeling so annoyed at the situation. When I was almost home I started asking myself why I felt so frustrated and realized that as frustrating as the situation was if I were grateful for having sprinklers, for having the ability to fix them and just grateful in general I would be a lot less frustrated. So I got out my phone and recorded a short video explaining the situation and how I realized I need to be more grateful which I thought would make a great thoughtful Thursday. Then I went on fixing the sprinklers
At this point it is getting dark and I need to work fast. I get the old valves off and start putting the new ones in. The last valve is the closest to where the pipe comes into the box so as I am trying to bend the pipe far enough out to slip the valve in I break the pipe. Never have I so quickly forgotten to take my own advice and just be grateful. I was so frustrated. It was too late to go back to the store to get pipe fittings and I was going to have to dig up the whole box anyway to see what exactly I needed. My project I thought was going to take a couple hours at most was now going to take two evenings at least. I was definitely not grateful.
The next day however I got home from work and started working on digging up the sprinkler box and figuring out what I needed to fix the pipe. I went to the store and bought a few pipe fittings and some extra pipe. I spent the rest of the evening cutting pipe and fitting the new valves. This go around though, I was more grateful that I had a home and that I had sprinklers. I was grateful I had a yard that I could have friends over to BBQ, that I had AC, that I had a wife etc. I got the job done and I felt accomplished and I felt a lot less frustrated than I had the night before. So from my experience I know it isn’t always easy to be grateful, even when you have just remembered moments before that being grateful would make your life more enjoyable, but I know it will make life more enjoyable. Being grateful will change your heart and change your attitude when faced with struggles however small or large they may be. The challenge is to remember to be grateful which is what I would recommend you try. Let me know how being grateful has changed your life or changed a situation from difficult to enjoyable in the comments below!
And just for fun here are some things I am grateful for!
I am grateful for beautiful sunsets.
I am grateful for wakeboarding and smooth water.
I am grateful for the little things that make me laugh like my dog wearing pants!
I am grateful for my amazing wife. I couldn’t say enough good about her!
I am grateful for fun trips!
I am grateful for my little family.
I am grateful for my shed and friends who help me late into the night.
I am grateful for my dirt bike.
I am grateful for my gangsta baby haha!
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