The metaphysical laws of attraction contend that when you are genuinely thankful for what you have in your life, this naturally begets MORE good tidings to in turn be thankful for. This ascending cycle of positivity and improvement of one’s lot in life tends then to perpetuate itself to the point of truly thriving along one’s journey toward self-actualization. And it is this relatively simple “attitude of gratitude” that becomes an augmenting, powerful and infectious force.

“But how do I do it?”

Start by being thankful for those you love — family and friends.  This should automatically put you in a good mood.   Next, play some music you have always enjoyed, but you haven’t listened to in a while.  This should enhance your already good mood.

Now let’s get REALLY fundamental, but in areas you have likely taken for granted.  Be thankful that you are alive to enjoy this day — not yesterday, not tomorrow . . . but HERE and NOW, in other words this very instant.  And be thankful that your heart has been beating dependably without even having to think about it for your entire life.

Be thankful you can breath the air, so go ahead, take a slow deep breath through your nose and feel your chest expand as your lungs take in life-sustaining oxygen, which is then absorbed by the one to two gallons of blood (although it varies by body size, on average the human body holds 1.5 gallons of blood) that is ALWAYS coursing throughout your miraculous temple.

Now slowly exhale what is now principally carbon dioxide through your mouth, while being thankful for the relaxed feeling you now have.  But wait a minute!  Not so fast.  How did you turn the oxygen you breathed in just a few seconds ago, into carbon dioxide?  Are you some kind of magician!?!

Your blood picked up the carbon dioxide after dropping off the oxygen to the TRILLIONS upon TRILLIONS of cells that comprise your body (Scientific research reported by Smithsonian.com estimates this number to be roughly 37 TRILLION).  To help you appreciate this number, let’s write it out for you . . .

37,000,000,000,000

Your blood also picked up the many nutrients processed by your stomach after it was carefully extracted from the the food you had eaten earlier.  So you should be thankful that you also do this ALL THE TIME without having to think about it.  And while you’re at it, be thankful for the food you had eaten, as well as what’s now in your refrigerator (an appliance you should be thankful to have) and throughout your kitchen (also something to be appreciated) for future consumption.

But where did the carbon dioxide come from?  Oh that came from the energy you produced from the aerobic respiration (using the oxygen you breathed) and anaerobic respiration (using the nutrients stored in your muscles).  So be thankful that you have been doing this your entire life, and again without having to consciously think about it.

Be thankful this remarkable life-sustaining liquid in your circulatory system is continuously at work for you and pumped by your heart to sustain your body’s TRILLIONS of cells of vast variety, including your brain which allows you to read this blog post.  You do so by cognitively processing the images your eyes (be thankful you can see) take in from your computer screen (an advanced technology you should be thankful for) and utilizing  information you have been learning throughout your life (so be thankful for the education availed to you thus far, along with the cognitive ability to process it).

So you should be ever so thankful you have a brain that not only allows you to think, feel emotions and remember things dating as far back as when you were 5 years old, it tells every single one of your TRILLIONS of cells what to do and when to do so in relatively perfect harmony.  And you should be thankful that it is possible to efficiently accomplish with but a mere 100 billion neuron cells (actually it is more like 86 billion)  that comprise your brain, along with its TRILLIONS of synapses that interconnect them.

Well that should be enough biology to convince you that your are this magnificently complex organism who has much to be thankful for just by simply existing.  But there is so much more to you and your life.  And although we’ve only scratched the surface of what comprises “life”, this is something that should be appreciated and celebrated each day.

And this celebration begins with an attitude of gratitude for the miracle that is YOU, and the world that surrounds you, as aptly depicted in Ricky Martin‘s music video below.  The lyrics then follow, and since part of the song is in Spanish, the English translation is reflected  parenthetically.

Vida

Finally the time has come
Let’s just dance in the sun
Everybody grab someone
And let rhythm make us one

It’s a celebration
Every time we get together
All people in every nation
Put your manos (hands) in the sky
Venimos a vacilar (We come to have fun)
Venimos a disfrutar (We come to have joy)
Vamos todos a gozar (Let’s all have a good time)
Vamos todos a cantar (Let’s all sing)

La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Everyone across the world
Man, and woman, boy and girl
La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Vamos todos a bailar (Let’s all dance)
Sonreir y celebrar (Smiling and celebrating)

Negativity is gone
And I’m feeling so good
Cause we, cause we found love
Like life has just begun
Enjoy the laughter and fun

It’s a celebration
Every time we get together
All people in every nation
Put your manos in the sky
Venimos a vacilar (We come to have fun)
Venimos a disfrutar (We come to have joy)
Vamos todos a gozar (Let’s all have a good time)
Vamos todos a cantar (Let’s all sing)

La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Everyone across the world
Man, and woman, boy and girl
La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Vamos todos a bailar (Let’s all dance)
Sonreir y celebrar (Smiling and celebrating)

La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Everyone across the world
Man, and woman, boy and girl
La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Vamos todos a bailar (Let’s all dance)
Sonreir y celebrar (Smiling and celebrating)

La mano para arriba (Hand up)
Todo el mundo para abajo (Everyone get down)
Da una vueltecita (Have others take turns)
Que siga este canto (To continue this singing)
Pon la mano para arriba (Put your hand up)
Todo el mundo para abajo (Everyone get down)
Da una vueltecita (Have others take turns)
Que siga este canto (To continue this singing)

La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Everyone across the world
Man, and woman, boy and girl
La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Vamos todos a bailar (Let’s all dance)
Sonreir y celebrar (Smiling and celebrating)

La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Everyone across the world
Man, and woman, boy and girl
La vida buena (The good life)
Buena vida (good life), hey, huh
Vamos todos a bailar (Let’s all dance)
Sonreir y celebrar (Smiling and celebrating)