| Being Thankful |
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With this week being Thanksgiving, for me it calls to mind the need to be thankful for what I have. This may seem simplistic and perhaps even unimportant. However, please allow me to explain.
Many of us go through difficult times in our lives. It is easy to focus on our difficulties. It can be easy to think of ourselves as being victims. A very good friend of mine told me a few years ago that our lives are basically 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we choose to react. There is much wisdom in that. Certainly there are times in my life when my reaction could have been better. In fact, our reaction to difficulties can be life-changers.
Another wonderful friend told me something else that was life-changing. He told me that every day when he wakes up, when he is still in bed, he calls to mind 10 things he is thankful for. He told me he goes through this every day. What this does for him is to focus on the many blessings he had in his life instead of on the difficulties. This exercise enabled him to keep things in perspective as his day progressed. I know this seems a bit simplistic and perhaps insignificant; however, when I started to do this when I was having difficulties in my life, it did totally change my perspective as my days progressed.
Our lives can be enhanced if we can have this habit of offering thanks on a daily basis. We can be thankful all year round.
-Dr. V |
