A rancher decided he was tired of always fixing and mending things on his property, It was finally time to sell the old place and move to the ranch he had always dreamed about. After he gave a real estate agent the grand tour she wrote up a description and suggest a price. But, after reading her description of the ranch the old fellow announced he wasn’t going to sell it after all. “I can’t sell it.” he explained. “I’ve been looking for a place like this all my life.”

Most of us live in a place – location, home, situation – that most of the world would be envious of. We routinely enjoy comforts and privileges that even the richest could only dream of just a few generations ago. Yet, it is easy, far too easy, to be discontent. Instead of seeing what we do have, it’s natural to focus on what we don’t have, what we don’t like, how we wish things were different.

It’s great to aim for a better tomorrow. It’s good to want to accomplish more, make a bigger difference in our world, see our influence reach even further and do more good for others. But, while aiming for the “stars,” don’t forget to be grateful for the “planet” where you are now.

Don’t forget to be grateful for the people in your life, for the opportunities you do have, for the blessings that are so easily overlooked as we look down the road toward a bigger dream. And, don’t forget to express that gratitude because love unexpressed is powerless.

Gratitude, like love, like forgiveness, is a choice we make. We can choose to be grateful even if we don’t feel grateful. And, often, once we set gratitude as our course, our feelings jump on board the train and come along for the ride.
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Colossians 3:15
….always be thankful.

Here is some of the SCIENCE OF GRATITUDE from Harvard Health.