Dear Rev. Dr. Val:  What is there to be thankful for this holiday season?    Losing Hope

Dear Losing Hope:
Meister Eckhart said, "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice."  You may feel as though you have nothing for which to be thankful; however, it all depends on what and how you choose to focus your attention.  Without knowing anything about you, I could easily list 10 things for which you could be grateful.  It's a matter of perspective - you know, is the glass half empty or half full?  Being thankful is a state of mind and a choice.  Think about your life.  Are you healthy?  Do you have a safe place to live?  Do you have people who love you?  A job? A car? Opportunities?  Does the sun rise each day offering new promises of things to come?  What will you make of these things and people in your life?

If you are unhappy or ungrateful, then ask yourself what would I have to do to change the way I feel?  To become grateful?  You already know the answers to these questions.   You already know what is holding you back.  It's the way you think about yourself, others, and the world - your perceptions and interpretations.  So, now it is up to you to change your thoughts and revise your views, because nobody else can do this for you.  Think about who you are, what you value, and what your spirit truly desires; then develop a plan and start working that plan until you achieve your goals and change your life.  In the mean time, be grateful for who you are and what you already have.

Please, let me know how things work out.

Blessings to you.