The Happiest Kind of Girl...

I've been thinking a lot about a song and a story on tape that I listened to non-stop when I was a kid. I guess my 6 year old self knew that I would need to reference the gratitude attitude of Mr. Bear and Mr. Badger. The one line of the song that I remember and keep singing over and over in my head is "When you have a gratitude attitude you are the happiest kind of girl or boy, happiest girl or boy...happiest girl or boy."

Hmmmm - Happiest.

My own brand of happy has taken a few big hits this year...but could I really get my happy back? And not just happy, but HAPPIEST? This would require some serious recognition and expression of gratitude to my Heavenly Father, my Dad and Mom, my family and friends, my ward family and even my co-workers. I'm sure if I could focus my negativity into expressions of gratitude and my pitiful wallowing into acts of service for others, I could be the happiest kind of girl....

I will start today, here is my first open letter of gratitude.

Dear 6 year old, Lindsey. My first debt of gratitude is to you. 24 years later and I'm still influenced and inspired by the time and attention you gave to "self help" media at such a young age. It's like you knew that you would forget and would feel a little lost for awhile.

A gratitude attitude!...it's what the happiest kind of badgers, bears, and girls are made of...