Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

 

Today is the only day of the year that I’ll spend much time in front of the TV.  Friends are coming over and bringing movies so we can watch them ’til our eyes cross.  This is to keep us from discussing anything else today other than “Happy Thanksgiving” and thespians’ acting chops…because today is Thanksgiving, not Election Day, or Working Day, or Pitch a Bitch Day.

 

And after today and through the holidays (and on into the new year until it becomes a rock-solid habit with me once again!) I hope to put  a limit on “Ain’t It Awful?” yak yak–no more than ten minutes per day–because when all is said and done, I have a lot to be grateful for every day of the year and I need to keep an eye on it so the other stuff doesn’t drive me to despair…

 

Staying grateful and idealistic in a media-driven negative, pessimistic environment isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it is do-able…

 

Just remember the Platinum Rules of Gratitude (a phrase that I coined just now and which I’m gleaning from the best and brightest minds that ever lived, even if I don’t know all of their names…)

 

“Write your sorrows/challenges/worries in sand and your blessings on stones.” – Unknown

 

“If this is the worst thing that happen in your life, you’ll be lucky.” – Dorothea Hope Smith, my mom

 

“Put on a happy face.” – Charles Strouse

 

“Smile though your heart is aching…” – Charlie Chaplin

 

“…and the dreams that you dare to dream [pursue ardently] really do come true…” – E.Y Harburg

 

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” – Gene Denham

 

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin  Delano Roosevelt

 

“Thanks for the memories..” – Leo Robin

 

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  – John F. Kennedy

 

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

 

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth