Want To Be Grateful? Look Around You

First, a couple of things I am grateful for:
  1. Despite dire warnings that cell phones (and now virtual reality goggles) make people less connected and isolated, I am happy to see the local coffee places full of people sitting together and talking to each other. So communication is not dead.
  2. Seeing the generosity of people on sites like our local 'Buy Nothing' and community pages on Facebook help me remember that there are still many people who care about others. Every need I have seen posted has been met in so many ways. People want to be generous when they can meet a need.

  One thing I do want to do at the beginning of this year is to challenge us all to remember to be civil to each other. I have noticed a dangerous trend in our area recently to run through red lights in just about every stop light. For a small community like ours, it is disappointing. I remember when we first moved here and we were amazed how people would move over a lane to let you on to the highway. Coming from California, we weren't used to consideration in driving. I loved that about our town. Now, many people have brought bad habits from driving in the city to our town.  Just try to remember that it could be your loved one that could be impacted if you are driving through a light after it turns red. Is anything that important that you risk your life, and others, to get someplace a few minutes faster.
  I know I am speaking about my community but I know it extends everywhere people drive. We can be more patient, more aware and more cautious. There have been too many accidents lately and it is most likely aggravated by impatience and the need to hurry. Take a deep breath and follow the rules of the road. It benefits us all.
 And finally, focus on positive stories rather than negative. Your outlook changes when you spend more time on positive stuff than the bad stuff. Bad stuff happens every day but we don't have to dwell on it. There are just as many positive stories. Live there.