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To view Episode 47 of Survive and Thrive, “Find Your Inner Energy,” click here.

To view Episode 46 of Survive and Thrive, “The Key to Mental Hygiene,” click here.

To view Episode 45 of Survive and Thrive, “This Is Why the World Has United,” click here.

To view Episode 44 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Thrive in Uncertain Markets (4 Questions),” click here.

To view Episode 43 of Survive and Thrive, “Five Keys to a Happy Retirement,” click here.

To view Episode 42 of Survive and Thrive, “Start Trusting Yourself,” click here.

To view Episode 41 of Survive and Thrive, “Make the Most of the Holidays,” click here.

To view Episode 40 of Survive and Thrive, “How Much Should You Invest?” click here.

To view Episode 39 of Survive and Thrive, “Getting the Kids Interested in Investing,” click here.

To view Episode 38 of Survive and Thrive, “The Real Way to Fight Fear,” click here.

To view Episode 37 of Survive and Thrive, “A Fear of Finances,” click here.

To view Episode 36 of Survive and Thrive, “You Are Not Alone,” click here. To view Episode 35 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Cut Your Losses,” click here.

To view Episode 34 of Survive and Thrive, “Start Solving All Your Problems,” click here.

To view Episode 33 of Survive and Thrive, “Don’t Panic and Miss Out,” click here.

To view Episode 32 of Survive and Thrive, “Rethink How You Think,” click here.

To view Episode 31 of Survive and Thrive, “A New Type of News,” click here.

To view Episode 30 of Survive and Thrive, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” click here.

To view Episode 29 of Survive and Thrive, “Use or Be Used,” click here.

To view Episode 28 of Survive and Thrive, “Every Single Moment Matters,” click here.

To view Episode 27 of Survive and Thrive, “‘Christmas’ In Your Portfolio?” click here.

To view Episode 26 of Survive and Thrive, “You Should Not Sell,” click here. To view Episode 25 of Survive and Thrive, “Your Most Harmful Instinct,” click here.

To view Episode 24 of Survive and Thrive, “2021: Sparking Magic Moments,” click here.

To view Episode 23 of Survive and Thrive, “When to Retire,” click here.

To view Episode 22 of Survive and Thrive, “How Grateful Are You?”, click here.

To view Episode 21 of Survive and Thrive, “Let’s Be Realistic,” click here.

To view Episode 20 of Survive and Thrive, “Are You Born With Optimism Bias?,” click here.

To view Episode 19 of Survive and Thrive, “Optimism vs. Pessimism: How to Change How You View Things,” click here.

To view Episode 18 of Survive and Thrive, “Mainstream Media? How to Have an Open Mind and Get the Facts,” click here.

To view Episode 17 of Survive and Thrive, “Levels of Global Population and How It Relates to You,” click here.

To view Episode 16 of Survive and Thrive, “Easy Ways to Reduce Stress – Starting Today,” click here.

To view Episode 15 of Survive and Thrive, “Finding the Helpers in Your Life,” click here.

To view Episode 14 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Create and Best Manage Your Time,” click here.

To view Episode 13 of Survive and Thrive, “Surviving and Thriving Beyond Any Circumstance,” click here.

To view Episode 12 of Survive and Thrive, “How to be Successful while Maintaining a Balanced Life,” click here.

To view Episode 11 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Let Go of Resentment and Suffering,” click here.

To view Episode 10 of Survive and Thrive, “How To Find Happiness In What You Do (Career Satisfaction),” click here.

To view Episode 9 of Survive and Thrive, “6 Simple Steps to Take Back Your Health,” click here.

To view Episode 8 of Survive and Thrive, “Why Are You Here? Finding Purpose,” click here.

To view Episode 7 of Survive and Thrive, “7 Steps to Happiness,” click here.

To view Episode 6 of Survive and Thrive, “The Pursuit of Financial Happiness,” click here.

To view Episode 5 of Survive and Thrive, “Take Control of Your Finances,” click here.

To view Episode 4 of Survive and Thrive, “What to Believe In,” click here.

To view Episode 3 of Survive and Thrive, “Relationships: Your Smartest Investment,” click here.

To view Episode 2 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Overcome Fear,” click here.

To view Episode 1 of Survive and Thrive, “The First Steps to Take Your Power Back,” click here.

Welcome to Survive and Thrive. I’m Nathan Hurd, Chief Growth Officer of The Oxford Club. You know, I’ve been traveling quite a bit recently and reflecting on a belief I’ve come to hold… a belief about something I feel is not only an opportunity but a responsibility in my life.

Two weeks ago, I was in Mexico with family and friends. And during our trip, we ventured out quite a bit, exploring local towns, local industry. We were in Manzanillo, Mexico, which is home of the second-largest port in the country. Fifty percent of their revenues are made through the port.

But as you walk through the town, there are small shops, food stalls and some pretty run-down boutiques. Though it has a rich history, it’s dusty. It’s not especially clean.

But the city is built on the side of a coastal mountain, and many of the homes are up along the mountainside. There are only roads, however, at the base of the mountain. And many of the residents, – some of them older – must climb hundreds of steps straight up a mountain just to get home every day. The surrounding area is rugged terrain, littered with papaya, banana and mango farms. We visited quite a few.

Harvesting bananas is quite dangerous work, as it turns out. Beyond the demands of the labor itself, there are frequent encounters with poisonous snakes, scorpions and spiders, which live all throughout the banana fields and pose a real threat to the workers.

We also passed by a brick factory. This was an open-air operation with little to no industrial equipment, where the clay is mixed and each brick is pressed by hand, one by one, using primitive tools and then fired in ovens made from stacked, finished bricks and hand-fed by wood. This is incredibly demanding work, done for hours a day, under the beating sun. In the summers, it can reach 40 degrees Celsius, or 108 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, this past week, I was in San Diego for our Investment U Conference. San Diego’s known as the “birthplace of California.” And it’s a beautiful city, with temperate weather year-round, many waterfront homes, hotels, walkways… There‘s a huge naval and marine base nearby. If you haven‘t been, it’s very nice.

As I walked through the streets, however, I noticed a large homeless population – many people sleeping in doorways, patches of grass and parks around the city.

I could say a lot about all of this, but the message today is a simple but important one. Typically, these encounters, at first, make me feel uncomfortable. But then, simply grateful. The more of the world I’ve seen, the more I’ve realized how much I have to be grateful for. In fact, I’ve come to believe something more and more over time.

It’s that I don’t just have a lot to feel grateful for – I must find ways to connect with a deep sense of appreciation each and every day. If I don’t cherish it, I believe I don’t deserve to have it.

We’ve all seen people with cushy lives who take things for granted. And we’ve looked at them, scratching our heads. Just think how many people around the world would trade places with you, just like that.

You know, even if we’re fortunate enough to have some savings, a stable home, even a few good friends, access to good food… these are markers of a good life. A good life that many people long for.

And as long as we prioritize enjoying and cherishing the opportunity, the surroundings, the circumstances we have, we deserve them, I believe.

This is why I fight hard not to take anything for granted. So the next time you find yourself frustrated or feeling like your expectations aren’t being met, remember how lucky you are compared to what could be. And challenge yourself to feel appreciation for your life. And maybe, just maybe, let yourself be happy one moment at a time.

Shoot me a note and let me know what this brings up for you. I’d love to hear from you and hear how this message makes you feel or what it made you think of.

And until next time, this has been Survive and Thrive. Thank you.