Guest Column: Gratitude is all around us

The Costume and Candy holiday is over and we’ve turned the calendar to November. Our thoughts naturally turn to deer hunting, furnace repair and gratitude.

Some years ago, during a dark time in my mind, I read about the practice of gratitude. What did that mean, anyway — practicing gratitude? Isn’t gratitude simply knowing to say “thank you” at the culturally appropriate times?

The book I was reading — I’ve forgotten what it was called, but I am grateful for its existence — suggested keeping a “gratitude journal.” There is nothing to buy or any special format. All you need is paper. The task f...