Day 16 - Thankfulness

Whoa, betcha didn't see that one coming, did you? That shows how much you know. Today I am thankful for thankfulness. More specifically, my capacity for it. Let me explain.

I think we all know people who find it difficult if not physically impossible to be thankful, not matter what happens to them. Hey, you just won the lottery! Yeah, but now I have to pay taxes on it. And all my relatives and old friends are going to call and ask me to give them money. Congratulations on that job promotion! Yeah, now I'm working twice as much. Really, my hourly rate didn't go up any, because my hours increased proportionally with my pay. You got a gold medal in the Olympics, that's awesome! Not really. The rest of the competition was mediocre at best, and what event am I ever going to be invited to that will require me to wear a gold ribbon? Your new baby is so cute! Yeah, she's not so cute when she's screaming at 3:00 in the morning. Seriously, Debbie Downer!

I have, at times in my life, been not so good about being thankful. I think it comes from being a problem solver. I just look for problems to solve, which mens that I look for things that are wrong. But being thankful is so much more fun than being critical! So today I am thankful that I have chosen to be thankful. It has improved my outlook on life while simultaneously eliminating me from that "death of the party joy-killer" status.