BetterThan Blessings - Appreciating the Blessings

Before going to my workout the other day, I stopped by The Home Depot to get some decorative hooks for one of the bathrooms. On the way from the parking lot to the entrance, I noticed something. No sharp twinge in my shoulder joint. No lower back pain. No weak feeling in my hip. No stiffness in my ankle. No painful pressure on the side of my foot. I had a nice bounce in my step as I entered the store.

I had this thought as I headed for the Bath Accessories aisle: I won't always be free of pain. I won't always have good health. I need to take care of my body and appreciate my health while I can.

This thought process is part of a new approach to gratitude I've adopted, one I learned from a book called On Second Thought. I explain the technique in a brief video I made not long ago. I highly recommend it.

It's common to wish family and friends "long life." But even 100 years seem to go by at breathtaking speed. So instead I wish you health, happiness, and prosperity - more of whatever you want. But most of all, I wish that you appreciate the blessings you have.

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2010. Building Personal Strength . (Permission to use photo purchased from istockphoto.com)