Your time is too short to get discouraged about the things around you. Make the most of every moment with this exercise.

We are still impacted by the stress of ongoing national and international political turmoil, high inflation, economic uncertainty, contentious, crazy, ineffective politics, a sea of divisive, unhealthy cognitive biases, and a culture that has forgotten what it means to be kind and civil. There is so much turmoil that the news cycles can’t keep up with it all. Add all this to the stress of the more individual, personal challenges we face, routine and exceptional, and the situation could get a person down.

But time is too short to let all of that get you down. In his book Strength to Strength, Arthur Brooks relates an exercise he uses with his graduate students to help them get a clearer perspective on time, priorities, and values. You can participate in the exercise. The average life expectancy in the United States is currently about 79 years. Subtract your current age from 79. That’s how many Thanksgiving holidays you have left. Using this model, some adults may have as many as 59 Thanksgivings and others as few as one; I have about 11. No matter your number, it’s a sure thing that you will reach zero at some point, and it’s coming faster than you think.

This realization can be shocking and depressing, but it does challenge us to order our days in a way that makes the most of what matters, maximizes the present moment, and makes a positive difference in the world. You can decide to take charge of your thinking, adjust your focus, and have your spirits lifted by joining me in

30 Days of Gratitude

I’ve created a guide for you with general instructions and different gratitude prompts for each of the 30 days.

Get the Guide Here

An attitude of gratitude is an excellent character quality. Giving “thanks in all things” and a life habit of gratefulness is proven to lower stress and increase personal resilience.

Please don’t wait to “feel” grateful; you may not get started. Choose to be grateful and grab the guide to get you started.

Print the guide and keep it where you will see it regularly: on your desk, on the refrigerator, or where you regularly do your reflection.

Get the Guide Here
Start small. Set a reminder on your device to remind you to be grateful for one thing. Eventually, you’ll do two, then three, and after a little while, being grateful will become a habit.

Let me know how it goes and if you found the guide helpful.

If you feel stuck or have trouble getting started with this new habit, please get in touch with me, and we’ll work on it together.