"Be Here Now. Live in the Present. Live in the Moment." So goes common advice from the life coach, the therapist and the spiritual guide. There really isn't anywhere you can turn anymore without some enlightened someone urging you to put aside worries of tomorrow and yesterday in order to concentrate on making the precious moment in time you occupy RIGHT NOW full and completely experienced. The theory is that when your mind and heart are in the present moment – even the painful moment - you are not wasting energy on things you can't control. And by achieving emotional and psychic energy efficiency – mindful of the present at the expense of the past and the future - you will live a fulfilled and happy life.

Riiiiight.

I’m in Ohio with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving this week. It's tempting to feel grumpy, after the way we arrived here. My last dozen trips to visit family resulted in 24-hour disasters of delays, cancellations, and sleeping on smelly carpets on the floors of O'Hare Airport. I swore off going home to be with family- until this year.

I’m not much into the practice of gratitude. I don’t keep a gratitude journal as Oprah prescribed all those years ago, nor am currently I participating in that Facebook thinggie where you post something for which you’re grateful each day from now until Thanksgiving. I mean, I think they’re beautiful ideas, as they help to promote a state of thankfulness in more people who may not otherwise see the blessings in their lives. Really, I’m all for such things. I’ve just never felt particularly drawn to do them.