Grateful for......something?

Oh blogging....I've missed you not gonna lie.
NOVEMBER! The Holidays are coming up and boy did time fly by. Let's be honest and real here....I'm blogging for the first time in 8+ months and there's one thing in November every cute, adorable college girl blogs about....GRATITUDE! Yes, you guessed right! I could sit here and make a never ending gratitude list but I want to share with you a thought I had today. Typical day.....work.....driving......stopping at never-ending stop lights.....then I look right in front of me I see a car that has no bumper and a teen(17,18 years old?) Smoking and driving. This is nothing new! You and I see this everyday! But I just had to think to myself, "Why are we so unhappy when we have every decision to change our happiness or where we'd like to be?" Decisions to be happy is easy as that right? Getting by on empty is living simple right? Well my friend, I disagree. Being happy is not just doing the most convenient or easiest task....it's not like we throw happiness in the lost & found or timeout....it's a state of BEING. To be.....what does that mean? Existence presense...."the nature or essence of a person." (Thank you google). I'm not talking about being this crazy, smiley, psycho person who always has a show for things going oh so pleasant in sunnyville. My Savior Jesus Christ shows me everyday my potential of rising up and to not "shrink to the bitter cup." Whether it's that prompting from the spirit to pray, to stop listening to a certain song or to make a decision to read the scriptires I know I am making decisions that are hard to live in happiness. I am ready to make the changes in my life that will bring me happiness for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year(s), next life, next eternities. I struggle, heavens yes. I get down on myself, you betcha. But during those times when I pick myself up I get the sweet reward and satisfaction to see how far I've come from rock bottom. Those times of being down, yes, will come. They will help me grow and get me uncomfortable to make new opportunites and choices. So you're thinking this girl is just rambling and get to the point of this whole schmele! I am my happiest when I am grateful. I am grateful that I get to be upset, mad or discouraged because I get to embrace happiness in a richer way. A way that goes beyond my capacity but to let in the help from my loving Savior so that He can make up the difference..  I am happy when my phone crashes and erases everything because I get to spend time and effort with others in person instead of fb. I am happy when I fail a test because I get to experiment and learn new materials. Nobody is happy when these things happen to them. (I know, I know, you've had yours and I've had mine!) I want to be grateful during my challenges, I also need to be grateful during my challenges. Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful no? :) It's always time to be grateful! I have every decision to be happy and change! Simple enough doesn't count because it's hard as heck sometimes! So I leave you my thought with this, when was the last time you were truly grateful for a thought or small act? Write it down before you go to bed. Keep that pattern and reap your reward of happiness!