Attitude of Gratitude     Remembering to be grateful for ALL that is given to us, surrounding us and within us is probably the biggest key to a completely healthy lifestyle. Our friend Jess was over the other day. She said something that, for us, illustrates what it is to have an attitude of gratitude. She was talking about her move across the country with her family. I asked whether they had found a house yet? She replied, “That’s the one thing that has not come together as of yet. I start to get anxious, and then I say to myself, “We have been so guided and blessed throughout our  life. What makes me think it’s my business to worry about this. I mean, who do I think I am?” The Webster Dictionary defines the word gratitude as “Being thankful for favors received” and defines the wordAttitude “A manner of thought, feeling or behavior”. Together the translation may be “A thought, feeling or behavior that demonstrates being thankful for favors received”. The universe blesses us every day. We can’t control the size or quantity of these blessings. What we CAN control is how we choose to view what IS gifted us, positive or negative. Having an Attitude of Gratitude assists us in living not as victims, but as people who have been blessed with Life. Many people have ideas of ways to work with the gratitude piece, including Oprah, who suggest keeping a Gratitude Journal with 5 things daily listed.  Another simple practice that our family lives by is when we get into bed at night. With the children, we ask them what they were grateful for today (no limits or rules). We do this in order to help our children to remember to be grateful. We do the same when we lay down, reviewing the day and practicing gratitude.  Healthy living is about balance in our Body, Mind, and Spirit. Being grateful keeps our mind elevated to a higher sense of thinking.