Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not only is it in the middle of my favorite season, but there are no gifts to buy, no costumes to wear, and no real decorations to put up. Just a celebration of all the things that make life enjoyable—good company, good food, and, most of all, a focus on gratitude.
For me, it’s the perfect combination.
It also allows me to cook up a feast—something I really love to do.
And I have so much to be grateful for:
- My health and the ability to move freely and (relatively) easily
- My loving husband of almost forty years
- My grown children and their partners who still like to spend time with me
- My two sisters and their families
- My basic needs being met (and then some)
- Good friends who love and support me
- My clients who honor me with their trust and vulnerability
- And you, my community, who let me pop into your inbox with my weekly thoughts on love and marriage
For all of this, I am truly and deeply thankful.
Gratitude is extremely powerful. By focusing on what is going well in your life, you can change your attitude and your outlook.
Humans are wired to pay attention to what’s not working. This focus on the negative is what keeps you safe and alive. But it also keeps you from thriving. Because what wires together, fires together. And if you only acknowledge the challenges, that becomes all you can see.
Gratitude is the true pathway to happiness. And that is what I wish for you today and every day.
Gratitude won’t necessarily lessen your challenges. But it can provide a broader perspective around them. And finding that silver lining is yet another thing worthy of appreciation.
So breathe, love, laugh, and find joy in this moment. For that is what I truly hope for each and every one of you.
UNDERSTANDING IN MARRIAGE IS OVERRATED
Do you make your wife jump through hoops to get courtesy and compassion from you? If so, you’re putting your marriage in grave danger. I was thinking about this during a session earlier today with my clients Todd and Susan (not their real names). She was hurt when he...
Bad Marriage Advice #25: Forgive and Forget
While forgiveness is both important and necessary for a healthy marriage, it’s not as simple as this expression implies. Forgiveness is a process and cannot be rushed. In addition, it may not be possible or even desirable to “forget” an incident that requires...
BAD MARRIAGE ADVICE #24: HAVING A BABY WILL FIX YOUR MARRIAGE
There is so much wrong with this marriage advice, I don’t even know where to start. Frankly, the only reason you should have a baby is because you want one. A baby is a person, not duct tape. A baby is also completely helpless. Dependent on the adults to make sure it...