There is nothing you cannot

do or go through with an attitude of gratitude. Granted, you may have

to do it or go through it regardless of what kind of attitude you have,

but an attitude of gratitude can make the difference in kicking against

the pricks as Paul of old might say, or just going with the flow. And

beyond those two choices is the option of actually rejoicing amidst whatever

the circumstances might be in which you find yourself on any given day.

I've said it before. I

will say it again. Thanksgiving makes a world of difference. I'm

glad America has a day that is set aside for Thanksgiving.

The turkey is okay. All the

trimmings aren't bad either. The desserts are great for a few days,

at least until the scales have their say. But the attitude of the day,

now, that's really something worth celebrating again and again.

You know, it's almost

impossible to be discouraged, disgruntled, disillusioned, and thankful

at the same time. You just can't be filled with anger, doubt, greed,

resentment, self-pity, confusion, jealousy, fear... and be filled with

thanksgiving at the same time.

What kind of difference do

you suppose it would make in your life if the first thing you did when

you woke up every morning was to say, "thank you..." Thank

God. Thank a loved one. Thank a stranger. For something. For anything.

For many things.

And what if the last thing

you did every night was say "thank you." To God. To a loved

one. To a stranger. For something. For anything.

Somehow, we Americans get so

caught up in the everyday run of the mill affairs of our lives that we

often forget how much control we have over so much. We become frustrated,

tired, weary, angry. We feel used. Abused. Put down. Unappreciated. Underpaid.

We do. Don't deny it.

No matter what your job, vocation, profession or dedication. You feel,

at times, that there are those who do not appreciate you, or even care

what you do. Don't deny it. At least, not to me. I know better. I've

been there.

And I've tried this attitude

of thanksgiving that I am telling you about today. It makes all the difference

in the world and may have some degree of influence on the world to come.

I don't know that for sure, but sometimes I think our attitudes (all

of them) not only influence this world, this time, this place as we know

them, but yeah, the worlds to come, as well, for us and for all those

with whom we share all that is.

So, you are at the end of your

rope. You don't even have the strength left to tie a knot and hang

on. You have two choices. Hang on anyway until help comes, or let go...

Ah, the miracle of letting go.

Another column for another

day. Letting go is often a miracle unto itself, not quite like choosing,

cultivating and maintaining an ever present attitude of gratitude. But,

yes, letting go can be a good thing sometimes.

No matter what the circumstances

may be in which you find yourself this holiday season, and through all

the seasons of your life, I challenge you this day, to cop an attitude

of gratitude about them. Resolve to start each day with a simple thank

you. Close each day with the same. In a matter of time, you will find

that all the hours in between will become interlaced with little thank

yous.

And when those thank yous start

to come from the heart (yes, I'm suggesting you say thank you in

the beginning, even if you don't mean it), and when the words start

to come from your heart, it will change your life and the lives of those

around you.

There's no way I can prove

the truth that I speak today. This is one of those times you must take

me at my word and try it. Very seldom do I ever ask anyone to do that.

I know better.

But I will ask this of you.

Start saying your thank yous today. Say them regularly. Routinely. Begin

to feel them. Start to recognize them in the most unlikely places and

amidst the most gosh awful circumstances.

Trust me on this one. An attitude

of gratitude will (not can, will) change your life and the lives of those

around you!

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