Giving thanks, everyday

Families will gather around the turkey table this Thursday and announce what they are thankful for. While many cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents may scramble their brains for something they are lucky to have, a new report notes that giving thanks every day of the year will make you healthier.

Gratitude for everything you have in life can help you realize your fortune and blessings compared with so many other people in the world. Some of the findings show that feeling grateful more often can lead to lower stress levels, help smokers quit, prevent many mental disorders -- including depression, phobias, and alcoholism -- and simply lift spirits.

With so much negativity in the world, giving thanks can reroute negative thoughts and allow you to recognize those patches of sunshine in your life, even in what you feel are the worst of times. Practicing this habit will help you resort to these positive feelings more quickly the next time you feel angry or discouraged. Remember what you have, not what you're without. Having trouble getting started? Think about our country, your family, your pets, your ability to put food on the table before you. Let this Thursday be a kick-off point for this new way of thinking, and start giving thanks year-round.