I just realized that it’s been quite a while since I last put together a gratitude list. So, I figured now is as appropriate a time as any to do that.

Especially in trying circumstances like these, where we’re all enduring our own challenges and hardships, it’s valuable to reflect back on all the good in our lives. This doesn’t mean there is no room for improvement or circumstances we’d like to see improve. Of course there are. We all know that. All the same, by expressing our gratitude, publicly or privately, we can better appreciate the things we might otherwise take for granted.

Happy and Healthy (-ish)

Our family has been very fortunate, all things considered. No one in my immediate family has contracted COVID, and everyone who is eligible for the vaccine is fully vaccinated. We haven’t had to deal with any medical emergencies or had any real health scares. That’s saying a lot, when you take stock of everything that’s been going on.

Outside of the usual things — Are the kids still on their growth curves? Is my back pain any worse than it normally is? — we’ve been okay. Better still, as I mentioned on CBC Radio recently, baby Max finally got to meet his great-grandma in person at dim sum. If that’s not something to celebrate and to be grateful for, I don’t know what is.

PNE Fair 2021

Last year, the Fair at the PNE almost got cancelled. They ran it as a drive-thru experience instead, similar to WinterLights. We didn’t go. This year, the PNE Fair returned with a “FUNdamentals” approach. No, it wasn’t nearly as big as it normally is. They didn’t have anything at the Forum, the Garden Auditorium, the Agrodome, Pacific Coliseum or Rollerland. But, they did have the Superdogs, a good variety of fair food, and most of the Playland rides. So, we made a day of it and the weather cooperated. That’s not too shabby.

Financial Security

It’s hard not to feel guilty when you’re coming from a place of obvious privilege. There are lots of people out there who lost their jobs and have really had to struggle recently. And plenty of people working in the service industry have had to deal with extremely challenging circumstances. Meanwhile, I’ve been lucky enough to keep working from home and even get a promotion of sorts.

This pandemic has really shone a spotlight on this dramatic disparity. While some people struggled to keep up with rent and bills, investors have enjoyed record returns. After an initial blip, my mutual funds have grown substantially in the last year. The S&P 500 has a 1-year return of over 20%, compared to the long-term average of 6.61%. The rich get richer.

Nature in My Backyard

This pandemic has encouraged all of us to stay closer to home. We haven’t traveled, not even locally. Thankfully, I am eternally grateful that I have so much to explore mere steps (okay, a few more than “mere”) away from home. A great example is when I took the time to ascend Burnaby Mountain and take in the Playground of the Gods. I’d passed by before, back when we dined at the now-closed Horizons Restaurant, but never took the time to take it all in. And at sunset to boot. It’s beautiful.

Lots of Reading

Everything is about how you choose to see the situation. It’s a matter of perspective. Because we’ve got a baby in the house, and his room is right by the living room, this has limited my TV watching time. When he’s awake, I can’t watch TV, because we’re trying to minimize screen time. When he’s asleep, I can’t watch TV, because it might wake him. So, maybe that’s part of the reason why I’ve been reading more books.

As you might recall, my goals for this year have to do with establishing and/or reinforcing good habits. Among them is the desire to keep reading more… and I definitely have been. The goal was to read 25 books this year, but I’ve already completed 37 books so far. And we’ve still almost four full months left!

#5DadsGoWild Is a Go

Funny story. I almost didn’t go to the first #5DadsGoWild camping trip in 2018. I had never been tent camping before, ever, in my life. Looking back, it was one of the better decisions I’ve made. Yes, my tent collapsed under the snow in 2019. And we were eaten alive by mosquitoes last summer. All the same, we had a great time and we’re heading back into the woods next month for another 5 Dads Go Wild camping trip.

This time around, we’re adding a new face to the mix. You probably know David Pierre better as Life With Benjamin. His Instagram account in particular is out of this world. Well, he’s joining our rag-tag group of dad bloggers and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him. Be sure to follow Stephen, James and Stacey as well. Oh, and me too.

As much as things change and as challenging as circumstances can be, I am extremely grateful to have this sense of connection with my fellow dad bloggers online. With 5 Dads Go Wild, our online friendship transcends our web browsers and enters the real world… and then we share our experiences with you via our online channels again. As George Lucas so famously said, “It’s like poetry. They rhyme.”

When was the last time you expressed gratitude for something good in your life? What are you most grateful for?