Richard Franz

World-renowned author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar stated: "The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for."

Starting a new diet in a new year is an annual ritual for some and the beginning of something wonderful for others. The thought of a new year, a new body and new look is appealing and motivating. We may just want to look healthier, be healthier and live longer—and this is the year, 2013, when it all begins.

Another calendar year has come to a close. Many world events have come across our headlines; countries have elected new leaders, the sports world has crowned new champions, families celebrated promotions and graduations.

Did you go Christmas shopping this year? Did you spend money you have not yet earned on items that probably will not fill anyone’s needs, and will only temporarily satisfy a selfish envy or greed? Do you feel like Christmas is more about spending money than spending time with God and family?

Consumer counseling agencies anticipate a 25 percent increase in the number of people seeking help in January and February. Most of that traffic is driven to their doors by holiday bills that haunt consumers like the ghost of Christmas past.

When tragedy suddenly strikes a home or family, a city or a nation, the people directly affected experience any number of emotions, including unbridled sadness, hurt, loss, emptiness and grief. When the sharp edge of shock and piercing point of pain are slightly numbed by emotional fatigue, it is not abnormal for anger and resentment to enter people’s hearts. Anger from the devastating loss seeks to focus on or attack something. Whose fault is it? Who is blame for such an atrocity? Counselors see these transitions as part of the normal grieving process.