It’s a tradition in many families to reflect on what they’re thankful for during the week of Thanksgiving. Like most people, if I stop and think about it, I can find more things to be thankful for that I can write about. The most common things are giving thanks for one’s health and their family’s health.

But there are countless other things I can think of. My most recent book, Maid for the Cowboy, has really taken off. This morning it was #69 in the category of romance/westerns. I was so excited when I saw it. I ran to the bedroom to tell my husband and he was just as thrilled as I was. I’m very fortunate to have him and his support in my writing career. He’s eaten many frozen microwavable dinners when I’ve been trying to finish a work in progress.

Sometimes the stress we all live under makes it difficult to remember we have a lot to be thankful for. Here’s a reminder of a few things:

If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.