Dear Ones,

At this time of year, thoughts turn to gratitude.  Throughout your world, the nations celebrate thanksgiving with special holidays, religions offer special prayers and services, and self-improvement leaders encourage followers to embrace the joy that comes from a thankful heart.  Thanksgiving is so important that it is hard for you to find a nation or philosophy that doesn’t recognize and honor the quality of gratitude.

How does it happen that so many diverse traditions and philosophies are united in this understanding?  Love does not restrict truth to only one group of followers but makes truth available to all peoples.  And so it is that all the many traditions honor love, honor integrity, honor gratitude.

“Easy to say,” you may respond, “but how can I feel grateful when around me all I see is disarray?” 

It is true that you are surrounded by troublesome events and trends in your world and its nations.  You may be facing trouble in your own life, as well.  Troubled times often bring challenges to relationships, finances, health, work, and all aspects of earthly life.  Feeling gratitude is difficult when your eyes behold difficulties at every turn.

Despite all, however, your life is not set in stone.  In the blink of an eye, your world could change mightily for the better – or the worse, if that is your perspective. Perspectives can change, however, and learning to exchange an unhappy perspective for a happier one is a valuable lesson. 

What in your life is precious and satisfying, even joyful, for you?  It may be the love of family or friends – human or animal.  Perhaps you have a favorite song that never fails to set your heart dancing, and perhaps your feet as well.  Is there a treasured possession that gladdens your spirit whenever you see or consider it?  However troublesome life may look to you at an unhappy moment, there is always someone or something about which you can say, “Well, at least I have this, and I am glad in having it!”

Spend a moment considering such things in your life and write a list on your heart or in your journal.  During hard times, visit that list and choose one item and examine it in your mind until you can smile and say, “I have this and I am glad to have it!” Then, choose another and another until the unhappy feeling melts in the warmth of happy gratitude. 

Such a practice brings gifts to you.  Perhaps the most important gift is the better feeling that sends the unhappiness away.  It is important because the energy you send through your feelings is attractive; that is, the energy has the impact of drawing into your life whatever matches that feeling.  Feelings of frustration or lack or loneliness draw more of the same to you.

By shifting your emotions to something happier, better things come to you.  Not only will you feel better but your day will get better, too, and as it does, your happy feelings will increase and bring even more fresh good into your life. 

And that is something for which you can give thanks!