I like to count my blessings. No, counting indicates eventual comparison, and how would I feel if somebody else had more blessings? Would I feel less blessed than that person?

No, I like to APPRECIATE my blessings, to fill myself up with their energy and my thankfulness for them! And I can truthfully say that I’m happy for everybody else’s blessings too. I can’t carry a tune, so I’m happy that somebody can do it. The music that others make can pretty much transport me out of space and time. I love it, and I love to move to others’ music. I love to dance!

If somebody can paint a picture, and I cannot, I consider it my blessing to be moved by that person’s art. If somebody can run as fast as the wind, I consider myself blessed. If someone can speak three different languages, I am blessed by that as well. And if somebody else can do math, while I’m a dud, I am doubly blessed because I don’t have to do it!

We are a team. We are one. And not one of us could contain all of the attributes. We all need one another to help fill in our gaps. But we all have things to contribute, too.

So, I am thankful for scientists and artists and poets and performers, and for the fact that I can be moved to laughter and to happy tears and even to sad ones. I’m thankful that I can see, hear, smell, feel and sense.

I am thankful for starry skies and gentle breezes, and the songs of birds, and the droning sounds of cicadas and crickets and frogs and rain on a tin roof. I am thankful for the smell of wisterias, gardenias, and jasmine. I am thankful for rainbows and for all of the colors with which that this world is blessed.

I am thankful for the mountains and oceans and puppies and kittens and even for the river otter that caused me to have to get that series of rabies shots a few years ago. I’m thankful for trees and mustard greens and sun and rain and white, puffy clouds.

I am thankful for my sweet, loving family, and I consider you all members of my family. I am even thankful for being thankful!

Consider your own blessings regularly. Fill yourself up with their good energy, and the energy of your thankfulness for them. It feels so good!

Marcelle Hanemann is a reporter for The Daily News. You can email her at marcelle.hanemann@bogalusadailynews.com or call her at 985-732-2565, ext. 301.