If you keep your eyes open, you’ll discover that kindness and good and blessings are all around us. That’s why I write a Happy Day Moment every day; that’s why I post “happy” encouraging thoughts on my Happy Day Moment Facebook Page: to keep me focused on “living with gratitude.”

Here’s a challenge: You may also want to keep track of Happy Moments in your life.  Keep a journal and jot down the moments. Moments of kindness. Moments of the good. Moments of joy. Moments of blessings.  Moments of grace. Slow down. Notice. Just for a bit. Just for a moment.

You’ll find, as I have, that becoming aware, writing about thankfulness and gratitude will help you think and live in a more positive way. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to be grateful when you make a daily effort to think about good and not bad; praises and not pain; kindness and not meanness; acceptance and not rejection.

Commit to reflecting on one moment each day where your heart says, “I am thankful.” Document your own journey of gratitude, which will hopefully encourage you.

Taking in the good and being grateful is not about always putting a happy shiny face on everything, nor is it about turning away from the hard things in life. It’s about nourishing gratitude, your inner well-being, contentment, and peace—refuges to which you can always return.

These are the Echoes of the September posts on my Happy Day Moment Facebook Page and what I have tweeted:

Be an agent of hope and forgiveness and grace. To everyone.

Even shattered glass can be useful and beautiful. That’s how mosaics are made.

Do good. Seek peace and pursue it.

Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

Life’s too short not to say what’s in your heart.

Take advantage of every opportunity to say “Thank You” and to say “I love you.”

When things aren’t going well, use gratitude to cultivate a perspective of growth.

It’s common to be selfish. It’s uncommon to be sacrificial. Be uncommon.

What small act of mercy and grace is God inviting you to extend to someone in your family?

Notice the good things around you. Practice gratitude every day.

Whatever you face, you can choose to let your circumstances make you better, or bitter.

When you accept another person’s gift, you allow him to express his feelings for you.

Touch your heart and let your heart be touched. Discover how much warmth and gentleness is there.

Recognize the happy even in the mundane of life.

Do not be cautious with your love, be extravagant.

Allow yourself to be touched by ordinary blessings.

Work hard at what you love, rest well, and enjoy yourself.

Today is National Day of Encouragement. Today, be a Samaritan. Encourage someone. Cross the road to help and be still, listen, and administer mercy.

Consider how you respond: Let your conversation be always full of grace.

When life hits us with multiple blows, with God’s help, we will overcome.

Be someone who nurtures and builds. Be someone who has an understanding and a forgiving heart.

Be kind. Show love. Give grace. We can all do more than what we are. And we know it.

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