14,000 Things To Be Happy About   by Grandpa Chuck

My wife is a regular at the "used book store" here in town. She buys, she trades, and she sells books monthly. From time to time I get to come along and am allowed one pick (one book) on these trips.

At times I get a tech manual for a computer program, other times I pick up a children's book for the grandkids to read and then take home after they stop by for a visit. This week a book called, "14,000 Things To Be Happy About" by Barbara Ann Kipper caught my eye. Starting in the 4th Grade Barbara took 20 years to write this book. Why did she write it?

Barbara states, "Sometimes, on a gray day, I flip through the collection to cheer myself up; often I use it to get ideas about what to cook for dinner or something fun to do with my son"

What a wonderful idea this is and what a uplifting book to have around the house. I started my own list of "things to be happy about" and it was amazing how fast my list is growing. Not only can I reference my list but can share it with other family members.

A few items off my list are: having lived in the country, once attending a two room school house, a wonderful family, children, and grandchildren, living by Lake Michigan, and on and on.

Take a minute and conjure up your own images - to reminisce, wish, and dream. Perhaps it takes 20 years to come up with 14,000 things to be happy about but it only takes a few minutes to think of a few things that might bring a smile to your face.