What are you grateful for?

I realize that question is typically asked around Thanksgiving.  But I think it is important to reflect on that question more than just once a year.

I just had a milestone birthday (55!).  Five years ago I was in Washington, D.C., at a conference, hanging out with friends, when one asked me what I was grateful for during my first 50 years.  I thought about it and it took about a month to come up with the right list.  Here it is if you want to take a look.

And in honor of my 55^th, I’ll add five more things to that list:

51. The kinds of conversations that make you smarter for having had them.
52. Mail-in ballots to ensure that I never miss an election – there have been a few lately that I almost missed because I was traveling.
53. Uber.
54. Audible (and other online book providers) to help the time on the morning walk feel even more productive.
55. My experience. I teach a class at Phoenix College and one at Arizona State University. I mentor kids at my Temple who are about to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah. I’ll meet with up and coming professionals. It’s nice to share what I know.  And I always learn something in the process.