Several years ago, after author, Sarah Ban Breathnach, appeared several times on the Oprah show, Breathnach's book, Simple Abundance, soared to the best seller list and many people, including me, began a nightly ritual of listing at least five things that they were grateful for that day. This comforting ritual, especially on days when nothing seemed to go right or life seems overwhelming can become an opportunity for us to remember that regardless of what tragedy comes into our lives, we have something to be grateful for our health and the health of our loved ones, a sunny day, the ability to stop and watch a squirrel gathering food, the opportunity to listen to or comfort a friend, our career, and so on. The premise of the book is that when we dwell on all the reasons we have to be grateful, we open ourselves to receiving even more good and more good comes to us. As we subsequently begin to feel abundant we become willing to pass positive things on to others. This led to the concept of practicing a second habit doing something every day for someone else, if possible, anonymously. I particularly like this one because it not only gives me pleasure; it often removes the blues that are inevitable for some of use specially at holiday time. I also like the idea that it opens others to the possibility of being grateful for the tangible and intangible gifts they receive.

This week, as you gather with family or friends ask yourself: What are the good things in my life that I am overlooking? How can I look outside myself to enhance my happiness or recapture it when it eludes me? While remembering how thankful you are for what you have, remember, too, you can be grateful for things that aren't in your life that could make it more difficult. And, if you are in deep pain, ask yourself: What is the lesson for me in this? What will I be grateful for when this experience has transformed me?

As the great teacher, Rabbi Abraham Heschel said, "Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy."

Happy Thanksgiving.