Count my blessings

A child living in a small village in an African country wrote a letter to his American sponsor describing how his home had been flooded during recent storms. "The good news," he wrote, "is that at least now we have fish!" There is good to be found in even the most stressful situations. Work that can be draining and overwhelming means that you have a real chance to make a difference in other people's lives. A mess after a party means that you have been surrounded by friends. Taxes to pay mean that you are employed. Lawns that need mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters to fix mean that you have a home.

Taking time to notice your blessings and savor them helps keep things in perspective. Too often we naturally focus on the negative, and the negative can overwhelm our sense of inner contentment. Rehearsing the positive aspects of your life will help restore a delicate emotional balance and stabilize your inner compass. When things are grim but you manage to take your eyes off your problems, even for a moment, you can often find something glorious in your path that will lift your spirits. There is no better way to gain perspective and regain happiness.

Today, why not ... Make a list of big and small things you are thankful for today. Make an effort to notice small blessings -- a hot cup of coffee, laughter, a jacaranda tree in bloom, a meaningful job, the feel of the breeze on your cheek. Be thankful for them.

This month, why not ... Practice counting your blessings every morning. What better way is there to start the day? Add one thing you're grateful for to your list every day this month.

Sayings to Ponder

A 7 year-old-girl wrote the following after her teacher instructed the class to list the seven wonders of the world: seeing; hearing; tasting; touching; running; laughing; loving.

~ Lists to Live By ~

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~ Albert Einstein ~

"Happiness is a how, not a what: a talent, not an object."

~ Hermann Hesse ~

"Not only is thankfulness the greatest of all virtues - it is the parent of the others"

~ Cicero ~

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