Introduction

Depression is a more common malady than we realize. Seemingly fully functional people with well-paying careers, long-term marriages, no substance addictions and healthy families may still suffer from depression.

Two practices of mentally healthy people are forgiveness and gratefulness. Accepting life as a gift, in spite of the horror, trauma, unfairness, pain and sadness is truly a miracle. That doesn't mean we need to be grateful for the fore-mentioned dark experiences. We do need to remind ourselves of the good things, the gifts that often become overshadowed by the painful times. Otherwise we live in the darkness and allow the anger to take over our lives.

Forgiveness is a topic for another time. This blog is to remind myself (and maybe you?) of God's blessings - people, places, things, happenings for which I am grateful - all year long. My goal is to practice the spiritual discipline of gratitude daily for a year. Should be a terrific journey!