The new year is here. I’m not big on New Years resolutions, but each year I do try to pick a focus, one word to provide a touchstone to ground my actions. My focus for this year is gratitude. The last couple of years have been difficult, but to quote the great philosopher John Lennon, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” I cannot control what life throws my way, but I can control how I respond to it.

This year, I want to respond with gratitude. There is no loss without some gain, and this is where I want to focus. I know that it is not happy people who are grateful, but grateful people who are happy.

To help my family and me to be mindful of our abundant blessings, we are keeping a gratitude jar. Each time we have something we’re grateful for, a moment of unexpected beauty, or something fun or funny that we want to remember, we will write it down on a small slip of paper and place it in the jar. Then, when we look back at the end of the year, or anytime that we need a reminder of the wonder and beauty that shimmers through our days, we can read through the jotted memories and refocus on gratitude.