ADVENTures in Gratitude

It's amazing how many people we come across in a day who deserve a compliment - and how many people we pass by or fail to acknowledge in our rush to get things done. Does it really take that much time out of our day to compliment someone on a job well done, on an awesome shirt, or on their good attitude? 

We encounter people every day who greatly impact or lives, but to whom we give little to no thought. Those wonderful Christmas cards and parcels you've been receiving in the mail didn't magically appear in your mailbox or by your door. Why not give thanks to the person who brought them to you. And why stop there? Why not thank the person who retrieves carts at the grocery store, the crossing guard at your child's school, and the person stocking the shelves at your favorite store? 

While you're at it, show those you love how important they are to you by turning off technology and tuning in to what's going on in their life. Ask them questions. Listen to the answers. Really listen. See where the conversation takes you without distractions. 

Pay attention to those around you and all they do for you this holiday season and beyond. There are many people in your life, from family and friends to complete strangers, who make the world a better place in which to live in many different ways. Acknowledge them, thank them, and find contentment with life through gratitude.