Thankfulness

Aunt Josie has been musing about gratitude and thankfulness this last week.  She was intrigued by the article in the Tuesday Science section of the New York Times yesterday suggesting that those who feel grateful remain in better health and get more sleep than those who don't.  While Aunt Josie hopes that this is the case, the real benefit of taking stock of all the things for which you are grateful is that it changes your perspective on yourself and your life.  For most of us, we are in highly privileged positions of having a home to go to and regular meals that we can count on, not to mention the myriad of material gadgets which we have been able to purchase to make our lives easier and more enjoyable. Many people throughout the world are not anywhere near as lucky. Stepping back and becoming acutely aware of life's blessings, especially wonderful friends and family, can only enrich your perspective about what is important in your life. The happiness that results from simple appreciation of one's satisfying relationships lingers far past the remembrance and marking of those relationships.  There really is something to the "counting your blessings" advice.  So, enjoy tomorrow and take a moment to remember all of the things for which you can be thankful.