Superstitious or not, it seems there is always something strange happening on Friday the 13th. Kind of like a full moon – people just seem “off” on those days. Today is one of those Friday the 13th’s. So to steer my thinking over to half full instead of half empty, every time I get frustrated, I try to think of something to be thankful for. So far today, I’ve been thankful that I can walk (previous broken foot make this one relevant). I’ve been thankful that I have a job – although it’s a stressful day, I am thankful that I have a job that allows me to support my family. I’ve been thankful for the sunshine at lunch time. It’s amazing to me what a nice sunny day can do to lift your spirits. I’ve been thankful for my muscle aches – it’s a reminder that I went to Livestrong last night and am working to be more fit. The more we shift our thoughts to a positive mindset, the more positive things will seem. I’ve had uplifting music on Pandora today, and I think that background message of hope is a good way to steer me towards the positive.

It’s easy to get caught up in negativity. Just watch CNN for a few hrs – wow. You’d think things are going to end tomorrow. I don’t want to ignore that bad things happen, but I also don’t want to dwell on them. Who wants to be around someone who is always complaining? Don’t get me wrong, I still vent – but I try to be brief (yet sometimes animated). I try not to dwell on the negative and let it ruin my day. Are there days that the concept of that seems very difficult? Yes, of course – it’s not like I have superpowers or something.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and less in the spirit of Friday the 13th, I challenge you to start a gratitude journal. Try to go for 30 days and write down something new that you are thankful for each day. The first few days may be pretty easy. I recently did this for almost 50 days. It causes you to notice and remember what you are thankful for each day. Perhaps it will seem less like a Friday the 13th and more like a day of Thanksgiving. Peace be with you on your journey of “enough”.