My “word” for 2022 is GRATITUDE. I adopted a goal of making a year-long-study of this concept. Many writers credit gratitude with providing happiness in our lives. One thing I had hoped to do was read books about gratitude. Here’s the third book I’ve read on the subject this year (Oliver Sacks, Gratitude was the first; Wake Up Grateful was the second; and this week I finished the third, Living Life as a Thank You).

Nina Lesowitz’s and Mary Beth Sammons’ small book explores the positive power of gratitude. It guides the reader in an attempt to change “fear into courage, anger into forgiveness, and isolation into belonging.” Dealing with the benefits to gratitude, Living Life is something we need NOW. The chapter titled, “Ways to Stay Thankful in Difficult Times,” is particularly relevant during times of Covid, political division, and worldwide problems. Any one of these creates stress in the individual. Anecdotes about “individuals whose lives have been transformed by thankfulness” fill every chapter, inspiring and uplifting the reader. In a day of separateness, this little book teaches us how to stay connected with others by being thankful. Inserted throughout its chapters are practical tips on expressing gratitude. Snippits of wisdom head each chapter, causing me to take out my Gratitude journal and copy sage advice often. One quote that resonated with me as a takeaway is, “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say, ‘Thank You’ ? “