an attitude of gratitude

     I recently purchased a journal in hopes of recording things that I find I am grateful for as I experience life's every day events.  I like to call it my gratitude journal.  Clever, I know.  As I thought today about what I have been blessed with, family was the first thing that came to mind.  This particular time of year often brings families together and reminds us how lucky we are to have each other.  It is during the other months of the year, however, that I need to improve on appreciating my family more and taking them for granted less.  I have been blessed with a family that I wouldn't trade for anything.  I value their love, acceptance and the haven they offer me from the merciless world.  They say you never know what you have until it's gone but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate what we have now.  We should recognize and be grateful for the people who are in our lives today.  That way, if we are ever to lose any of them, we won't regret taking them for granted.  In times of argument or disagreement, my father often says, "life is too short", implying that what we are upset about is not worth the trouble we are making it out to be.  Life is too short to be anything but grateful for what and who we have in our lives.  It is the people around us who make life complete.  Without them, we are nothing.  As we approach the coming year, I encourage you to make a special effort to appreciate the people around you, especially family, because if nothing else in this life lasts, families are forever.