I agree that an attitude of gratitude can change our perspective. So often we fall into a "woe is me" mindset and feel like everything we touch turns to mud. When we start experiencing these negative feelings, it takes our eyes off of reality and often off of God and we start into a downward spiral that just feeds upon itself. When we acknowledge that it is not about us and how we feel and that God has a higher calling on us, we are telling Him that His will is more important that ours and we are choosing to follow Him. I'm sure Christ didn't FEEL great when he was preparing to go to the cross, but His response was “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). And he was in terrible agony as He was hanging on the cross, but His focus was not on Himself when he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Since we are called to follow His example, our response to bad things happening to us should be to accept that we live in a fallen world, remember we serve an awesome God and He is in control, and consider how can we glorify Him through this situation. So, not only should we be thankful, we should share that gratitude with others in order to bring glory to the Father and to Christ Jesus, our Savior.