BE GRATEFUL

Next week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. A time when we should think about and appreciate the many things for which we are grateful - or should be grateful. Sometimes it may be hard to think of what that might be, but if you can read this, then that is one thing for which you can be grateful - there are many people who are not capable of reading or who do not have access to a computer on a regular basis or who do not have sight or the instruments to allow them to "read" from the screen.

From there, you can think about what you have to be grateful for - it may be that you have a job that at least pays the bills or that provides health insurance for you and your family and allows you to put food on the table. Even though the job may not be what you want and even though the job may be "making you crazy", there are those who would suggest that in this day and time, you should be grateful you have it. I do know a number of people who are out of work and have been for more than 10 or 12 months. And many of them can still name the things for which they are grateful. So being grateful is actually a state of mind. We can choose to gripe and moan about our situation, whatever it may be. Or we can be grateful - even if for the little things in life. That does not mean that you do not want things to be different, but for now, appreciate what you do have and those things for which you could and, probably should, be grateful.

I am grateful that I have the ability to string together several sentences that seem to make sense. I am grateful for the capacity to communicate via this medium. I am grateful that my mind is still functioning and I can think of things to write about. There are so many more things for which I am grateful and, particularly at this time of year, I like to remember the big and the small things that I appreciate in life and express my gratitude. You may want to think about doing the same thing.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and coaching for life's transitions; including a career or job change, planning to return to work or to school, preparing for retirement, coping with a job loss, and other changes. She meets with individuals in person and via telephone to assist them through a change guidance system. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). To learn more about her services, please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com. To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.