In an article which appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Melinda Beck referred to a growing body of research which shows that feeling grateful for the good things that have happened to us can improve our psychological, emotional and physical health. According to Ms. Beck, “Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not…” She goes on to say that grateful people are less likely to be depressed, envious, or greedy. This must be why the ancient Greeks and Romans referred to gratitude as an “indispensable human virtue.” So, the next time you find yourself feeling down and you want to turn your situation around quickly, simply take a few moments, count your blessings and be thankful for all the good things that have happened to you. If you do this, you’ll quickly realize that the ancient Greeks and Romans knew what they were talking about.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” — Henry Ward Beecher
• “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward

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