W        H        E        W

We  Survived  IT,  huh?

O  N  E     Down

(T    H    A    N    K    S    G    I    V    I    N    G)

and two more to go

(C  H  R  I  S  T  M  A  S       A  N  D       N E W   Y E A R ‘ S)

They kind of all blur together

as do many things

this time of the year.       .        .

H  A  N  U  K  K  A  H     and     K  W  A  N  Z  A  A 

i          n          c          l          u          d          e          d

but it sort of all starts with that

T H A N K   L E S S     D A Y

The Research is clear:

GRATITUDE   IS   A   SUPERPOWER

It’s been overly documented

just how grateful people enjoy the benefits

such as improved physical health

better relationships

higher self-esteem

and actual longer

l i f e  s p a n s.      .      .

but here’s the  real  shocker:

Despite the benefits of

g r a t i t u d e

there’s an overwhelming vast majority

who aren’t grateful–

even less than a week ago on

T H A N K S G I V I N G     D A Y

A very recent survey conducted by the Harris Poll

on behalf of Cleveland’s own

AMERICAN   GREETINGS

sheds light on why people aren’t   t h a n k f u l

during these wild 40-some days:

3   out   5    Americans

say they’d rather do something else

rather than reflect on what they’re

t h a n k f u l     f o r.       .       .

A  whopping  71%  say that Holidays cause too much stress.      .     .

92%  believe the holidays are a time

to say   t h a n k s   to family and friends

.     .     .but 1 in 5 confess

they are more grateful for material possessions

than  p e o p l e .        .         .

12%  admitted

they would rather spend time

on their smartphones

than have a meaningful conversation

with  family.       .       .

O                   U                   C                   H   

The  Cure?

.          .          .wait.        .        .

is there an illness?

G R A T I T U D E

just like

Love

Compassion

Care

Empathy

Sympathy

Kindness

can’t be legislated

but they can be

i          n          s          p          i          r          e          d

and  that’s  where

y o u

come   in

.          .          .or  don’t;

There’s not much use for

a week-old over-done-dried-up-Turkey-Dinner

.       .       .in fact,

it just wouldn’t leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.          .          .

it’d be enough to make a person

p u k e.          .          .

I  wish  I could  tell you  exactly  what  to  do

h     e     r     e .       .       .

but  I

or  the Survey’s

or  the Greeting Cards

 or  the Songs

or  the Gifts

or  the Meals

or  the Parties

or  the Masses

Psssssssssssssst  of  the  Day:

Only   you   can.       .         .

Ironically:

That’s one of the things

I’m most

t           h           a           n           k           f           u           l