Are you blessed?

I wanted to catch you, dear reader, while your thoughts have turned to thanksgiving. During this special holiday season, we all can think of ways we are blessed.

Here are two which stopped me short, taken from the blog of my beloved great-nephew Phillip Hill:

“If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of this world’s people.”

“If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy.”

***

At 3 ET this morning, I finally caught the two-hour special, “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” hosted by Anderson Cooper.

The value of this special tribute exceeds the celebrity lineup: the good deeds of the 10 honored heroes leaves the viewer humbled and wondering what he or she can do for others.

There are heroes all around us; several grace my life. We don’t have to move the world to make a difference – a simple helping hand can mean so much:

Help an elderly neighbor change light bulbs and smoke detector batteries.

Clean out your kitchen shelves or pantry and take those foodstuffs which get pushed to the back to a lneighborhood cupboard.

Give a little of your time to one of those local organizations doing good things for those in need.

Organize a neighborhood “calling circle” to check on elderly neighbors.

Give a restaurant gift certificate to a working, single mom. (She will love you for it.)

Give a kid a book.

A simple helping hand. Extend yours today.

***

The CNN special will re-air tonight at 10 ET/9 CT/7 PT.

The news around the world and here in America is dire and distressing. Recapture the spirit of this holiday season and reassure yourself there is good in the world, by tuning in.

The special tribute closes with these words from “If You’re Out There,” sung by John Legend:

“The future started yesterday, and we’re already late.” (LISTEN TO THIS SONG ON YOUTUBE)