I came across the idea of magical moments some time ago. We all have magical moments in our lives, that’s undoubtable. The question is really, do we notice them, and how much of them do we remember? Paiboon makes a great point for capturing down our magical moments, so I won’t repeat myself here, and he does have the the warmest smile I’ve ever seen from anybody so there must be something to it

If you haven’t read My Treasure Box yet, go devour it now before you come back and continue reading!

It’s been documented that people who lead healthier and longer lives are, surprise suprise, more positive in their attitudes. And one of the keys to their positivity is that they tend to remember more of the good times they’ve had than the bad.

Looking back on these last 7 days, it’s been a real trip. I can’t imagine, for example, that it was just 5 days ago on Day 3 that I was involved in a traffic accident, restraining someone to wait for the ambulance! But the act of capturing it down has helped me to remember, and given a place for me to review it.

And the most obvious thing about the last 7 days that’s been all the same is; the things I’ve been most grateful more weren’t things; it was people. The people I love and who love me make my life rich beyond any of the material things that I’m have (which I’m grateful for too), and I am so so grateful to have them in my life.

The challenge has been a good experience for me. For those who’ve been following me through these last 7 days, what’s been your experience? What have you learnt and gained from these last 7 Days of Gratitude?

We went to the Esplanade roof-top, a cultural building just besides the river. And as we both laid there on the wooden floor, just lazing and gazing up at the sky, he said; ‘how often do you get to just lie here on a monday afternoon on the roof of the Esplanade, watching the sky and looking at planes flying overhead leaving little cloud trails in their wake?’

And it was true, it was only because of the craziest of coincidences that we’d both decided to leave our jobs and be freelancers that we could be there at that moment enjoying each other’s company. Not to mention the years of jokes, poking fun at each other, hardships and heart-to-heart talks that we’ve seen each other through that’s built our friendship to the level it is now.

I’m really grateful to have him in my life, and to enjoy his friendship still after all these years. In fact, my polytechnic friends are amongst the best I have and I’m so grateful for them all.

Which are the moments in your life that you get to spend with your favorite people that you’re most grateful for?

P.S. After (much) hinting from Stuart, I’d like to announce that (ahem cough cough) I’m grateful to him as well (ahem ahem cough).

Just kidding!

In fact, thanks Stuart for the invite to your Internet Marketing seminars. It’s been a blast and I really appreciate it.

Yesterday was an interesting day. I got to make a new friend recently and last night we went out for the first time. It was a new opportunity to make a friend and I’m really grateful for that, especially since one of my goals this year is to widen my social circle.

Yay, goal accomplishing!

What about you? What’s one goal or direction in your life that you’re grateful to have accomplished?

It was my friend Gabriel’s birthday earlier this week, and I met him today for some coffee and to pass him his birthday gift (one of my favorite books; Veronika Decides to Die). We had a nice chat, had dinner with his girlfriend and friends, and decided to go play LAN games afterwards (DOTA Allstars on Frozen Throne, one of my all-time favorites!).

It was a really special moment because Gabriel is one of the 2 longest standing friends I have. I’ve known him since I was 12, and that makes for 15 years of friendship now (wow! even I’m surprised). That’s a long time. Even though we haven’t always kept in touch, we’ve remained easy friends. His friendship is something I value, and the fact that we’ve made it thus far, and seen each other through so many changes, not to mention the fact that I wouldn’t have had my last girlfriend if he hadn’t introduced her to me, is something I am immensely grateful for.

What’s one thing you’re grateful for in your life today? Even if you don’t write it down in our comments section (which I do recommend you do), do take a moment to think about it…

I really love my mom.

She works so hard to take care of everything in the house so that the rest of us can do what we do. I don’t care what anyone else says, being a homemaker is as tough a job, and as important a job as they come, and it deserves the ultimate respect.

I’m very grateful to have such a loving person in my life. Today I’m grateful for my mom.

So today’s coach’s challenge to you is this, who is one person that you’re absolutely grateful to have in your life?

I’m typing this as it just happened, a few minutes ago. I was on my way home from the neighbourhood gym when I saw a downed motorcycle at the traffic light. I saw a few people rush over to help and so did I, and when I helped lift the motorcycle up I saw her: a little girl of 8 had been hit and was lying crying on the ground.

The men helped carry her over to the side of the road while I called for an ambulance. I noticed, however, that her mom wasn’t showing the usual high levels of distress or anxiety I’d expect…nevertheless, I made the call, and told her about it.

She’d seen a lump forming on her daughter’s head, most likely from where she had fallen…and she proceeded to rub vigorously on it! Even without the little first aid training I’ve had, I knew this was a major no-no, as there was no telling to the nature of the injury. I asked her to stop, and when she didn’t listen, I had to physically take her hand away from her daughter. That’s when I started to wonder…

When I told her the ambulance was coming, she said fine. Then she made her little girl stand, and wanted to take her home, because in her words, she wanted to change her daughter’s clothes first before seeing the doctor, and then proceeded to cross the road to go home! At this point I strongly began to suspect that the mom was…shall we say, mentally challenged.

At this point, I knew I had a choice. I could blow it off, and say that it wasn’t my problem, after all, it was her daughter and her decision. Or I could say that I wasn’t going to let it go down like this, because the little girl needed medical attention, even if it was just for minor injuries. I decided to take charge.

I grabbed the mother by the hands to stop her, all the while telling her to wait, but she wouldn’t listen, and kept insisting on taking her daughter home. I had to restrain her and only made it as far as the other side of the road before she stopped. All this while, nobody else was doing anything. I’ll have to admit, I was pretty nervous and unsure of myself at this point, but I felt I had to do the right thing. I kept reassuring her that the ambulance was coming, and all she had to do was wait a few more minutes. And I started to make soothing sounds to her daughter too, who had been howling all this while.

The motorcyclist came over too and helped me to persuade her to stay. He had a cut on his face, and was bleeding quite badly, but he behaved responsibly.

Just as I was wondering what else to do besides repeating myself over and over again that it was going to be ok, just wait a while more, and wondering just where the ambulance was, I saw to my relief, a passing police car. Some help at last! I flagged it down, and the policemen came to my assistance. The ambulance came a while later, and I left the mother and her daughter in the good hands of the paramedics and police, knowing they’d take care of everything.

Today has been a little different, to say the least!

Today I’m grateful for a different reason; I’m grateful for me. I’m grateful I was there to help out. Because no-one was stopping the mom from taking her daughter away from seeing the paramedics, and who knows what might have happened? It could have been nothing, or it could have made all the difference. And that’s what I’m grateful for, that I was there, and I was able to make a difference.

So in light of today’s events, my coach’s challenge for Day 3 of the 7 Days of Gratitude is going to be a little different. Think about this; when was a time in your life in which you were grateful for you? That because of where, when and who you were, you made a difference in that place and time for the people around you?

This is no ordinary question, I urge you to take the time, reflect upon the question and answer it, and I guarantee it will make all the difference.