Thanks to those who are writing in to help us all raise our thoughts and remind us about the power of gratitude. I am especially grateful we have The Echo, an independent, inclusive voice that informs and brings our community together.
The definition of gratitude is: being thankful, appreciation of, and inclination to return kindness. So you can see this mindset can really make changes in the world, one person at a time.
An attitude of gratitude helps us be in our power. We all have the ability to change the way we think. It’s hard not to buy into the bad news which technology has made available 24/7. It seems to be the zeitgeist of these times to whinge, worry and feel that we are hard done by. In reality there has never been a time of greater prosperity and longer life expectancy. If you look at history, you will see that we are indeed the fortunate ones.
The antidote is practising gratitude, as soon as you wake up, as you go to sleep and whenever you start going down the slippery slope of despair. Think about something that is beautiful in your life. The trick is to be aware and diligent. There is beauty everywhere, especially in this region.
We are able to choose our thoughts. Even with depression, the choice is still there, it’s just a lot more difficult. Perhaps we should be grateful for the hard times and see it as an opportunity to grow and develop as strong, resilient people who have honed their power. And remember, everything changes.
Please keep writing in to help cheer us all up.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
