Gratitude and Thanks

This is the time of year where its proper and stylish to be grateful at one moment or another for all of the good things in our life. We see it all over the media how individuals with their own stories to tell have added their take on the importance of gratitude, and the affect that it has on their lives. I especially love the news features where the focus of the story overcomes an illness against all odds, or others where people take it upon themselves to take the idea of charity in their lives to an entirely new level. It’s a great change of pace from what is the norm of negative news reporting.

To that I say, wonderful. But, what about the rest of the year? Can any other part of the calendar year have a vested interest in the concept of gratitude? Why are we just saving it for that special period between the end of November and the beginning of January?

I think your life takes on immediate improvement the moment you show gratitude, or think gratitude, all the time. Not just one month a year.

If you are healthy, you should show gratitude.

If you have family that loves you, you should be grateful.

Right now, if you have a job or own a business that supplies you with money because you work hard at it, you should, without question, be grateful.

And this is the right way to think throughout the entire year. Not just now. How about trying to think that way for the rest of your entire life? With very few exceptions, we all have many things to be grateful for within the span of our time here on earth. And those events/times from the past that I thought were just pretty good? They were very special…and I have gratitude that I was able to live them.

The things that were not so good? Eventually, they just become shadows. I give thanks for that also.

Yesterday, for the Thanksgiving holiday,  I had a great time with my family. We  talked, laughed, had too much fun, and ate like kings and queens. Before we ate , we gave thanks for everything in our lives that we have appreciation for. As we prayed, I once again considered how lucky I am to have everything that I do.

I realize that once a year gratitude is not enough. Can never be enough. To live the life that you want, you have to be consistent and count the many blessings, on a daily basis. Especially those times when you’re feeling a little grumpy, and being grateful is the last thing you want to be.

That’s the essence of life. The people, places and things that make you happy, and having awareness of them, all the time. Happy Thanksgiving!