Do you ever find yourself challenged to see the blessings in your life? It can happen when the newspaper misses the front porch, the cat harks up a hairball on your prized wool rug or the barista steams your latte to lukewarm.

All trivial, right?

But it’s easy to let these minor irritations fill our glass with a “half-empty” perspective when we could be filled to the brim with thankfulness. Instead of counting our blessings, we are focused on what doesn’t go perfectly.

It’s a sick mentality. However, I may have discovered a cure for this pervasive malady that seems to be infectious — complaining instead of being happy.

I noticed the remedy on daughter Traci’s Facebook page when she accepted her friend Mandy’s challenge to go on a journey of thankfulness, counting a blessing each day until Thanksgiving.

Her first two posts were typical: grateful for a hard-working husband; blessed to have caring parents, both items easily taken for granted in day-to-day living.

But it was her third post that made my heart stop — and my head bow in thankfulness.

Day 3: “I’m thankful my hubby didn’t run over daughter Hailey and me this morning!”

Traci went on to explain that she had kneeled at the bottom of their steep driveway to tie my granddaughter’s shoe. Her husband, Eddie, thinking that everyone was on their walk to school, backed out of the garage in their quiet Toyota Prius. Out of sight in his rear view and side mirrors, Traci never heard him coming. Then, within only inches of the two kneeling figures, Eddie caught a glimpse of bright pink — his wife’s sweatshirt — when she shifted her position.

An event like this puts a different spin on what can steal our joy; a reminder that in spite of minor grievances, we have a wonderful life — one that could change in a heartbeat.

For me, this incident has me rethinking ungratefulness. And just to make sure I keep my blessings in the forefront of my mind, I plan to start my thankfulness journey today:

Day 1: “I’m thankful that my daughter and granddaughter are alive!”

There are 56 days until Thanksgiving to count blessings. Maybe you would like to join me on this path, too. I think it can change an attitude to gratitude.