Count Your Blessings… and Count Them LOUD!

I always say that gratitude is an important part of balance and joy in one’s life.  But how many of us are grateful, on a consistent basis, that we are Americans?  How many of us roll out of bed in the morning being conscious of the quality of life we have, just because our feet are on THIS dirt?

In Iran this week, people are rioting.  They are fighting being suppressed and lied to.  They are putting their lives on the line to tell the truth and be free.  This morning, all you had to do was get out of bed and drink coffee to be on that playing field.

Don’t take your freedom for granted today.  If you are a hunter, hug a vegetarian or an animal rights advocate.  If you are a Republican… say a prayer for Obama.  If you are an atheist, be happy that people can be “Jesus freaks.”  If you’re a tree hugger, smile at someone driving a gas-guzzling SUV.  If you love the ACLU, have a moment of gratitude for Rush Limbaugh.

There is no other country in the world as great as ours.  Sometimes I think this recession has had us forget that.  We are innovators.  We are lovers and fighters.  We are conservatives and liberals.  We are white, black, brown, red and whatever other color we want to be.  We speak English and Spanish and even Portugese.  We can do what we want, have want we want and build what we believe in.

We are the United States of America, and WE ALL HAVE A PLACE HERE.  Our country was built on this mantra and while we don’t all always get along… we are blessed every moment we breathe.  Today, be awake to that!