As I mentioned earlier today, I’m not just a Grateful Dad on Father’s Day.

I believe in feeling and expressing my gratefulness every single day. As many times as I can and in as many ways as I can think of. I begin by spending a little quiet time each morning thinking about what I am most grateful for…and it’s not just about making a list of people and things. I think about why I am grateful for them and how they have enhanced my life. This allows me to move into my day in a very positive, uplifted frame of mind.

Personally, I have observed that when I focus on all of the things I have to be grateful for, I find more and more things to appreciate. In other words, I attract more grate stuff into my experience! Since our energy flows where our attention goes, I am diligent about focusing my attention on appreciation.

One of the simple ways I do this is to look at my license plate holder every time I go out to my car. It features that Dancing Bears along with the words Have a Grateful Day! It’s a fun and gentle reminder to keep my attention on appreciation.

With this in mind, I have two questions for you:

1. What are you most grateful for in your life?

2. What are you now going to do to remind yourself several times each day of all the things you have to be grateful for in your life?

I am truly a Grateful Dad. And not just because it’s Father’s Day. Although today is a grate excuse to wear my Grateful Dad t-shirt, which my darling daughters got me for my birthday a few months back from our friends at Grateful Graphics.

I am most grateful for my amazing family. My beautiful wife, Lisa, and our fantabulous twin daughters who are on the cusp of teenagedom (which, if I’m being totally honest, is a bit scary). They are the greatest love and joy of my life.

This morning these wonderful people presented me with most excellent Father’s Day gifts. The first was Mudcrutch, the new cd from Tom Petty and his band from 30+ years ago. The second was Nine Lives, Steve Winwood’s latest. Adding to the coolness of this gift is the fact that we’re all going to see Petty and Winwood together at Summerfest on July 5th. Speaking of Summerfest, The World’s Largest Music Festival, stay tuned for a very special announcement this week.

Have a grateful day!

June 15, 1956: On this day Paul McCartney and John Lennon met in Liverpool. Shortly thereafter Lennon invited McCartney to join The Quarrymen.

And the world of music would never be the same.

Rock on.

June 14, 1965: Our poet laureate, Bob Dylan, recorded “Like a Rolling Stone.”

June 13, 1958: Frank Zappa, the Dr. Seuss of Rock & Roll, graduated from high school.

“Teach your parents well.”-Graham Nash

Everyone remembers the title of the song about teaching our children well, but this part of the song often gets lost. Our children are our best teachers, but only if we are paying attention. And you don’t need to be a parent to learn from children. Just watch them play.

Children teach us the immense benefits of laughter, play and joy. Actually, they teach us what we already know at some level. As children we all knew these things. Sadly, most adults seem to have forgotten them.

Among the many things my kids have taught me (or reminded me of) are:

1. The value of a smile, a hug and unconditional love.

2. Laugh more.

3. Don’t worry. It serves no useful purpose.

4. Stop sweating the small stuff.

5. Lighten up. They often remind me of this when I’m acting like a typical grownup. In other words, when I’m visibly stressed out.

And finally, this gem from my daughter Alex at age 7, “I have a Pez dispenser and a canteen full of water. I’m ready to face the world.” Sheer profundity!

I know I have learned far more from my amazing daughters than I can express. For that I am eternally and tremendously grateful. Thank you, girls!

Whoever said children should be seen and not heard was a freakin’ idiot. Listen to the children as they possess wisdom beyond their years.

The Who proclaimed The Kids Are Alright, but they are much more than alright. They’re brilliant. At least until they become teenagers. Then all bets are off.

The first person who knows where the phrase “sheer profundity” came from wins a copy of my latest book, The New Idiot-Proof Guide to Customer Loyalty. Hint: Graham Nash was involved.

June 7, 1969: Supergroup Blind Faith played their first concert in London at Hyde Park. The show was free and attracted 120,000 fans.

June 7, 1993: The ground-breaking ceremony took place for our holy land, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Teach your children well.”-Graham Nash

Our children represent the future and it is incumbent upon us to teach them well. We all have a vested interest in the future so it is crucial for each of us to accept responsibility in this vital endeavor.

Since children learn so much more from our actions than our words, it is imperative that we set an example by modeling the behaviors we hope they will emulate.

Children are like sponges in that they absorb information and learn much more rapidly than adults, so the time to set the proper examples and teach them well is right now.

If for no other reason, teach your children well and be nice to them because they are the ones who will choose your nursing home.

June 6, 1970: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released the song Teach Your Children.

This has to be one of my favorite songs that Graham Nash has written.

The fabulous folks at Rock Revival beat me to it. They asked for my favorite non-rock albums and then got the list up on their blog before I had a chance to.

In the true slacker spirit, I’ll let you go to their blog to view them.