Thankful

Thankfulness seems to really matter.  A simple thank you denotes an act is not taken for granted.  It is directed very specifically.  That sort of thing seems to say what is happening on the inside of a person.  Sometimes not saying much, speaks volumes.
The song “always look on the bright side of life” was to me a great tune.  Its message, while simplistic, was important.  Sometimes life can dish out the most horrible things.  It is not a good idea to deny their horror, or pretend they are better.  One thing I have always found though, is there is always something good that can come out of something bad.
A lot seems to depend on what I am looking for.  I have seen it too often that what a person expects, tends to be what they get.  I knew an incredibly negative person.  They always seemed to expect the worst.  It was hard to cope with though, because they always seemed to get it.  I even inadvertently played my part in them getting what they expected.  I only found out later, that things were not as they appeared for that person.  I was surprised, but they were not.
The movie “Life is Beautiful” (spoiler alert) is a wonderful story with a tragic end.  It is tragic for the viewer, but its plot tells a heap about attitude.  Even a Jew interned in the holocaust with his son, turned the events suffered, to show his son that good could be made of the most terrible situation.  It was right for him.  There is a good chance my story will be different.
The last thing I want, is to be in denial.  Bad things happen.  Being thankful is to me, not to deny bad things exist, but to use them for my betterment if possible.  It is not a case of “yahoo I had a car accident,” but “yahoo, the car is being thoroughly checked out,” and “yahoo I have found out who my friends really are,” and “yahoo, no one was hurt,” and “yahoo, it could have been so much worse.”  The unthankful person sees only the costs and the imposition.
Of course it is easy to say, but like most things it takes practice.  Sometimes for me it can be like eating glass (actually I have never eaten glass, but it is like I imagine it would be).  The good thing is, it gets easier.  I will do all I can to ensure bad does not happen, and all I can to reverse it.  However, while it is happening, it seems attitude is everything. 
I heard about a guy being wheeled off in a hurry for surgery.  While being taken there, he was asked if he was allergic to anything to which he answered “yes.”  Everything stopped while he told the doctor he was allergic to dying.  He asked the doctor to operate as though he was going to live.  The outcome for everyone was good.  I have experienced something similar.  It is important to get the doctor on a good day.
Being thankful is not easy, and I can wallow if I want.  I have heaps however to be thankful for.  The choice to be thankful is mine and mine alone.