With Thanksgiving Day right around the corner, my intention for the next few weeks is to focus on gratitude. There is a lot of power in living from a place of abundance, where rather than pining for things that you don’t have, you express gratitude for what is already part of your life. Greek philosopher, Epicurus, said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” Everything you have experienced has contributed to where you are now, so be grateful even for those times of challenge, for those were as much a part of your advancement as the good times. I am fortunate to have many wonderful things in my life, including: loving, supportive family and friends; a career that has allowed me the freedom to travel and pursue my dreams while still earning a regular paycheck; amazing, life-changing experiences in countries across the world and more. I have also experienced struggle, such as: loss of jobs throughout my career; heartbreak (who hasn’t?); the passing of many loved ones (some who were much too young); and my own health issues (including a heart attack in 2009). Looking back on all that I have experienced in my 40 years on this Earth, the difficult times are what shaped me the most. Those events that seemed the most crushing were what pushed me to dig deeper into my soul to uncover the core of who I am and what I want to spend my time and energy doing. While the people in my life propped me up and helped lift me to the next step on my path, the down times were what caused me to reach for more in the first place. This Thanksgiving, make a list of everything for which you are grateful. Don’t forget to include your times of struggle - express gratitude for those moments in equal measure (if not more!). Share your thoughts with us by posting on our Facebook page or connecting with us on Twitter.