I want to live with an attitude of gratitude.

But it isn’t easy for me. Sadly, that type of disposition doesn’t come naturally to me. I have to choose to look around me each day to focus on the positive things in my life, and especially, the things I have to be thankful for.

Like couches. Lol. Are you thankful for your couch? Let me explain why I am so very grateful for the couch I have now and the couches I’ve had in the past.

About twenty years ago, my husband and I took in a seven-month-old Doberman puppy. At the time, my son was around the same age as the puppy. I had a Doberman growing up, and that dog loved me like no one else, and he protected me like it was his only job in this world.

So, I thought it would be cool for my son to grow up with his own Doberman side kick.

What I didn’t foresee was the separation anxiety our sweet dog, Princess, would have. Bless her heart, she really, really did not like to be away from her people. If left alone, she would howl so loudly my neighbors would call me to ask if she was okay. She would also shake and tremble with worry; she wouldn’t eat or drink, etc. If we paid for a sitter, she would still shake and stare at the door until we got home.

I felt so bad for her. The vet offered to medicate her. There was just no calming her when we weren’t home. And, to top it all off, sometimes she would chew up our couches. And, yes, we immediately realized we should have crate trained her! Lol.

But, the funniest thing happened. After we took Princess into our home, every time she chewed a couch, another one would somehow land in our lap. Someone would give us one, or someone wanted a new one and offered their older one to us at a super low price. Or my parents would gift us one for Christmas. I can’t even remember all the times we were offered a couch, but it happened every single time we needed one.

So now, guess what? Let’s fast forward to twenty years later–my son is now a young man, and sweet Princess went over that rainbow bridge years ago with cancer–another couch ripped a few weeks ago, and we needed a new one. My husband and I planned a trip to the furniture store that Saturday, but out of the blue, someone offered us a couch! (You must be like...really?) Yes, really.

There is no doubt in my mind this is a blessing from a higher power. And I’m so very grateful. Thank you so much!

I have no idea if someone will give me a couch every time I need one for the rest of my life, but you know what, I will forever be so grateful that this need has been fulfilled for all this time until now.

So, how about you? What needs have been fulfilled in your life? Pay attention, so you can count those blessings. Be grateful.

Let’s practice that attitude of gratitude.