My message today is about adopting the “attitude of gratitude.” Merriam-Webster defines gratitude as “the state of being grateful: thankfulness.” If you aren’t a regular practitioner of expressing gratitude, now’s the perfect time to start! Instead of dwelling on what’s been taken away, put all of your time, energy, and focus into appreciating and being thankful for what you have.

I started a gratitude journal years ago when Oprah was preaching about it on her show. Over time, I fell out of practice. I returned to it last summer after reading Melody Beattie’s book, Make Miracles in Forty Days. There’s no right or wrong way to practice expressing gratitude. You can jot down a list in a notebook or journal, or simply take a few moments to make a mental note of the people, places, and/or things you’re grateful for. Try to come up with at least three items. (Ms. Beattie suggests ten.) Do what’s best for you—just take the time to do it. Oh, and this exercise can also be done with children, even fairly young ones.

I’m grateful for our connection, which enables me to share this unprecedented time with you. I’ll end with a quote from Zig Ziglar:

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”