Being in any relationship requires having a sense of gratitude. If you're married, appreciating your spouse will deepen your commitment; and if you're single, dating only becomes more enjoyable by appreciating the one you're with. So practice starting your day by giving thanks for the ones you love ... and find that you'll be loved in return.

It is easy to lose focus of what’s important when the stores are filled with Valentine’s Day cards, gifts, and chocolates. We worry about being single, breaking up, and how to celebrate in a new relationship. Instead of focusing on your relationship status or the perfect Valentine’s date, remember the following tips. They’ll keep you focused on the important things in life, on Valentine’s Day and every day.

It’s the holiday season, but maybe gratitude is the last thing you’re feeling.  Maybe you or your family is going through a really rough time right now, like the aftermath of Newton, Hurricane Sandy or other tragedy. Maybe you’re alone, or even more ironic, feeling lonely in the middle of family and friends.

As a parent, it can be awfully tempting to spoil your kids, especially around the holidays. And while it's okay to regale the with gifts every so often, it's essential that they learn to appreciate what they have. With that in mind, here are some tips from our experts about how to teach your kids the importance of gratitude.

The year-end holidays are around the corner. November and December are stressful months as families prepare for feasting, exchanging presents and celebrating another year. For many singles, however, family gatherings can be painful — especially if parents, siblings or well-meaning relatives wonder why you're not "with someone."

I have been studying gratitude lately. In keeping my first gratitude journal, I have learned that paying attention and recording the gifts of life actually fills you up more quickly than you can fill up a journal. It is like a system reset, coming back online with a clearer vision of what is good.

If you are in the process of divorcing, the grief can be overwhelming. So, what is the best way to deal with the seemingly never ending assaults? The answer may surprise you.

But how important is gratitude, really, other than the warm and fuzzy feeling we get when someone admires us or we receive a gift? Beyond simple manners, why is gratitude in relationships so important?

Being grateful for your past relationships, even the most painful ones, is the key to opening yourself up to the possibility of a better relationship experience. The question is: How can we bring ourselves to be grateful for something that caused us pain, humiliation and/or abuse? And what is there to be grateful for anyway?

But while we acknowledge gratitude's many benefits, an attitude of gratitude can be difficult to sustain. We are conditioned to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives, rather than what is good.

Showing gratitude can make a relationship of twenty years feel like it started last week. So, try these six simple ways of expressing gratitude to your spouse.

I wrote my doctoral dissertation on self-forgiveness, and my research clearly demonstrated the health benefits associated with expressing gratitude.

When was the last time you really stopped to show gratitude for all the wonderful love those around us have to offer? It doesn't take much — a simple "thank you" or a kind word in return go a long way to showing those we care about that they truly are appreciated.