Harriette Cole: When we feel sorry for ourselves, she goes to the gratitude list

DEAR READERS: Happy Thanksgiving! I wish each and every one of you a blessed time with your family and friends at this special time of year.

For many, it may be the first time that people have gathered from far and wide for nearly two years, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, there is still a divide because, for whatever reasons, you are unable to be physically in each other’s company. To all, I offer my love and blessings for a joyful moment of connection — whether in person or remotely.

A practice that my mother has consistently encouraged my sisters and me to do is to “count your blessings.” At 92 years old, she continues to inspire us by showing the importance of claiming the positive no matter what is going on in our lives.

The practice of counting your blessings, from Doris Cole’s perspective, is literal. Especially when times are tough and emotions are tender, Mama tells us to pause and look at the whole picture. When we are upset, agitated, disappointed or sad, she says, “Stop. Count your blessings.”

Then we start with being grateful for waking up in the morning. Grateful for having a place to lay our heads at night. Grateful for the food that we eat. For the family we love so dearly. For the friends who support us. For the work that keeps us employed. For having the resources we need when purse strings are tight. For the good will we received from a teacher when a project was overdue. For the opportunity to make amends when we made a mistake. And so on.