Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

I received some wise counsel the other day:

1. Don’t buy things. This is a hard one for me. When I am sad I tend to buy things, usually clothes. As if it will make me feel better. It’s really easy for me to justify, but it’s not really logical. When I’m happy, I like to buy things. It’s a lose-lose. I have issues. *Though it could be worse, right? At least when I buy "things" it's usually a just a couple shirts from F21. What's that, like 20 bones?*

2. Keep the commandments. I like the scripture, “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2:41).

3. Focus on gratitude. “Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us” (Gospel Topics).

“The Lord has promised, 'He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious' (D&C 78:19). Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful.

"We should be thankful for the wonderful blessings that are ours and for the tremendous opportunities we have. We can be thankful to our parents, family, friends, and teachers. We should express appreciation to everyone who has assisted us in any way.

“We should thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us by acknowledging His hand in all things, thanking Him for all that He gives us, keeping His commandments, and serving others. We should especially thank Him for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for the Savior's great example, for His teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help, for His infinite Atonement” (True to the Faith, 78–79).

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalms 100).

The Lord is good! And He is good to me. I am committed to focusing more on gratitude.

I am grateful for…
*trying to be…

Happy melodies
A steady job that pays
The hope that someday I’ll be getting paid for the other stuff
A car to drive
Generous parents
Means to pay for my rent
A house by the beach
Palm trees
Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky
People with British accents
My seat at work next to Lezlie
No-iron dress shirts
A cell phone, even if it doesn’t ring very often
Gift cards
New church callings*
Healthy food
Kangen water
Beautiful sisters
The excitement of the unknown*
Acoustic guitars
My testimony
Reverse commutes (feeling sorry for the south-bounders in the morning and the north-bounders in the evening)
My brave & courageous clients who want a better life
Green grass
Flip-flops
to name a few