Count Your Blessings

I love the holidays, it’s a time to give thanks and reflect on all the year has bestowed upon us. A time to slow down, remember and cherish our loved ones all while eating way too much food. Christmas is a time steeped in traditions, and for many, this includes watching Irving Berlin’s 1954 musical White Christmas. I personally love this movie, and as tradition watch it every year around Christmas. All of the songs in Berlin’s musical are great but one, in particular, stood out to me this year. That song was " count your blessings." In the movie, Betty Haynes [Rosemary Clooney] after a restless attempt to sleep, goes to the snack bar to find some food. After finding Bob Wallace [Bing Crosby] noodling at the piano, the two end up sitting by the fire and sing the song “Count Your Blessings.” It goes something like this:      

When I’m worried and can’t sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep 

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

Count Your Blessings -Irving Berlin

This song got me thinking. Over the past year, I’ve been reading a lot about the lives and habits of high performing professionals. A common routine held by many of them was the act of gratitude. This expressed itself in many ways - some wrote down what they were thankful for at the beginning of the day. Others would take time during the day to reflect on their gratitude. I was inspired to take this up in my daily routine as well, but the two methods above weren’t working for me. Then I remembered this song and tried it one night. It felt great. There was something about ending my day with gratitude that made sense and eased me into sleep. It’s something I’m wanting to permanently add into my nightly routine.

This song was conceived from Berlin’s personal experience with insomnia after his doctor suggested he ‘count his blessings’ before bed. All these years later, I can say it still works. So thank you Irving for this wonderful song and reminding us to count our blessings, instead of sheep.