Being Grateful...

A special friend sent me this in an email. I loved it!
Since it is about being grateful, and it is nearing Thanksgiving,
I thought I would post it. I hope you can take something from it.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!! Love, Val xox

Being Grateful

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were
meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to
help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor,
professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you
lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life
in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair
at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you
would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower or heart.

Everything happens for a reason.

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love,
lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test
the limits of your soul.

Without these tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved,
straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls
you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the
most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being
cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because
they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how
to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those
moments everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able
to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before,
and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't
believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then
go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for you never know what
tomorrow may have in store. And learn a lesson in life each day you live!
Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.

Was it worth it?

- M. J. Ryan, Attitudes of Gratitude