In Alcoholics Anonymous, members are told to “count their gratefuls” every day. Why? Because gratitude saves us from negativity. It safeguards relationships, because it lets people know that we don’t take them for granted. Gratitude protects us from pride, because it reminds us that we are not the ultimate source of all our blessings. And it’s an extra perk that people just enjoy being around grateful people.
Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to unleash the power of gratitude in your life. All it takes is saying two simple words as often as possible: “THANK YOU.” Thank your spouse for loving you. Thank your parents for dinner! Thank your boss for your job. Thank your teacher for his or her work. Above all, thank God for everything. In the words of Solanus Casey, it’s “heaven begun for the grateful on earth.”
