Those who know me and those who read my column know that staying steeped in gratitude is important to me.

I find it impossible to sufficiently say thank you for all my blessings. Every single day in so many ways we are showered with blessings.

All we can do is to be aware of those blessings with a profound deep gratitude.

I never get tired of saying thank you for my countless blessings. I know it’s powerful to be filled with gratitude.

Some say gratitude is their best gift because without it little matters.

You might have seen the signs that say “Gratitude is my best gift.”

It’s true that gratitude is a gift in and of itself.

For those with the capability and desire to fill their days with gratitude life takes on a deeper significance.

Yet, some people disclaim the positive effect of gratitude. Some believe what ever happens or doesn’t happen to them is simply fate. End of story.

Well, I believe we all have a hand in writing some of our story.

Those with faith tend to have hope as well as a strong belief that a divine power is in control. And that’s where gratitude comes in.

I checked to see what artificial intelligence has to say about gratitude and found it had plenty of reasons gratitude is a gift.

AI says gratitude is the best gift because it boosts emotional and physical health, strengthens social bonds and helps you appreciate the present moment.

It improves well-being by reducing stress and negative emotions like anxiety and depression, while also enhancing happiness, life satisfaction and sleep quality.

By focusing on the positives, gratitude helps you to savor experiences and build deeper, stronger relationships.

I think AI did a better job that I did in explaining the benefits of having gratitude.

But I have one thing AI doesn’t have, and that is personal experience: I just experienced in a convincing way the power of gratitude.

Last Saturday, after a great day having lunch and shopping with two of my favorite friends, I reveled in gratitude. It’s not often that we pause everything we have to do so the three of us we can enjoy a girls day out.

We were in high spirits as we shopped for warmer clothes. In Florida that’s something we never need but we each have planned trips to what I call “cold country.”

Women are fond of saying “I have nothing to wear,” but for me, it was true. The last two hurricanes took away much of my clothing, including all my winter clothes. I’m flying to Maine to spend Christmas with my family, so I definitely need to replace my winter clothes.

At the end of the happy day my arms were filled with shopping bags. Normally I would have put everything in the back, but I didn’t have a free hand to open the cargo area. I just piled everything in the front seat.

Little did I know that decision was the beginning of disaster. As I was driving away my purse with long straps fell to the floor. I didn’t want to trip over the straps so I did one simple thing. I lifted the purse back on the seat.

OK. This is where my stupidity comes in. I am chagrined to tell you I didn’t totally stop the car when I reached down for the purse. My car swerved just enough to scrap the passenger’s side of the car on a telephone pole.

There was no collision, so airbags didn’t go off. So I was hoping there wasn’t a lot of damage.

It was worse than I thought it would be. My new car with less than 3,000 miles has about $10,000 worth of damage.

I was sick in the stomach, unable to eat for days, knowing it was stupidity on my part. Body shops are jammed and there’s a waiting list.

When I went for my gratitude walk I was too downhearted to be grateful. But then I thought of one thing after another for which I am grateful.

I’m grateful I didn’t hit the kids riding bikes. I’m grateful I didn’t destroy anyone’s property. I’m grateful I have car insurance, even though there will be a financial penalty. I’m just glad they didn’t level an added charge for stupidity.

Thinking of things for which I am grateful eventually pulled me back to regaining my peace.

And then, I found unexpected joy.

Did you ever have a time when you were dreading something because you expected it to be bad. I was sure of it because my husband and I were far apart on a vitally important issue. Then, out of the blue he said he would go along with my plan because he saw that it made me happy.

That’s a first. It’s also cause for my deep gratitude.

Life coach Tony Robbins tells us once we appreciate everything we have the law of attraction will bring more abundance to us.

The first step is being mindful and noticing the good things in your life and the world around you.

Take time to see the blessings you normally miss.

For a happier life learn to appreciate those blessings.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net