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An Attitude of Gratitude

Nov 10, 2026 12:42PM ● By Jerome Bilaos

Life is a breath by breath, hour by hour, day by day, living and learning process. Understanding how to enjoy that process is a key to being happy or miserable, a complainer or an optimist. Along the way, hopefully, we are taught and manage to learn life lessons.

Not all experiences are welcome, but they are part of life. How to live, adjust, and deal with life on life’s terms is part of the process. As an example: it was hard for me when I didn’t get what I wanted. I would act out and put myself into a childlike ego state. When life did not go my way, I simply bitched, complained, and whined like a child. I needed to grow up, learn from life, and become a person with an attitude of gratitude. I believe this is one of the greatest gifts of self-care we can take into our lives. For me, learning how to live in gratitude only came once I took the time to examine me, how I wanted to be seen, and who I wanted to be. For someone that could not take advice, help or direction from almost anyone, letting people show me the way was paramount.

When I am grateful and have the right attitude, feelings of anger, disdain, or resentments along with the desire to throw a pity party dissolve. An attitude of gratitude takes work, attention, desire, and hope. Living in gratitude embraces the little things, the big things, and makes thinking and living better by far. To feel grateful for my life, family, friends, community…I could go on and on…makes my world so much better. I like to make a gratitude list. When I’m feeling down, lost or stressed, focusing on gratitude helps me overcome the blues.

With an attitude and gratitude, it’s possible to find something good in every situation. Seeing the good and looking for it is always the first step. We admire people that think and act with grace, dignity, and a kind optimistic outlook. They make it look easy, but there is a thought process behind that. They have learned to recognize that attitude and gratitude are the good guys that bring balance and acceptance.

Visualize with me for a moment this situation. A car cuts you off and comes inches away from hitting you and your family, while you’re out for a fall drive. We can react with road rage, cursing, swearing slurs that pour from our mouths or we can respond with “Wow, so happy they did not hit us”. Everyone is alright, and that is what matters. That is how gratitude works. It’s soul food.

This way of thinking leads to a way of living. Long ago I was given these messages, and they still ring clear in my ears: Gratitude is the foundation of attitude, and attitude is the foundation to living life, more content, in happiness, with less stress. One day at a time. Practice, Practice, Practice, Patience, Patience, Patience, and never give up.

Living life guilt-free and in gratitude for just plain living is a mental health springboard. What better identity than being a person with an attitude of gratitude?

With love, peace and laughter,

Joe & Asta Dunne, Publishers

In-Print, Wise Words, Inspiration publisher's letter CNJ NCNJ November 2026
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