Have you ever put on a pair of Spanx? The longest period of time I have worn a pair is perhaps six hours. What is the longest you have worn a pair? Do you remember how they felt when you first pulled them on? A little tight but after a few minutes they started to feel normal. Then came the end of the day and it was finally time to pull them off. It was a little uncomfortable as the shedding of the constriction commenced. Little by little you were freed from the bondage until finally the Real You finally spilled out! Freedom! You tossed that balled up Spanx off to the side vowing in that moment to never wear them again. After they were discarded into a heap you felt the Real You finally able to spread out and move about freely. No longer were you concerned about what others thought about your outward shape. You stepped into your comfy, loose clothes and rejoiced in your new freedom....

Have you ever practiced Gratitude? There was a time when I thought gratitude was reserved for times when great things happened like birth announcements, a new job, the sale of a house, or perhaps an engagement. The other occasions were simply ordinary life. After a devastating life event such as loss of a loved one, a home, or a job, the occasions to show gratitude change in direct proportion. Gratitude might then be a roof over your head and a working heating and air conditioning unit. Gratitude might look like the people who show up in your daily life in ordinary ways to have conversation. It might look like a simple lunch with a friend. It might be gratitude for good health. It might be a job. Any job. When one has lost a big chunk of their basic foundation, bells and whistles lose their meaning. The past two Christmases my family has requested a wish list and for the life of me I...