A pretty sweet message to bring into the new year, especially given the location in Kolkata, India, where superhero references are not an everyday occurrence.

fathers day

I have always loved this photo and seems appropriate to share it on fathers day

This is a photo of my dad and I sitting side by side last year, and it captures the essence of our relationship and what he has given me. I got his long, lean legs, and I am eternally grateful for that! Although not so much in my earlier years while he cheered me on and supported me through the gangly "daddy long legs" stage, pants were never long enough and too tall for the cute boys’ often angst-ridden tween and teen years.

That support, of course, continued into my adult years, as he walked me down the aisle to my husband of five years in my favorite running shoes to meet the Elvis impersonator as we renewed our vows for my parents in Las Vegas the night before a marathon we were doing together. I am almost certain that was not his dream for me, but I never would have known it as he laughed, got into it, and cheered those legs on the next day and many races after.

I witnessed fitness as a priority from an early age and was always encouraged to explore that realm as he celebrated my first jump off the high dive and countless other milestones and received clear course correction only when needed:)

He supported me with a word, a shoulder, or even a check (or ten) as I progressed through the corporate world, always with sound advice and loving support. I continue to embrace and use all the leadership and good human qualities he demonstrated through thoughtful action throughout his career.

Thank you, Dad, for all you have given me, the strong legs to stand on and the grace to move forward in my life. You are an amazing human, and I love and appreciate you very much!

What I am grateful for by Kathy Russell

I am grateful for my neighbors, Ian Kelsey and Megan, whose ages range from 6 to 9 years old. They continue to remind me of innocence, joy, and laughter, and that as an adult, I have learned to take myself much too seriously.

As we spend time together hiking or playing go-fish, they remind me to live in the moment and be happy as they are, because you never know when that moment will be taken away.

by Stef Cheneby, grateful at 43

I look back at 43 years and I think, "Oh my god! I am so grateful to be where I am, and this is the result of all the experiences I have lived through.” The good ones and the bad ones. The pleasant ones and the painful ones. The laughter and the tears. The birth and the death. The joys and the fears.

I have finally manifested many experiences I thought would only be for others when I started believing in myself and realizing I could not change the present, but I could change my future.

I changed my mindset from what else could go wrong to what else could go perfectly.

I am grateful for all my friends, for they make every moment even more enjoyable.

I am grateful for those who tried to hurt me, for they succeeded in making me stronger and more powerful.

I am grateful for the latest discovery: I look in my backup hard drives for a beautiful photo of a butterfly I took years ago, and I discover the folder with all my photos is gone. 43 years of photos of me are gone. The folders for Mom, Dad, Rico, my daughter, Chloe, my dog, Braun, and many more are still there. So I decided to be grateful for what I have instead of whining about what I lost.

I decided to be grateful and see it as a gift from the Universe. I have nowhere to look back so I can only look forward.