A Journey of Thanks

The Big 3-0...the day is finally here!

2007-12-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

Last year on this date I began my blog with this entry...

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

The Journey Begins!

Good morning! Welcome to December 5, 2006...my 29th birthday and my first post on my first blog. What will follow is my "Journey of Thanks." Between now and my 30th Birthday I plan to review my life and thank all of those people who made an impact on my life. What will show up when you live a life of gratitude? What will show up when you take the moment to get present to those who impacted your live? What gets created in the world when you actually take the moment to write people a thank you note? Time will tell...The Journey
Begins!

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Now one year later I return and reflect back on the project that has seen various phases and stages. The first few months of the project I was on fire, writing in the blog, keeping a gratitude journal, sharing my thoughts on video, and even sending out a few thank you notes. Being in that state of gratitude helped keep me present in the moment and I enjoyed the magic of every experience.

So the facts are time passed and the focus on the creating the actual documentary and keeping up on the blog shifted. My state of gratitude didn't change just my commitment to keeping track of it all did. What I see now as I read back on some of those precious moments of thanks, like when my son became potty trained or seeing the way the exhaust floats around a car when it's 10 below in such a magical dance. These are moments have had a thousand times over during this past year but unless you stop to write them down and give thanks for viewing them you tend to forget.

As a result of having a hit or miss blog, I thought I'd do a recap of all the things I've been thankful for and grateful for over the past year. I spoke to someone the other day who said, "It's not that what you declared didn't happen. It just took on a different time-line than you had planned. As with any declaration you can always redeclare! And besides it's not like you haven't been up to some big things this year!"

Therefore, I take this moment now, on my 30th birthday and reflect on what magic and miracles have occurred over this past year and give thanks for all that manifested and all that is still to come...

March 2007
- The biggest transformation that occurred for me this year was choosing to change career paths and I resigned from my position at the production company I had been employed at for the past 7 years. My wife Chanda and I started our own company Parkinson Productions, Inc. and we pursued our work as mediums and intuitives.

April 2007
- I woke up on the morning of the 6th with this BAMB of an idea. I saw Chanda and I on the Ellen show and it struck me, I wouldn't be on Ellen for the journey of thanks, we'd be on her show for the work that we do together. So that morning a travel show idea with Chanda and I as hosts was born.
- This month we officially became incorporated. And the energy and momentum of our new journey came on full force.

May 2007
- Talk about jumping in with both feet...this month I finished at my full time job, my work as a medium was featured in a news story on KVLY, we helped organize the first annual Fargo Holistic Expo and my family hit the road for a 6 week adventure down the west coast. For a complete recap of that experience you can check out our travel blog...

June 2007
- This month saw two weeks in Hawaii in a condo right on the water and two weeks in Montana sharing messages from spirit and connecting with my family at a reunion.

July 2007
- Returned to Fargo after a non-stop adventure and reconnected with the production company I had worked for. Suddenly I manifested a perfect world where I could do my work as a medium and also keep connected as a filmmaker.
- Also this month contained a date that changed everything...It was Monday, July 30th and Chanda and I were in Minneapolis for a public event. We were a little nervous as it was the first time we'd presented an event together in Minneapolis and as a result I said to Chanda, "What if today was the day that changed everything? What if we just declared that this day is the day that forever transforms our lives?" So we did and as a result we had an extraordinary evening of communication, we were approached by a tv rep about exploring a tv series idea with Chanda and I as hosts (the flash from April was manifesting) and I returned home that evening to find an email from a publishing company asking if I'd be interested in submitting a proposal for a book about my work as a medium. WOW...its still causes me to pause and the pure gratitude I feel inside still humbles me. Could it be that easy? Could the universe simply grant your request when the request comes from a place of pure love and inspiration? Apparently so. And that date will be a red letter date in our calendar because from that moment to this moment life has evolved in such wonderful extraordinary ways.

August 2007
- Jacob turned 4 and he has brought me some of my most profound moments of gratitude throughout this journey.
- On Friday, August 24th at 3:02 p.m. - while Chanda and I were up in Minot, ND sharing our work I received a call from the publishing company saying they loved my proposal for my book and they were very excited to work with me!

September 2007
-We shot the interview sequences for the tv demo we are creating to pitch to networks. I won't say too much here but it's a travel show with an intuitive twist. Hosted by the husband-wife medium psychic team and their 4 year old son. It was the first step in a process of a new adventure.
-We had an extraordinary week and a half trip to Montana where we shared our work as mediums and intuitives in Babb, Missoula, and Helena. Truly a magical trip and it was such a blessing to be amongst such wonderful people. Chanda sums up the experience so beautifully on our travel blog...

October 2007
- A lot occurred in the month of October but one date that sticks in my mind is Oct. 24. That is the day we heard that the production company who had originally been planning to produce the demo for the tv show Chanda and I were proposing backed out of the agreement. I know it was a difficult decision for them and it was hard to hear but the blessing that came out of that day was we became the sole producers of the series and with the help of our rep we moved forward in creating the demo. Another day of gratitude when the universe showed us another way to truly come into our own and what we want for our lives.

November 2007
- During this month of thanks, Chanda went to Sedona, AZ and became a certified past life regression counselor, I was a guest speaker at the Edge Life Expo in Minneapolis and we shot and completed the demo for the tv show. A jammed pack month full of many opportunities of thanks.
- This month also saw one of the most precious conversations I've ever had with my son Jacob. I was taking him to school one day and he asked me, "Daddy where do you work?" And I said, "When I'm at the studio or at home." He said, "Both." I continued, "When I'm at the studio I make tv shows and when I'm at home I have sessions with people." He said, "Is that when you talk to God?" In amazement I responded, "Yes." He continued, "Well how do you know where God is?" I responded, "Well, God is in everything, God is in the trees, in the grass, he's in you..." and before I could finish Jake interjected, "And he's in YOU!" It was a beautiful exchange and still warms my heart as I think of it now.

December 2007
- I guess that brings up right up to today. I've spent the morning writing this entry and during that time I've received a number of birthday greetings via email and event a knock at the door and a gift of homemade baklava from our friend Nukhet! And let me tell you it is hands down the BEST BAKLAVA I HAVE EVER TASTED!!! I'm still drooling.

So where do I go from here? Well, the day is still young and there is a lot to see and do before my birthday is over. As for the project, The Journey of Thanks continues. I may not have created the documentary I had originally planned on or written all the thank you notes yet. But just because the year is up doesn't mean I spot being grateful. I can tell you I've been more present to gratitude this year than any other and now to top off the morning, I sign my book contract with Llewellyn and the rest as they say is history.

Love and peace to you and many thanks for all you provide in the world!

Welcome to a Month of Thanks!

2007-11-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Here we are the month of November...a time to reflect on gratitude and a time to revisit and revive my journey of thanks. This month you'll find more postings, updates and the count down to my 30th birthday. The project has evolved and shifted since its inception and my list of thank yous continues to grow daily.

Today is November 1st and I'm so happy and grateful to serve others, connect with my wife and laugh with my son.

Many, Many Thanks

2007-10-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

So much has occurred since last I wrote...and so much to be thankful for. Updates will be coming soon as this Journey of Thanks continues to evolve.

My Boy's Birthday

2007-08-03T08:39:00.001-07:00

Four years ago today my son was born. As I reflect back on that precious moment in time I have nothing but gratitude in my heart. Jake is such a little man now it floors me. This morning Chanda and I sang happy birthday to him and when we were done he said "Thank You." And I could have sworn he was 40 not 4.

There are new developments coming on this Journey of Thanks. Stay tuned for a focused three months coming this September!

Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Grateful from the Road

2007-05-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months since my last post and it's not to say I haven't been thankful. I'm currently in LA preparing to fly to Honolulu for twelve days. So much to be thankful for these days...our family is on a new adventure and finding those moments of gratitude these days is not to hard. LIFE IS GREAT!

I'm so happy and grateful to be on this wonderful adventure with my family. To read more about that adventure check out... http://theparkinsonadventures.blogspot.com/

Troy

New Beginnings!

2007-04-09T05:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Happy Easter and welcome to a day of new beginnings! I'm so happy and grateful for today because today is the official incorporation date for my wife and my new business. As of today, Parkinson Productions, Inc. is an official S-corp. I share this news because it's a reminder of new beginnings, that in each moment of the now is an opportunity to create. Parkinson Productions is a company with a mission to create inspiring workshops, products and events for the spirit, mind and body. So stay tuned for all the exciting things that will come. A Journey of Thanks is one of those creations...LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

Every Moment is an Opportunity

2007-03-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Every moment is a moment to choose...today I chose to get up work out and enter a post in my blog. I recognize that I'm always on the journey and it's simply just a choice to keep this blog updated or not. Take out the emotion, take out the drama and just connect and the miracles start to flow.

I'm so happy and grateful now that I'm home with my family and full of energy and life.

Life is great...why? - because I say so!

Community

2007-02-28T05:21:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thankful for community. I'm very clear that the magic and miracles in life occur through sharing with others and connected with their spirits. We attend a Course in Miracles group here in Fargo and the insight and wisdom from that text is incredible. I love our group and I love being connected to such like minded people. So today as I prepare for my day, I'm thankful for community. Now let's see what shows up in this space of gratitude.

Thank Yous at the Oscars

2007-02-26T05:18:00.000-08:00

Well, last night was the Oscars and all the stars were out to celebrate! There were many things I enjoyed about the evening...in fact, I've always loved watching the program. But last night gratitude was flowing and there were two "thank you" moments that stood out which I thought I'd reference.

1) During Ellen's interview with Barbara Walters she was asked if she could say anything to God what would she say? And her response was, "Thank You." Ellen went on to say how grateful she was for her life, etc.

2) The addition of the "Thank You Cam" a backstage camera that streamed the winner's thank yous. You can check them out here.

I fun evening, a historic night and an evening FULL of thanks!

I'm not alone!

2007-02-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

On this journey I've seen miracles occur and then I've gone weeks without "seeing" anything. I guess it's not that I didn't see anything, it's just that I didn't write them down. I'm so clear that when one does not stop to give thanks and really become present to the miracles of the moment life passes by and the drama, weight, fear and anxiety creeps back in. And why? Because it maybe easier. It's easier to go with fear because that is what we know...but in the face of fear is where courage lives. So for today...I choose to live in courage. I'm so happy and grateful now that I have the morning off to write this, that I was able to see my son off to school and that I'll be having our friend Annette come over to dowse our house.

Three Things of Thanks...

2007-01-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things I'm thankful for since my last post...

1) The Course of Miracles: My wife and I have joined a local study group here in Fargo. It's a very deep text but insights have been flowing since we began. If you're not familiar with the text you can read more about it here or at a great blog by our friend Jodee

2) The Red Bridge Inn: We had a wonderful stay at the Red Bridge Inn in Park Rapids, MN. Chanda and I and our friend Sheri went for a little "retreat" to brainstorm ideas and get connected. I've never stayed at a bed and breakfast before that had such wonderful hosts. Kevin and Jennie were wonderful from the moment we walked in! Well worth the stay.

3) Potty Trained: Yes, I'm SO HAPPY AND GRATEFUL that our son Jacob is potty trained. It was like one day he woke up and said ok I'm just going to do this and he does. My favorite part in this is when he tells me how many times he went in a day. "Daddy I went 3 times...5 times..." But the funny thing is, it is not necessarly how many times he sits on the toliet. It's how many poops he had in the toliet when he stands up. The other night he looked in and saw three little poops and said, "Look Daddy, I went 3 times!"

These are just three blessings and moments of gratitude from the past week. More where there and more are already on there way!

International Thank You Day!

2007-01-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Today is International Thank you Day! How perfect that a day like this exists in the world and to discover it on this Journey. I can't find too much info on the history of the day, some think it was just made up by the greeting card companies...maybe that is why the best info I found was from a greeting cards site! Click here to read more about this day...

Don't forget your Thank Yous today!

A Moment of Pure Gratitude

2007-01-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

This entry is short but it's something I want to remember. Yesterday, I experienced a moment of thanks that moved me to tears. My three year old, Jacob, and I were out for supper (But calls everything "lunch") and right in the middle of our Subway sandwiches he leans over puts his hand on my arm and says, "I love you, Daddy." I was moved by his little act of love. I held back my tears a little bit as I didn't want to cry in Subway but I recognized the beauty of the moment and just sat there and savored this experience. I've had these moments before with Jake and it is such a deep connection and it impacts me on such an emotional level, the tears that well and the joy I feel comes from that space of gratitude. I'm so happy and grateful to be Jacob's Dad and to have a son who shows his love in such wonderful sweet ways.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

It has arrived...2007 is here and something tells me it is going to be an extraordinary year!! This year is the year of Declarations! I'm choosing to shift the conversation this year...so rather than make a list of resolutions, I'm committed to speaking from the top of the mountain my list of DECLARATIONS! The power of the declaration is what has already propelled me forward in so many exciting ways. My enthusiasm for this year started when I declared my "Journey of Thanks" and I'm so joyful to be in this state of gratitude. Now as I enter the New Year I also declare a new commitment to health and wellness. I've help create a "Declaration for Transformation in 2007" at my local fitness club. It all started with a moment of inspiration and suddenly I'm co-creating this 19 week program with the club owners. One thing you have to get about me...the whole weight training and exercise domain has never been a real profound part of my life. Don't get me wrong, my family eats well and everything and I do exercise from time to time but to take on this program is a new world. So the fact that I'm sitting there at the club sharing about what I'm committed to and how we can create this fitness program is quite a trip! I've attached a photo so you can see what I'm committed to...you can see my before picture and my vision and declaration for my "after" photo. (If you can't tell I've posted my head on another body.) I'll post the results at the half way point in 9.5 weeks and then again at the end. The program officially starts January 15th! Let the transformation begin.

"I'm so happy and grateful now that my body is in peak performance and I have succeeded in achieving my delcaration of transforming my health and wellness!"

The Day After Christmas...

2006-12-26T06:56:00.000-08:00

...and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. It's a pretty quite morning here at the Parkinson household. My wife and son are still up in Burlington, ND with her family and I'm home with the morning off sitting in a quite house taking these moments to be grateful!

I was thinking back on what this month was like back in 1977. On the 26th, I would have been only 21 days old and yet there would have been so many people I would have been grateful for already...all the people at the hospital, my family, friends of my family, strangers, etc.

I'm actually able to get a very clear picture of those first few weeks since my mother was so diligent at tracking those days in my baby book. What a trip to read her handwriting from 29 years ago! I was born on the 5th and had eight visitors that first day. On Dec 8th, we went home...on the 16th my cord fell off...on the 18th I went to church for the first time and played Baby Jesus in the Christmas program. Each experience, each moment leaving an impact on my life whether I was aware of it or not.

Today was the first time I actually sat down and read through my baby book. Being able to look back on those weeks with such detail is truly an amazing gift and I give thanks to my mother for keep such good records.

ON ANOTHER NOTE...
I do have to share how the power of thanks creates a clearing for clarity. In November, I videotaped my cousin's wedding and last week I couldn't find the video tape. So I was a little panicked and was "frantically" trying to find the tape. Okay, "frantically" is a little dramatic but I was trying to find the tape, no doubt. When I came up empty in the common places I decided to sit quietly and give thanks for finding the tape...the whole "Thanks in Advance" exercise. What I could remember about the tape was that it was green. So after I gave thanks for finding it, I was immediately remembered one other place to check...my other coat pocket. That night after work I went home to check that coat and sure enough "BAM" there was the tape. But the interesting thing was when I went to check the tape it wasn't the right tape! I had given thanks for finding the green one and I found the green one...now I realized I had to give thanks for finding the wedding footage...so I stopped gave thanks again and within a few moments..."BAM" the impression came to check the actual video camera box back at my work...well you can imagine how the "rest of the story" goes...I went to work and found the tape. So twice in the same search I gave thanks and produced results.

The Action Steps

2006-12-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Every morning when I wake becomes a new day on my journey of thanks...along this journey I've established a checklist of the things I'm committed to doing. To include you on this journey and to give you the steps you may choose to take on yourself I've included my plan here.

Everyday consists of the following:

1) "Thanks in Advance" - In the morning, I write 5 things I'm grateful for about this day in advance of them happening. This is what I'm calling "Thanks in Advance." There are examples of this in my previous posts. Be happy and grateful for the things that will occur in your day...and you'll start to see that the act of doing this step actually creates the experience.

2) "The Video Journal Entry" - Since I'm documenting this process for a film, I also record video messages everyday. These can be insights from the journey or moments I feel are worth capturing. And believe me having a 3 year old will create a lot of moments worth capturing.

3) "Writing my Thank Yous" - I also write at least one thank you note a day. This journey is about thanking all the people who have made a difference in my life. 30 years worth of people...1 year to do it...I better get busy!

4) "End of Day Thanks" - At the end of each day, I give thanks for 5 things that occurred during my day. It's a way to conclude the day with thanks.

Now to be truthful, I haven't done every item everyday, but I do commit to making sure that at least one of the four items are done each day. However, I will say that some of my most inspiring days so far have been the days where I've done all four things!

Ten Days of Insights

2006-12-17T22:13:00.000-08:00

It's been ten days since my last entry, so here is a recap on what insights and miracles have occured since I last wrote...

THANKS IN ADVANCE
One of the first steps in my day on this Journey of Thanks is to give thanks for 5 things in my day that haven't occured yet. One of the things I've come to learn is that I do need to be specific in one I'm thankful for. Case in point, on Dec. 7th I wrote, "I'm so thankful for the unexpected check in the mail." Now in my mind I'm seeing this as money coming in but I wasn't specific about the details in the thanks. So when I went home for lunch that day sure as sh*t I received a check in the mail. It wasn't a check for money coming in it was a mix up at the bank and they gave us one of our checks back. Point is, Chanda and I had a good laugh because the universe did send me an unexpected check. We just got clear that we will be MORE SPECIFIC next time!

Another powerful example of this "Thanks in Advance" came on Dec. 8th. I was working on securing a location for a video shoot we were doing for work in Louisiana. Our original location had fallen through and our local contact wasn't sure of any other land, so I had made a call to the local visitor's bureau and indicated that we were looking for a park to shoot in. I also told the woman that if she knew of anyone who might have land to let us know. So when I arrived to work on the morning of the 8th I had a little anxiety about trying to track down this location when I was in Fargo and the location was in Louisiana. Solution...give thanks. That morning I wrote, "I'm so happy and grateful for securing the location for the Louisiana shoot next week." With in an hour I received an email stating, "Dear Troy, one of my coworkers has about 40 acres of land he is willing to let you use." There I sat, dumbfounded and THRILLED that the thanks in advance had manifested itself again!

FAMILY CONNECTIONS
I'm also grateful for a nice weekend Christmas with my Dad and family. It's always a joy to connect and to share full out what we are up to. Two gifts we gave to my Dad were "The Millionaire Maker" by Loral Langemeier and a copy of "The Secret" these are two items that have had the most profound impact on our lives this year. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie...stop everything you are doing and BUY THEM NOW! Another note...we saw "Happy Feet" this weekend and there was one moment in the film that really stuck for me. It was near the end and the song "Golden Slumber/The End was being sung by K.D. Lang, and I heard the lyrics, "And in the end - The love you take - Is equal to the love - You make." Now I've heard those lyrics before of course with the Beatles...but for some reason I was moved by that scene and the power of that statement sunk in.

THE PRESENT MOMENT
And speaking of the "Now" I've been listening to "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle It's a great text on remembering the power of the present moment...the now. I'm grateful to have the work come into my life. This Journey of Thanks brings you to that present moment...that experience of now. It's a powerful place to be and it's the only place we are...NOW.

I've been tagged!

2006-12-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

On day three of my journey and I'm happy to report the "Giving Thanks In Advance" experiment still continues to produce. Yesterday I wrote down two things I was thankful for before they happened. One was a productive phone call with a colleague and the other was lunch with my wife. Now I knew both would happen I just wasn't sure how they would look. For example, I was wanting to have a nice lunch just with my wife but I also knew one of her friends would be joining us, which was still great...but not what my intention was.

They day began, I made my phone call to my colleague, it was productive but I also received a nice compliment during the call which was unexpected and greatly appreciated. As for lunch...when I showed up at home to eat I discovered that my wife's friend couldn't make it...so it turned out it was just going to be my wife and I after all. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the fact that both had manifested so great and I believe it's because I gave thanks for them in advance!

In other news...

Looks like I've been tagged ... in a virtual game of BLOG TAG!

So I'm supposed to share five things that people don't know about me, and then I get to tag five other bloggers to do the same. Although here is the interesting thing...I only know one blogger and that is the blogger that tagged me. Her name is Jodi and she inspired me to get a blog for this project. You can check her out at http://youalreadyknowthisstuff.blogspot.com/

Although I'm not sure who I'll tag next I'll at least give you some background you might not know about me...this is a good exercise since I'll be reflecting back on my past 30 years...here are five things that impacted my life.

1) When I was three weeks old I played Baby Jesus in the church program. I guess that is where I got the performance bug!

2) In third grade my Grandpa and Grandma Weyers took our family to Disney World in Florida! It was a dream come true...first time on a plane...first time seeing Mickey...and the first time I picked an orange off an orange tree!

3) I attended Trollwood Performing Arts School in Fargo. I had a teacher and mentor named Larry who encouraged us to start a journal. I've kept one now for the over last 12 years!

4) Back to the Future is my favorite movie! Now that I have a son we watch it all the time!! We even played out the exciting train scene from Back to the Future 3 last night. He used a cookie sheet for the hover board.

5) My life has been hugely impacted by seeing the film The Secret. Jodi was the first person who showed it to me and I've lost count of how many times I've seen it now!

There it is...more of me...more of the moments that made me who I am on my journey.

Have a great day!

Day Two

2006-12-06T06:25:00.000-08:00

Day two begins...and what I'm present to is that I'm tired today. I would have loved to have just kept sleeping but I knew that today was full of possibility and I chose to get up. Yesterday contained a few key moments I'd like to remember. First off, when I started my day I wrote out five things I was thankful for, one of which was a call from my friend Timm. Well, he called and I though...would he have called anyway or did my moment of thanks in advance begin to create that reality in my life? I'll be tracking those occurrences here. Also on my way to pick up my son, Jacob, I drove past a sign that may have been there for days but I never noticed it until last night. It said, "Remember to be Thankful." How perfect! Lastly, I had my family and friend Sheri, over last night for a little birthday celebration. My wife, Chanda and son gave me a "Thank You" Christmas ornament to commemorate the beginning of this trek. I also shared with everyone this Journey of Thanks. I'm aware that the more I share, the more I'm called to be thankful. It would be easy to just let all of this thankfulness slide, do it for a few days an then forget about it...but having a community of people around you to encourage you along your journey is great! Something tells me along the way people will be inspired to take their own journey of thanks.

So I'm going to shift my energy of "I'm tired" to "I'm grateful for being full of energy and vitality."

The Journey Begins!

2006-12-05T05:05:00.000-08:00