I don’t know about many of you but I’ve about had it up to “here” with the doom and gloom reports. Global Warming, the mortgage crisis, drought (in my neck of the woods anyway), rising gas prices, the possibility of a recession.

As my wife and I were driving around one day on a job I jokingly expressed my frustration we were having looking for a place and wasting gas to the point I was getting very angry. I told her I was just going to stay home and recycle my pee.

It’s easy to get down during difficult and challenging times but as the U.S. Holiday of Thanksgiving approaches I like to actually think about what I am thankful for instead of depressing over the “end of the world.” Let’s look at some of the things that are presenting challenges to us today with a different attitude:

Rising Gas Prices - First of all we really need to be thankful for the fact we can travel the distances we can as individuals but how what kind of opportunities do we have to walk or ride bikes to local spots like grocery stores, etc. While we more than likely as individuals can’t send a hate letter to the oil companies or OPEC or the Government we do have control over how we use what we pay for like properly inflated tires, good spark plugs, air filters, etc. We can buy vehicles that are more fuel efficient and we can collectively support new technologies that cut the use of the current fuels. Also remember that while prices are high they could be a lot higher.

Global Warming - This one frustrates me more than anything. I try to do what I can by recycling, not supporting practices that contribute to the problem but I am thankful we are not experiencing Global freezing or Global burning. Yes, it sounds silly and trite but I am thankful that we can think about things now and stop stupid practices like cutting down rain forests, supporting crazy farming practices that ships for thousands of miles or items in our diet like high fructose corn syrup or the inefficient practice of raising meat like beef, pork and chicken and yes, turkey.

Mortgage and Credit Crisis - This is one thing we have a LOT of control over and a big contributor to this is plain and simple pride. Are you keeping up with the “Joneses?” I admit I have used credit card more than I should but they should only be used in case of an emergency or if you intend on paying them off. Yes, the credit card companies hate hearing and if everyone did that they would be out of business. Do you really need a McMansion or luxury apartment when a more modest place will do? Remember some of the most richest people do not drive the fanciest cars or life in the most ornate places. It’s easy to wish we always had something better but how often are we thankful for what we have? Ever seen the bumper sticker that says, “Don’t Laugh, it’s paid for!”? There is a lot of truth to that.

There are a lot of things a lot of us have like legs that can walk, minds than can innovate, and tools we are not yet using to the fullest potential. Yes, some are not blessed with such things but what are you blessed with and what can you do with those things to contribute to a better today and tomorrow?