ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Ihave discovered that there really are two kinds of people in this world: negative people and positive people. And each individual has the opportunity to choose which person he or she would like to be. And once you choose to find appreciation in all things, life begins to take on a completely new meaning.

I distinctively remember the moment I realized there was a choice. I was about 28 years old, going through a divorce, and taking care of three children on my own. I had just tucked my children into bed and helped them say their prayers when I decided to relax on the couch and watch TV. At that moment I was feeling lonely and a little down. I felt I had the entire world on my shoulders, and all the cards were stacked against me.

As I began watching TV, a show came on about a woman from a developing nation. She was telling a story about her 2-year-old daughter who had been severely burned in an accident. She had come to America to let her daughter, who she loved dearly, be adopted by a U.S. citizen because her country did not have the medical facilities to care for her child. She was heartbroken and devastated to leave her child.

Nevertheless, while listening to the woman speak, all I could hear was gratefulness. She may never have the chance to see her beautiful daughter again, yet she felt blessed her baby would be able to receive proper medical attention.

As I sat there on the couch I thought about my children. I thought about the fact that I was able to feed them dinner, give them baths, and put them to sleep in warm, clean, comfortable beds. I thought about the fact that, yes, my house was small but it was mine, and it was clean. I realized that I was extremely blessed and didn’t even recognize it. From that moment on, I have lived my life with the attitude of gratitude. I know no matter how bad things may seem there is always something for which to be thankful.

If you have trouble feeling an attitude of gratitude, I invite you to read this month’s issue. We share several stories of individuals who, through difficult times, are always able to find their joy through appreciation. We all have this ability; it is as easy as a simply making the choice to do so.

EDITORIAL // DESIGN

TINA MORRISON editorial/community relations director tina@akersmediagroup.com

MARY ANN D ESANTIS editor-at-large maryann@akersmediagroup.com

SHEMIR WILES copy editor/writer shemir@akersmediagroup.com

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

HEATHER TOOTLE office manager heather@akersmediagroup.com contributing writers RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD RICHARD BURGUET

TRACY DRAPER

FRED HILTON

ROBERT FROSS

THOMAS FROSS

THOMAS H. RUGGIE, CHFC, CFP

STEVEN J. CODRARO associate creative director steve@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer/advertising josh@akersmediagroup.com

ANTHONY CASTO senior designer/editorial anthony@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer fred@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS receptionist contributing photographer SHAENA CHASTAIN HEATHER TOOTLE RON VANDEVANDER

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE vice president of sales and marketing tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL senior marketing representative mike@akersmediagroup.com

HEIDI RESSLER marketing representative heidi@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

Thankfully yours, yours,

SCOTT HEGG distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

Kendra Akers publisher