“Focusing on what we already have and are grateful for right now is one of the most powerful things we can do to alter our life in a positive way.”
Mike Robbins

We are very grateful for all the American soldiers who have given their lives for our country. Hopefully you enjoyed the day off for Memorial Day last Monday but also took time to thank a soldier and pay tribute to our U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service fighting for our country.
Let’s keep the grateful feeling that we have towards our American heroes this week and remember we have so much to be grateful for. If we remember everyday all the positive things in our life that we are grateful for, it will go very far in making the world a more positive place.
The Mayo Clinic did a study about the health benefits of positive thinking and their researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Some of their research concluded that the health benefits that positive thinking may provide include: increased life span, lower rates of depression, lower levels of distress, greater resistance to the common cold, better psychological and physical well-being, reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and better coping skills during hardships and times of stress.
So if a positive outlook enables you to have all these benefits, why wouldn’t you be grateful and positive?
Anthony Robbins says one of the best ways to make a small change to feel happy with a positive outlook is that if someone asks you, “How are you doing?” answer with, “Excellent! Outstanding! Better than you can imagine!”
Oprah says, “Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that happened this day that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change your perspective of your day and your life. If you can learn to focus on what you have, you will always see that the universe is abundant; you will have more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never have enough.”
We have so much to be grateful for in the Crescenta Valley. To name five things (for Oprah) to be grateful for in the Crescenta Valley, I say: great weather, beautiful scenery, wonderful schools, successful businesses and beautiful people volunteering their time and riches to keep this a beautiful place.
Come and be part of the positive people at our next business mixer hosted by Caspian Services on June 9 at 2946 Honolulu Ave. from 6 to 8 p.m. Hope to see you there and if you ask me how I am doing…“I will be excellent!” And thank you again to our troops.
Important Chamber dates: June 9 – Business mixer at Caspian Services.  Please call our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957 / crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd. Ste. D.
Julia Rabago is the executive director of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Julia Rabago is the executive director
of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of
Commerce.