Searching for some Thanksgiving inspiration, I came across this quote from Willie Nelson, who has been through a lot.

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.

Willie Nelson

I like the idea that gratitude is not just a good idea but is also useful.

Yes, we should pause today, on Thanksgiving, (and heck, every day) to be grateful for the good things in our life. But even more than that, we should make something of it – make it useful.

Use your gratitude to show some love, some kindness, some appreciation to someone, to make the best of your situations and bring the best out of the people you know.

Funnily enough, I found a similar idea from from Neal A. Maxwell, a Mormon scholar and educator.

We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.

Neal A. Maxwell

I don’t know much about the Mormon Church, but this dude seems bright and extremely accomplished across many areas, as well as being noted as a talented writer and speaker.

I’m going to file Mr. Maxwell away along with Timothy Leary as someone I wouldn’t naturally be drawn to but who seems to have some good ideas.