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I know a super volunteer for many organizations who works really hard at being generous and helpful. If anyone has a need, she goes out of her way to try to fill it. The people in her life greatly appreciate her.

But ironically she has expressed to me that she feels completely isolated and unappreciated. At times she can fall into a depression, feeling that she gives so much but gets nothing in return.

I told her I think I know why she’s so stuck. It is difficult for her to receive any kind of appreciation or praise. She’s a master at deflection.

No matter what we do or how perfect our input, the fact is, we are never in control of the outcome of any situation.
Even when we know that we cannot count on a particular result, we tend to expect things to turn out as we’d planned.
And when they don’t, we will look for someone to blame. Some of us are terrific at blaming ourselves and then feeling unnecessary guilt or shame. That’s how hard it is to believe that outcomes are not controllable.

Today’s Americans have more to make their lives easier than any people who have ever lived. We live in the finest houses, wear the nicest clothing and eat the best food that any generation has ever known.

Yet, at the same time, so many of us take it all for granted instead of for gratitude.

Why do we take for granted the many blessings we have? Why do we fail to be more thankful?

According to Advertising Age, a top magazine for trend analysis, the automobile is rapidly becoming less relevant to an increasing number of people younger than 30. 

Reasons for this change include telecommuting, high fuel prices and environmental concerns.

Bad news for the auto industry may be good news for public transportation services. But, not so fast, that doesn’t mean everyone endorses the need for public transit.