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Gratitude Lounge

Welcome! We are glad you are here. This is an open space where everyone belongs, and everyone is welcome. Please introduce yourself as you feel comfortable and join in sharing your experience of grateful living. To get started you might reflect upon questions such as these: What am I grateful for? What is grateful living inspiring me to do? What are some blessings in my life (including ones in disguise)? How am I being supported right now? What connects me to wonder, awe, or a sense of the sacred? You are welcome to include images and links for videos to illustrate your reflections.

  • cp

    just to say hi after a long day and many too busy ones before … thanks for praying for ursi and everyone else who may need it. i am doing so for you all, too!

    • Anna

      Thank you cp!🌹

    • grateful sea

      Hello, dear cp. Thank you. Even though I don’t write often, please know that I light a candle too, every Tuesday at the start of my early morning meditation, remembering Ursula, and all connected to her, and all in this community.

      • cp

        thanks for sharing your ritual. i think i‘m going to copy it 👍

    • Mica

      Thank you, cp!

  • Anna
    Dear friends in the Lounge, I greet everyone, a warm greeting, a hug. I am happy to see new friends, old friends and I hope everyone is happy, despite suffering and problems. In particular, I send a hug to those who have not been here for a while. I expressed a prayer right now, answering the question of the day. I know I'm not on topic with the question, but the word "fragility" has brought my heart to what we are experiencing in Italy lately. It is a reflection and a prayer, perhaps it is a...

    Dear friends in the Lounge, I greet everyone, a warm greeting, a hug.
    I am happy to see new friends, old friends and I hope everyone is happy, despite suffering and problems.
    In particular, I send a hug to those who have not been here for a while.
    I expressed a prayer right now, answering the question of the day. I know I’m not on topic with the question, but the word “fragility” has brought my heart to what we are experiencing in Italy lately. It is a reflection and a prayer, perhaps it is a little irreverent, I am aware of it. But I feel comforted by many readings, both scientific and authoritative, such as scientific articles, the Italian Jesuit magazine and another somewhat alternative magazine.
    Please stay close to me, even criticizing me.
    I trust you all.

    Read More
    • grateful sea

      Dear Anna, I do keep you close, though I don’t write often. Not sure if that makes sense? I have been thinking of you so much in the last few days, seeing the news about measures to contain the virus outbreak in your country and wondering how it affects your life Ah, dear friend, I can’t think of what to say, but I send a warm greeting, a hug back to you across the ocean. Sending love from grateful sea. ps I think a little irreverence is a good thing.

    • cp

      i feel the warmth already 😊 thx

  • Alicia Mary Ann Parr

    Ursula’s Prayer Tuesday will come for me hours from now. Again, Europe sees it now.
    I will honor her with plans for my garden…I’ll bring granddaughters to our trees to make our fairy houses once the snow is manageable.
    I will push through for those who cannot.
    I now choose to rise above what brings so many of us down.
    I will not be kept in inertia.
    Love to all my friends here- old and new and to those who will arrive in future.

    • grateful sea

      Alicia! Love to you. Grateful for your words about pushing through inertia. I am encouraged by you

    • cp

      please let me know more about the garden plans if you like. or even better: pics when completed 😊 enjoy your „gardening self“ 😉

    • Drew Blanton

      I never heard of Ursula’s Prayer Tuesday. What is it?

      • Mica

        Hi, Drew – one of our former members started the practice of honoring Tuesday as Prayer Tuesday. She was Ursula, who passed away recently after a long illness. I wondered, myself, about it for a long time and didn’t find anything about a Prayer Tuesday in Google. Warm wishes to you, Drew, on this Prayer Tuesday

        • cp

          ah, and by the way: hope you had a nice „welcome wednesday“ 😉

        • cp

          i guess ursula would have liked the idea of you wondering about this concept of a „prayer tuesday“ and thus transforming energy into it in some way, too (sorry, can‘t express it anybetter at that time of night … 😉). have a blessed day!

        • Anna
          Hi Mica, I know why Tuesday is the day of prayer in this room. It is a Catholic tradition concerning a saint, Martha. This is the tradition: on Tuesday, for nine weeks, those who pray to this saint for their needs, recite a prayer, which Ursula wrote in this Lounge, in English, German and Italian. Saint Martha was a woman who knew Jesus, spoke to him, cooked for him and was lovingly scolded by him when he told her to slow down, do not always be in a hurry for chores, but stop, contemplate and l...

          Hi Mica, I know why Tuesday is the day of prayer in this room.
          It is a Catholic tradition concerning a saint, Martha. This is the tradition: on Tuesday, for nine weeks, those who pray to this saint for their needs, recite a prayer, which Ursula wrote in this Lounge, in English, German and Italian. Saint Martha was a woman who knew Jesus, spoke to him, cooked for him and was lovingly scolded by him when he told her to slow down, do not always be in a hurry for chores, but stop, contemplate and listen like her sister, Mary.
          Many blessings to you!

          Read More
          • cp

            thanks for explaining this in detail – for me, too 😊 take care and blessings to you aswell!

          • Mica

            Thank you, Anna! Yes, Mary chose the better ?half – but someone needed to do what Martha did! I could re-read it and maybe learn something new. – Ah, yes! Martha fussed abouut her part. Thanks again

      • Carla

        Hi Drew, read several entries below by Alicia Mary Ann Parr. Many of us write a reflection any day that we’re led to. Others collectively jot a note & hold each other in prayer especially on Tues in memory of a past active member-Ursula-who transcended this journey in 2019.

    • Ose

      Dear Alicia, so happy to see you are back! I join in in our Tuesday prayer day, remembering Ursula´s precious gift, which she fathered for all of us. Blessings to you and your garden plans, my dear friend.

  • Jackie

    I am new here and inspired by what everyone has to say. I have been on a spiritual quest for some time now and just trying to find my way to higher spiritual ground, wherever and however that may lead me. I am still searching. Can someone tell me what is your common prayer Tuesday? Thank you. 😊

    • grateful sea

      Hi Jackie, welcome. You are among fellow seekers here.

      • Jackie

        Hello and thank you. What is your viewpoint on spiritual seeking? Do you think you ever get complete answers or does this quest just continue……

    • Alicia Mary Ann Parr
      Common prayer Tuesday is in honor of a sweet young woman, Ursula. She wrote here often and shared her life and journey of battling cancer. She died summer 2019. Her sister now writes here . Very courageous family. If you go back several pages, you will see a beautiful photo her husband, Werner, posted upon her death. She was an outstandingly beautiful soul, genuine, and honest with her struggles, fears , and hopes. Common Prayer Tuesday was started by her in honor of her favorite Saint, Saint ...

      Common prayer Tuesday is in honor of a sweet young woman, Ursula. She wrote here often and shared her life and journey of battling cancer. She died summer 2019. Her sister now writes here . Very courageous family. If you go back several pages, you will see a beautiful photo her husband, Werner, posted upon her death. She was an outstandingly beautiful soul, genuine, and honest with her struggles, fears , and hopes.
      Common Prayer Tuesday was started by her in honor of her favorite Saint, Saint Marta. We continue to honor Ursula . Prayers are for you, all of us, our families, the world.

      Read More
  • Diane
    Good morning lovely souls: I am working a full day tomorrow and in anticipation of that...I am assuring you all that my heart and my prayers will be with you on our Tuesday common prayer day. When I am working (which is on an "as needed" basis) I am trying to remember to practice Presence and to take moments throughout the day to breathe and offer up a quick prayer. It's sort of like I am checking in with my true self :) As for today....it is sunny and unseasonably warm here today......

    Good morning lovely souls:

    I am working a full day tomorrow and in anticipation of that…I am assuring you all that my heart and my prayers will be with you on our Tuesday common prayer day.

    When I am working (which is on an “as needed” basis) I am trying to remember to practice Presence and to take moments throughout the day to breathe and offer up a quick prayer. It’s sort of like I am checking in with my true self 🙂

    As for today….it is sunny and unseasonably warm here today….so I plan on getting outside to soak up the warmth that our Brother Sun is gifting me. My journey of surrender and acceptance of what is continues….the pain of fibromyalgia and the visit from my old friend anxiety is leading me to the peace that comes with letting go and letting God. I am grateful for this awareness. And grateful too that I do not travel this journey alone.

    ~Om Shanti dear friends ♥

    Read More
    • grateful sea

      Dear Diane, just sending love from grateful sea.

    • cp

      awareness is a gift, isn‘t it? for me it is – especially on days when i feel like my life is sort of being lived by others but me … i don‘t know if you have heard of positive psychology yet. „positive“ means everything that IS in that concept. so awareness – in my view – is inherently positive because it makes you focus on what there IS. 😊 so let‘s keep practicing …

    • Mica

      Pacticing Presence – thank you, Diane! I need to be better at that, especially with the dear person who is currently unhappy with me. Warm hugs –

  • Pilgrim

    Thinking of you, Alicia!

    • cp

      and of you, pilgrim 😉

    • Alicia Mary Ann Parr

      What a gift. As I am most discouraged and saw your post. Thank you….got news although my hand is improving , I need more surgery….I had a procedure today…. I’m sorry for 3 other people who were seeing ortho therapists as I was saying Jesus MARY JOSEPH as I was injected. My husband said I did not yell….I’m exhausted and hypersensitive….and watching my power get depleted… so I need to work on this. You and Diane and others here just lifted me.

      • cp

        sorry to read about your sufferings … you‘re not alone!

    • Diane

      Sending my thoughts out to Alicia as well….your gentle presence is missed here. ♥

  • Cathy

    New Beginning

  • Cathy

    Solitude.

  • Christina
    I am here in search of reflection and a safe space to ruminate. I have been on a journey that has been a double edged sword and humbled my soul. I have been struggling with insomnia which spun out of control due to my own anxiety and fears of not sleeping. I have learned so much about myself. In the end, I’ve learned the awesome power of acceptance, of simply giving yourself permission to feel fear. Accepting that sleepless nights gonna happen and are nothing to freak out about. Yielding to wh...

    I am here in search of reflection and a safe space to ruminate. I have been on a journey that has been a double edged sword and humbled my soul. I have been struggling with insomnia which spun out of control due to my own anxiety and fears of not sleeping. I have learned so much about myself. In the end, I’ve learned the awesome power of acceptance, of simply giving yourself permission to feel fear. Accepting that sleepless nights gonna happen and are nothing to freak out about. Yielding to what is feels so much better than resisting. I went down the Xanax path for a minute but quickly realized that was not sustainable. It was scary, but in acceptance I’ve found the strength to face the night. With meditation I’ve learned how not to let the fear dominate and take over. It was robbing me from enjoying my life. I can see a path forward now.

    Read More
    • Patjos

      Than you for sharing here. I wish you Peace 🙂

    • Diane
      Hello Christina...thank you for sharing your journey with us. This is indeed a safe place to ruminate...I do it quite often myself! I appreciate your sharing about your challenges with sleep. I have lived with fibromyalgia for 30+ years. One of the hallmarks of this disorder is the inability to get a deep and restorative sleep....as a result I am chronically fatigued. Acceptance of my limitations and living each day with gratefulness has helped me on my journey towards living a life of ...

      Hello Christina…thank you for sharing your journey with us.

      This is indeed a safe place to ruminate…I do it quite often myself! I appreciate your sharing about your challenges with sleep. I have lived with fibromyalgia for 30+ years. One of the hallmarks of this disorder is the inability to get a deep and restorative sleep….as a result I am chronically fatigued. Acceptance of my limitations and living each day with gratefulness has helped me on my journey towards living a life of joy and peace.

      ~Blessings and a warm welcome to our sacred community ♥

      Read More
      • Christina

        Thank you Diane. Gratefulness is a practice I am trying to remember to incorporate into my life every day. It certainly does open the heart to experiencing more joy in life. I am looking forward to gaining insight and inspiration from others here. People who are on the journey of this thing called life. So full of struggle/ opportunities to learn and grow. Blessings to you 💕

    • Mica

      Yes, Cristina – one turning point for me was saying to myself, “Who cares whether this old woman sleeps well or not!” But that was recently. Earlier, I’d say to myself, in response to insomnia, “Well, I have enough energy to do what Needs to be done, even if I’m tired.” Thanks for your rumination – and hugs to you!

      • Christina

        Hugs to you! Yes, accepting what is has been a game changer for me. I am working towards generalizing that attitude towards the things I cannot change.

    • Cathy

      I traveled a similar path, dear Christina. My heart feels for you and wishes you peace and rest on your journey.

      • Christina

        Thank you Cathy. One thing that has helped is remembering that sleep struggles are a hallmark of aging. Millions of women are going through. It will be easier when I can retire and not have to work. Two more years!

  • Diane
    Good morning faithful friends: My body is rebelling today and my emotions are roiling. I didn't wake up grateful but with some meditation, spiritual reading, cleansing tears and the joy of sitting before a roaring fire....I have found my way to a (tenuous) hold on gratitude. My body may be uncooperative, but there are still things I can do. Connecting to this community for example! I had a yummy bowl of cereal with strawberries and almond milk for breakfast. Birds are flying to and fr...

    Good morning faithful friends:

    My body is rebelling today and my emotions are roiling. I didn’t wake up grateful but with some meditation, spiritual reading, cleansing tears and the joy of sitting before a roaring fire….I have found my way to a (tenuous) hold on gratitude.

    My body may be uncooperative, but there are still things I can do. Connecting to this community for example! I had a yummy bowl of cereal with strawberries and almond milk for breakfast. Birds are flying to and fro from our feeders. This day is stretching out before me rich with possibilities. And promises.

    I read this during my meditations this morning:
    “God comes to us disguised as our life”.

    The divine is ever-present in all the ups, downs, twists and turns of my journey. For the gift of this truth I am eternally grateful.

    I am still feeling shaky but more at peace after taking the time to be still and feed my soul and spirit. I am so grateful for this sacred and safe space in which to share my musings and connect. I am wishing you all a day filled with an awareness of the Divine Presence.

    ~With grateful love ♥

    Read More
    • Sieger des Friedens

      Diana, thanks for your “teaching” for me although you didn’t taught. The message I got is .”… YES it is possible under challenging circumstances as soon as I percceive the “circumstances” as basically life enhancing ones. (which is to difficult and challenging to overcame fear……) THANKS

    • Anna

      Diane, you are giving me such a teaching! Such a gift….many blessings and a big hug!

      • Diane

        And you have taught me so much as well my friend. Sending blessings and a hug back to you ♥

    • cp

      I salute to how you are obviously able to put things in a new light 🌈

      • Diane

        Thank you for your kind words cp…..I hope you are having a blessed day♥

    • Pilgrim

      Dear Diane, Indeed, it is often the “little” things that improve our day and our sense of gratitude, however tenuous. You have many companions here on this day and your journey. Thank you for this quote – it helps me on this day and I will write it in my planner/journal as a reminder. Holding you in light and love, my friend.

      • Diane

        I am feeling the love and light you have sent me my friend. ♥

  • Mica

    I’ll wish a Welcome Wednesday to you all reading this. Though every day is now a Welcome! day at this site. Give yourself a big hug –

    • cp

      Welcome Wednesday – I like that ☺️ Maybe we can add Thankful Thursdays and hopefully Sunny Sundays ☀️

  • Pilgrim

    Blessings, peace and hope to each of you visiting here today, on this day that we call our Prayer Tuesday. Also to those who have not been with us in awhile, and to those unable to post. We remember our friend Ursula and hold in prayer her sister CP and all of her family. I sense the presence and history of deep prayer on this Gratitude Lounge page and acknowledge the gift that is provided by the team in providing this forum. Namaste, my friends!

    • cp

      Thanks, I will pray for you, too 😊

    • Ose

      Thank you for your kind post, dear Pilgrim. Although able only to join in late, please know that I am with you, cp and Ursula and all who visit or share here also at Tuesday prayer day. Blessings to you, and all. 🙏

    • Diane

      Gentle friend……thank you for your words. You have touched my weary heart on this our collective day of prayer. Ursula’s spirit lives on through her dear sister CP and all here in this sacred community. Grateful. ♥

      • cp

        And her spirit remains alive through everyone who thinks of her now and then – like you!

    • grateful sea

      Thank you, dear Pilgrim, for expressing this so well. I join with you and all who hold this space and those who move through it in love and light. Om shanti, shanti.

    • Anna

      Pilgrim, dear friend, such a wonderful thought on this sacred day!
      Yes, the presence and history of deep prayer …
      I join you in remembering everyone we know in this Lounge. We learned thanks to their sharing, we felt supported by them, perhaps we helped them, we certainly enjoyed a common path, in a protected place. A sacred place.

      • Diane

        Cara Anna….I feel so blessed to visit here in my weariness and see you here. Just 2 hours ago! This is indeed a sacred place and I am grateful every day for you, and everyone here. ♥
        ~Blessings

    • reality

      Amen 🙂 reality

  • Cathy

    Happy Birthday, Dear Drew!

  • Maryke

    What is better … to feel dead, or be dead? Is it the same … does it ever end?

    • grateful sea

      Dear Maryke, hello. I just want you to know that I see you and I care. I’m glad you are here with us and I hope you will post again.

    • cp

      Dear Maryke, I hope some day soon you will find a different answer to your question – i. e. that it is the best to feel alive and be alive! May there be people or situations that bring back the light in your dark hours. There always comes a new morning after the night!

    • Diane

      Dear Maryke….you are the beloved. May you feel the light that surrounds you and the love that enfolds you. We are here for you.
      ~Om Shanti ♥

    • Mica

      Dear Maryke, I’m so grateful that neither my mother nor my brother actually died when trying to end their life. Do live! Hugs to you –

    • Saoirse
      Dear Maryke, Your questions here feel deeply personal and suggest (to me) a sort of grief in not experiencing a sense of connection to the aliveness often expressed in these pages. I realize we (on the Gratefulness Team) are ill-prepared to support such an exploration here but we can say that we hear you and feel moved and tender upon reading your questions. We encourage you to find a caring professional who you might explore such questions with in person, and wonder if, in the meantime, Jeff Co...

      Dear Maryke, Your questions here feel deeply personal and suggest (to me) a sort of grief in not experiencing a sense of connection to the aliveness often expressed in these pages. I realize we (on the Gratefulness Team) are ill-prepared to support such an exploration here but we can say that we hear you and feel moved and tender upon reading your questions. We encourage you to find a caring professional who you might explore such questions with in person, and wonder if, in the meantime, Jeff Collin’s response to a site visitor in the post linked to below may offer some light. We hope you might find some sense of connection and aliveness in our community, where everyone belongs. With care, Saoirse on behalf of the Gratefulness Team https://gratefulness.org/resource/when-a-loved-one-dies/

      Read More
    • Cathy

      I’m here, Maryke. I can’t answer your questions but I think that is okay. Warm hugs.

  • Anna

    Dear Drew, happy birthday! May you have a joyful day with people you love!

  • Ose

    Wishing you a happy birthday, too, dear Drew., and many joyful days for you to come. Warmly, Ose

  • Palm

    Happy 48th Birthday Drew! 🎂🎈🎉

  • grateful sea

    Dear Drew, I want to wish you a very happy 48th birthday! Thank you for being part of this community!

    • Pilgrim

      Dear grateful sea, I join with our other friends here in saying I am so glad to see your icon here today! Many blessings.

    • Cathy

      Grateful Sea! Happy to see you!

    • Anna

      Dear Grateful Sea! 🌸🌹🏵

    • Ose

      Yippee, you are back!!! So good to see you again, dear grateful sea! You were so missed. A warm embrace, if I may, dear friend.

    • Palm

      So happy to see you grateful sea! I was just thinking about you… you are always so thoughtful, dear friend…

  • Cathy

    While I love today’s Word for the Day and especially admire Ms. Weahkee, I am deeply moved by the accompanying photograph. I’ve gone back to it several times this morning and it keeps striking a chord deep within my soul. Astounding work!

    • Anna

      For me, Cathy, the baby is so tender … complete trust in his father, no matter what infinity brings. For an adult, the sight of a horizon can mean many feelings, memories, concerns, hopes, for a child if there is a parent who loves him, it is as if the horizon was not there, just look at his parent.

  • Cailinrua
    I'm fairly new to the site and I just watched the video A Grateful Day for the first time. What a beautiful reminder of how gorgeous our world really is. I live in the Northwest where the skies are grey a lot this time of year, so seeing vibrant colors was a joy. I haven't been able to travel in recent years, so seeing the diversity of people on our planet (I used to live for that) was uplifting. I am very grateful for all of this today. I'm planning to check out some of the other videos th...

    I’m fairly new to the site and I just watched the video A Grateful Day for the first time. What a beautiful reminder of how gorgeous our world really is. I live in the Northwest where the skies are grey a lot this time of year, so seeing vibrant colors was a joy. I haven’t been able to travel in recent years, so seeing the diversity of people on our planet (I used to live for that) was uplifting. I am very grateful for all of this today. I’m planning to check out some of the other videos that come up. I used to be simpler and more in tune with what really matters. I have many layers of old paint and varnish to peel back!

    Read More
    • Patjos

      Grateful that we can meet and ‘peel’ together. Happy Day! :)))

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