"Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it". Ralph Marston

Admittedly, subscribing to this philosophy, for me, was a tough sell and when I say a tough sell, I MEAN A REALLY TOUGH SELL!.

Having been raised in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod you are bad, you are evil and you were born with sin environment, it's kinda hard to live life full of vim, vigor and vitality!

Hard to be appreciative, too, and thankful when you feel beaten down, but I got there in, I don't know, 45 years, I think. Not exactly sure when the light bulb went off, but it did. Know for sure, though, it wasn't an early-on epiphany, because, you see, some things in life just take time - they can't be rushed. Life is all about getting an education and not just academically but psychologically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually as well. And when it comes to learning about these things, there's no lesson plan - no real "how to" book - about the only way we can seemingly get through life more or less unscathed, is if we've had an amazing upbringing, and while a lot of people have had one, there are a lot of people who have not and then there are those who think they have but haven't yet figured it out that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't all THAT wonderful. And that's not to say our parents, families or surroundings were abusive, debilitating or harmful, just means it wasn't perfect.

To truly be thankful and appreciative doesn't mean we negate reality; it means we accept it for what it is or was and are grateful for what the situation, person, relationship, environment, etc. brought to our life. Now, maybe we don't feel that way from the get-go but that's where long-term, self-reflection and self-care come into play and having the ability to look back, gives us the ability to look forward, hopefully, with both conviction and heart.

Or, in other words, if we can work at becoming comfortable with our own imperfections, we can become comfortable with those of our parents, siblings, teachers, co-workers, lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc...

It's all about you.