A few days into our Spring Break road trip, I was driving down a two-lane road in a beach town in Alabama with my 13-year-old son.

He looked around and said, "It would be great to be rich, move to a beach town like this, be happy, and just read each day to be smart."

He wasn't wrong. But it was also an opportunity to teach. I said, "It's important to provide and to slow down in life in order to refresh. But you and I aren't called to be selfish. We are called to be a blessing to other people."

He went quiet. I don't know if it landed, but those moments are the ones you relish as a dad. A few days later, I came across a quote that put words to exactly what I was thinking:

Here's what struck me. Money comes and goes. Freedom isn't free. And silence can only be navigated for so long. But gratitude? That's something you can practice every single day, regardless of your circumstances.

I was incredibly grateful for that afternoon. A long car ride and a round of golf with my son were something I could be grateful for in the moment and as a memory in life.

You don't have to be on vacation to be grateful. You don't have to be wealthy, happy, or even smart in order to be grateful.

You just have to be intentional enough to look for it. It's there in every situation if you're willing to find it.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.