Mackay: There's always room for gratitude

Think that you have little to be thankful? Haven't taken time to think about the blessings you have?

For starters, you can be grateful that you weren't one of the pilgrims who broke bread that first Thanksgiving in 1621. I clipped these facts from the Arizona Republic years ago, just to remind myself that even on the toughest days, I have nothing to complain about. Here's what some of our ancestors encountered to come to America.

They uprooted themselves from their lives and sailed for the New World. The journey was so hazardous that guides advised travelers to "First, make thy will." The trip was treacherous, to say the least. The Mayflower was actually blown off course, and instead of reaching Virginia, where there were Englishmen who had settled 13 years earlier, the pilgrims ended up in the wilds of Massachusetts.

When they finally found and settled in Plymouth, winter had set in. The storms were terrible, and shelter was only rudimentary. With little food, nearly all the settlers fell ill.

Within three months of landing in Plymouth, nearly half had died from disease and starvation. "There died sometimes two or three of a day," Colonial Gov. William Bradford later recalled.

Though Native Americans showed the pilgrims how to plant corn, the settlers' first crops were dismal. Soon, supplies ran out and England refused to send more. Yet they persevered. I doubt any of us has ever faced such daunting obstacles.

By comparison, our lives seem pretty manageable. Developing an attitude of gratitude takes so little effort, yet many of us need a refresher course in how to be thankful for what we have.

Stop and take note of the things in your life that are good, instead of focusing on the current — and often inconsequential — things that seem to be going wrong. Take care not to fall into whining, even though we almost all do now and then.

Sometimes this bad attitude arises from the idea that life owes us better than we are receiving. But whining and complaining won't likely change your situation or how you feel. When you are in the midst of a pity party, you might want to try some of the following tips to remind yourself just how much you have to be thankful for.

Stop and smell the roses. Take some time out to acknowledge the good things in life. Take the day off and do something fun. Take a bike ride or a walk to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Do something for someone else. If you are focused solely on your own problems, one of the best ways to break the cycle of negativity is to go out and do something for someone else. Volunteer at a food bank, cook dinner for an ailing neighbor or help out with a community project. These types of activities can radically change your mood and put your own situation in perspective.

Talk about good things. Even if it feels awkward, say something positive. Break through the barrier of negativity that you are trapped in. You likely will be surprised by the power of your own thoughts and words on your mood.

Mackay's Moral: Happy Thanksgiving — and happy thanks giving.