I just watched a Ted Talk about the relationship between gratitude and happiness.

It is here: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_steindl_rast_want_to_be_happy_be_grateful?language=en

In this talk, the monk tells us to Stop, Look, and Go.

This is a good reminder to me to be grateful for all of the things that I have.  And not focus on the things that I don’t have.  I have gotten caught up many times in the things that I don’t have.

So, I will focus on being grateful for the given moment, and the opportunities that it contains.  So, this morning I have the gift of waking up early and having some time to my thoughts.

Today, I get to run a race with my two daughters and my son.  It is going to be cold.  It is going to be muddy.  And it can be fun.  How often do you get to run a race in these conditions?  Snow and rain?!  I am going to go out and do my best and support my kids.  And I am going to find joy in every moment, even when my body tells me that it is hurting, or when my kids are telling me that they want to stop.  And then I will have the opportunity to spend the day with my family, with my parents, my two brothers, and our respective families.

Today, I will practice gratitude.  I will be grateful for the beautiful wife that I have, who supports me in all that I do, who raises six children and who makes me want to be a better man.  I will be grateful for how determined Elizabeth is.  I will be grateful for how deeply Eden experiences her emotions.  I will be grateful for how much Noah looks up to his father and enjoys experiencing life with me.  I will be grateful for Maggie, her beautiful smile, and how she wants to spend time with me.  I will be grateful for how loving and sweet Luke is.  I will be grateful for how expressive and happy Jack is, and how much he makes me laugh.  I am most grateful that we are all healthy and get to spend today together.

A grateful world is a happy world.

I hope to contribute in positive ways to a happy world.  So, I will be grateful.

Thank you, David Steindl-Rast.