As we enter the holiday season of festivities, gift giving and spiritual remembrances, it is an ideal opportunity for us to pause and take stock of ourselves. What is it that you truly have to be grateful for?

Often, we take for granted what we have without ever noting its importance. A female client once came to me, depressed and feeling that her life was void of true meaning. She was financially fortunate and there was much in her life that others would have envied. I asked her during one of our sessions, what she had to be grateful for. She looked at me with disbelief and was silent for a few minutes. Sadly, she couldn't think of anything. "How did you get to my office?" I asked her. "By car, of course," she responded. "Are you grateful for your car?" "Why yes, I suppose I am," she said. "What about your feet and legs and arms and fingers? Are you grateful for them? How about your husband and children?" To each one of my questions she responded affirmatively. By the next week, she came to the session with a long list of what she was thankful for and said that she felt much better.

I'm not suggesting that gratitude by itself is a cure for depression. However, what I am recommending is that now is an ideal time for each one of us to designate some space to review what we really have in our lives to be grateful for. It is usually a mind opening experience and for me always a humbling one as well. Years ago, I devised a little ritual that I've been using repeatedly that places my life and my goals in proper perspective.

Before I go to sleep each evening, I review what there is to be thankful for. Included are special items that were particularly meaningful for that day. I find that getting into the habit of doing this regularly has helped me view my life circumstances with eyes that behold how fortunate I am.

You don't need to practice this every night as I do. However the benefits of creating some moments for this type of review are significant, regardless of their frequency. When you practice the acknowledgment of gratitude, it may truly alter not only your perception of your life but could also change the way you treat others, especially loved ones, and affect your attitude regarding yourself.

Gratitude for even the smallest aspect of your life can turn the dimmest moments into ones of appreciation. When we examine the storehouse of wealth that we may have, especially the most simple, yet often overlooked, such as our body parts, eyes, voice, fingers, ability to think, laugh, love, the available choices in our country, we recognize how fortunate we truly are.This holiday season take a few moments to reflect on what your personal treasures are. Remember the little things that bring you joy. Share your gratitude with others.

My family has a lovely tradition at Thanksgiving, which is the only real time we are all gathered together from different parts of the country. Everyone is seated (and the numbers keep growing). Before we begin our dinner, my cousin Barry hushes us and gives his Lthankfulness speech' for all of us to be together this year. Then as we go around the table, one person at a time tells what he has to be grateful for. The children who are able to talk also participate amid the laughter and sentiment. I wish you a year of much health, joy and peace and hope that you'll include expressions of gratitude in your life with others or alone, in silence or spoken aloud. Remember during this season to make time to appreciate yourself as well as others.

Reprinted from SJ Woman 2003