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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.

  • Cheska

    A lot of things are happening right now. I am just happy to have found this site as it gives me opportunity to open myself and reflect on everything that is going on. Hoping that this would help me heal and grow.

    • Ose

      Welcome, dear Cheska, happy you join in here!

    • Pilgrim

      Welcome, Cheska!

    • Holly in Ohio

      Welcome, Cheska!
      Glad you are here.

    • Mica

      Welcome, Cheska – indeed this is a wonderful site. Brother David is such a gift to the world, and he attracts a group of wonderful people to this site. Warm wishes to you – 🙂

  • Holly in Ohio
    I just popped in for a moment to say I am thinking of all of you! It is still quite busy here with things we are trying to get done. In working in the garden I had been getting itchy bites, and have discovered I am unfortunately allergic to no-see-ums, a type of Midge that has returned to Ohio and is everywhere right now. Benedryl and a visit to Urgent Care became necessary. Benedryl knocks me out and makes me groggy for days and I am still working on resolving the issue so I can go outdoors wit...

    I just popped in for a moment to say I am thinking of all of you! It is still quite busy here with things we are trying to get done. In working in the garden I had been getting itchy bites, and have discovered I am unfortunately allergic to no-see-ums, a type of Midge that has returned to Ohio and is everywhere right now. Benedryl and a visit to Urgent Care became necessary. Benedryl knocks me out and makes me groggy for days and I am still working on resolving the issue so I can go outdoors without such consequences. Other than that minor complaint, all is well here.

    I noticed when i was outdoors last, some good news… the blueberry bush stub left by the deer has some tiny leaves! It is a wonderful ode to the resilience of nature! 🌱 and the blueberry bush that I “killed” in the sun is showing a green stem again, so I have hope! I’d like to get out there again soon to check on it

    We had a lovely storm this evening that went roaring through with plenty of rain. I loved it! The sun may not shine when it rains, but rain cleans everything and makes it fresh.

    Blessings to all,
    ❤

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    • Mica

      ‘So good to hear from you, dear Holly. ‘So glad to hear you’re pretty much ok, which is often the best we can hope for? Hugs and warm wishes to you and all 🙂

      • Holly in Ohio
        Yes, I am fine. Are you? I am so glad you are keeping an eye on the Gratitude Lounge! Today we found some mosquito "dunks" and I put 1/4 of one in my rain barrel, and covered my rain barrel up with two window screens "out of phase" to make the holes smaller, and roped it on tight with old clothesline. Hopefully that will prevent midges from breeding there! Otherwise just doing housework and working on the house. I'm trying to repair an old plaster wall that has seen better days, and smo...

        Yes, I am fine. Are you?
        I am so glad you are keeping an eye on the Gratitude Lounge!

        Today we found some mosquito “dunks” and I put 1/4 of one in my rain barrel, and covered my rain barrel up with two window screens “out of phase” to make the holes smaller, and roped it on tight with old clothesline. Hopefully that will prevent midges from breeding there!

        Otherwise just doing housework and working on the house. I’m trying to repair an old plaster wall that has seen better days, and smooth it out before painting.. I wish I could subcontract it and have the room drywalled, but it is not in our budget these days. Maybe that is a good thing, in the long run. It keeps me busy, and I learn a skill and get a little more confident about doing things. I can look at it when I’m done and be pleased. My son was impressed by the change so far, when he came back from his two week vacation. His praise was worth more than gold to me.

        The day started grey, then turned beautifully sunny, and now we have another storm rolling in. I quite like watching the changes. Right now with the light and the new leaves, everything looks so very green and the maple leaves are dancing in the wind. It is quite pretty!

        I saw new birds today, too. I’m not sure what they are yet. They were a soft grey, but they didn’t have the black heads that our catbirds have. They must have been a catbird or a Northern Mockingbird. I wish I could see them again, so I could tell. Grey catbird shown here:

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        • Mica

          Dear Holly – catbirds sound sort of like mocking birds?
          One nice thing about no drywall is that it preserves the ‘oldness’ of your house better 🙂

  • Drew Blanton

    Night
    by Drew Blanton

    The night
    Can actually be bright.
    Just look at the full moon
    Over the lagoon.
    Did I just grow a furry face?
    Why do I suddenly feel like giving chase?
    Oh! Ii was just a dream,
    But so real did it seem!
    What a relief!
    Now it’s my belief
    That I can go back to sleep.
    I’d just better not hear a peep!

  • Holly in Ohio
    This week has been stressful for me. Many things are going on, but today I was reminded again that not everything we fear or that gives us anxiety, goes badly. Today I am thankful for a new, old (refurbished) laptop. It happened unexpectedly, the day after my husband similarly got new phone after leaving his phone on the car top (I shouldn't chuckle!). He was panicked when he couldn't find his phone, and replaced it within 3 hours. Isn't it amazing how attached we are getting to our technolog...

    This week has been stressful for me. Many things are going on, but today I was reminded again that not everything we fear or that gives us anxiety, goes badly.

    Today I am thankful for a new, old (refurbished) laptop. It happened unexpectedly, the day after my husband similarly got new phone after leaving his phone on the car top (I shouldn’t chuckle!). He was panicked when he couldn’t find his phone, and replaced it within 3 hours. Isn’t it amazing how attached we are getting to our technology? Or is it the connectivity?

    I had started shopping for a new laptop this spring. I had my previous laptop for 8 years, through returning to college… so that’s quite something! I loved the “old girl.” She served me well, but she slipped, and landed on the corner of the power port, dislodging the port, making it impossible to power her up. It was over quickly and painlessly. She fell into unconsciousness and didn’t feel a thing. 😂This morning I took her to our local shop for repairs, just so that I could get the old files and put them on a new laptop. The repair technician sent me a text, and my husband and I looked at it and thought we understood it to mean the old laptop could not be repaired, and retrieving the files/repair charge was $225. So…. ! Stress. But that is not what he was saying. He had refurbished a laptop, very similar to mine, but far more current and more powerful. He cloned my laptop contents onto that one. I now have a new, old laptop for half the price I expected I was going to have to pay for a new laptop, and it’s all sorted! No repair charge on top of that. It also fits with my intention of buying used items when I can, for climate reasons. So I am just stunned! The lesson to me is… I EXPECTED something bad to happen, and instead this was good fortune! If my laptop hadn’t fallen, I would have limped the old gal as long as I could, and then spent twice as much on a new one, transferred the files myself slowly, and probably would have not had as nice a laptop as this one.

    I know I am fortunate to have a laptop at all. I am very grateful for this small town repair shop. I’m grateful for the lesson to not be so pessimistic and the reminder to try not to be anxious. And I’m happy to be back here at Gratefulness.org… within 24 hours! And I was busy last night and today, painting and planting, and didn’t really feel laptop-withdrawal. Pretty amazing, all around! 🙂

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    • Mica

      That’s fantastic, Holly! You deserve it. Enjoy – 🙂

  • Mica

    The author of today’s quote wrote “The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman’s Walk In The Wild To Find Her Way Home”.
    I love learning about the authors of gratefulness quotes that I like:
    Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again. KATHERINE MAY

  • Mica

    Can we get the photo banner back, Serafina or someone?

  • Holly in Ohio
    Today I am thankful for electricity! Soon after we woke, it went off. Without the fans, it was too hot and humid to work inside the house, so I cleared an area to plant two apple trees and took out some of the invasive species creeping over from the property next to us. Our power came back on after a couple of hours, and at this moment, I am blissfully cooling down in front of a fan! 😅 I am also thankful for my irises that are blooming now. Many years ago, a woman I hardly knew, was thinni...

    Today I am thankful for electricity! Soon after we woke, it went off. Without the fans, it was too hot and humid to work inside the house, so I cleared an area to plant two apple trees and took out some of the invasive species creeping over from the property next to us. Our power came back on after a couple of hours, and at this moment, I am blissfully cooling down in front of a fan! 😅

    I am also thankful for my irises that are blooming now. Many years ago, a woman I hardly knew, was thinning her irises, and rather than composting, she dumped the extra bulbs into the trunk of her car. I was at a meeting we both attended, and she made an announcement and said that anyone who wanted some could follow her out to her car after the meeting. Every year when I see these bloom, I remember Elizabeth and silently thank her for her random act of kindness!

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    • Mica

      Congrats on finding a solution to your lack of electricity, Holly. I’m always glad to have water when I lose electricity, after having lived for many months with an electric pump for water in Yogaville VA. I like fans for heat – I’m not a fan of air conditioners [pun not intended..].
      Iris, too – I remember them fondly from the house in Pittsburgh where I grew up.

      • Holly in Ohio

        My neighbor, whose house you see there, has yellow irises in his front yard, and I have purple ones in the back. We enjoy each other’s flowers!

        Yes, we are very lucky to have a water tower at the end of our street, which means water is available for days without electricity!

        I got one of the trees planted and then I got rained out! Lol. The sun is out now, but my work clothes are not dry and I got a bit tired, so something is saved to do tonight or tomorrow! ⛈⛈⛈

        • Mica

          Funnel cloud – my ‘new word’ for the day, Holly – I viewed one on youtube and shared the concept with my brother in VT. I’m delighted that you came thru your scare with gratitude!

        • Mica

          Gack!! What a tornado story! I’ve been listening to the Wizard of Oz on my Insight Timer. Thank heavens all were safe, but it would be a big worry! How did the city center fare, with the funnel? Lots of warm wishes needed tonight! 🙂

          • Holly in Ohio
            Fortunately we did not have a funnel, we only had a funnel cloud. Funnel clouds are ones that are noticeably rotating and have the potential of becoming a funnel. I don't know how many do, probably only a fraction, but I have seen them before in my life. This one wasn't well formed, so perhaps why it didn't develop. It only had a wee little tail up there, and the storm was moving through at quite a clip, so I watched it pass over the post office and the police station while I waited at a traffic...

            Fortunately we did not have a funnel, we only had a funnel cloud. Funnel clouds are ones that are noticeably rotating and have the potential of becoming a funnel. I don’t know how many do, probably only a fraction, but I have seen them before in my life. This one wasn’t well formed, so perhaps why it didn’t develop. It only had a wee little tail up there, and the storm was moving through at quite a clip, so I watched it pass over the post office and the police station while I waited at a traffic light. Everything is quiet here now, and I think the storm shifted so we will not be getting anything more tonight.
            I was scared today. I’m not scared like that, often, but part of it was because I’ve lived through things and I was worrying about somebody. In reflecting upon it now, …it is interesting. And I am grateful, not only that nothing came of the scare, but in a strange way, that life is so varied. Most of what we fear, never happens, and I feel fortunate for every day I have with loved ones. Today’s scare reminded me not to take that for granted.

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        • Mica

          Oh good – you can rest up while your clothes dry 🙂

          • Holly in Ohio
            Lol, nature intervened... the WENS system went off with tornado warning and my husband was out on foot without his phone to pick up Subway for us. Usually all I do is stay alert, but my husband, being Scottish, doesn't take these things seriously, and in the very least he was likely to get drenched. I called Subway, they said he'd just left. He only had two blocks to walk. I waited, watching the ominous radar, thinking he'd be right home, but he didn't show and then the town sirens went off. So ...

            Lol, nature intervened… the WENS system went off with tornado warning and my husband was out on foot without his phone to pick up Subway for us. Usually all I do is stay alert, but my husband, being Scottish, doesn’t take these things seriously, and in the very least he was likely to get drenched. I called Subway, they said he’d just left. He only had two blocks to walk. I waited, watching the ominous radar, thinking he’d be right home, but he didn’t show and then the town sirens went off. So I got the cat to the basement, looked at the sky, figured I knew what I was doing and could take a chance, got in his car, and went looking for him on the route I knew he would be walking home. I saw a funnel cloud pass over our city center while I was looking for him. He had casually gone to a neighbor’s porch to yabber about things… not the weather, but just being social… both of them oblivious to the threat… the neighbor is Australian. I didn’t find him. I went home… mad… LOL. All worked out fine, though, thank God, but poor husband, he got a piece of my mind when he got home… in the basement until the all clear came! We still have severe storms going through and flash flood warnings, so I’m keeping a watch, but I just watched The Preakness on t.v.! 🐎

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  • Holly in Ohio
    Blueberry bushes from last week. I think I've lost two. One was my mistake, I left the package outside and it got sun. I tried to get it planted quickly but it isn't making it. The other one was lost to the deer, but my fishing line deer fence is holding up, so that is very good news! No deer in my back yard since I got that up! I will only get a couple handfuls of blueberries this year, but next year or the year after I will be freezing or canning blueberry jam! It also makes me happy thinking...

    Blueberry bushes from last week. I think I’ve lost two. One was my mistake, I left the package outside and it got sun. I tried to get it planted quickly but it isn’t making it. The other one was lost to the deer, but my fishing line deer fence is holding up, so that is very good news! No deer in my back yard since I got that up! I will only get a couple handfuls of blueberries this year, but next year or the year after I will be freezing or canning blueberry jam! It also makes me happy thinking how someday, after I am gone or in a nursing home, some young family will be delighted to have blueberry bushes on their property. 🙂

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  • Mica

    I like today’s quote:
    Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.
    “Beloved community” brings me back to my years at All Souls Church in Washington D.C. with heart-warming feelings.
    Google says Martin Luther King popularized the concept. Thank you!

    • Holly in Ohio

      Sweet!
      I have not been reading my quote of the day or question. I will get back to it once this “push” to get things planted and the kitchen painted. Thank you Mica, for bringing the quote here to the Lounge. I can’t seem to do without checking in here… ! 😄

  • Ose
    Dear friends, with gratitude, I would like to share two photos I have taken recently. The couple was sitting there all day, not at all disturbed by the traffic at hand, even cars passing by did not make them to move aside. It was really amazing! Many people who passed took a photo, just as I did. And then, at another occasion, the dabbling of one of the swans... so exciting to see them in their being with us here! Wishing you a beautiful weekend, dear friends who share and who visit here, and al...

    Dear friends, with gratitude, I would like to share two photos I have taken recently. The couple was sitting there all day, not at all disturbed by the traffic at hand, even cars passing by did not make them to move aside. It was really amazing! Many people who passed took a photo, just as I did. And then, at another occasion, the dabbling of one of the swans… so exciting to see them in their being with us here! Wishing you a beautiful weekend, dear friends who share and who visit here, and all beyond.❤️

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    • Holly in Ohio

      Oh my! How very magical, Ose!
      Thank you so very much for sharing this! They are so beautiful! 😃

    • Mica

      Good heavens, Ose – and pedestrians just walked past them? That’s amazing! Thank you –

      • Ose

        Yes, dear Mica, people walked past them but of course with much of mutual respect. They must have felt quite comfortable, as they were staying there almost unmoved for such a long time and did not show up aggressive, as one could have expected, only some and attentive looks if you should come too close…

        • Mica

          Thanks, Ose – I wonder if people were feeding them – that certainly influences the behavior of the ducks near me. I’m glad to see your second pic – I wondered if the 1 duck was ailing and unable to walk, in the first pic where the other duck is looking over at the first duck. But there’s no evidence of this in your new pic. Warm wishes, as always!

  • Holly in Ohio
    It has been quite a long day here, but one filled with beauty. The work I did last week, mulching my currant bushes, blueberries, and apple tree, has made a party for the cardinals and the robins, who love hopping down the mulched bits looking for tasty tidbits! There are new flowers in bloom. I took a photo of some today but I'm a bit tired so I will try to upload them tomorrow. Mostly today I spackled, painted, or worked with soil, trying to prepare some very large pots for belated tomato p...

    It has been quite a long day here, but one filled with beauty. The work I did last week, mulching my currant bushes, blueberries, and apple tree, has made a party for the cardinals and the robins, who love hopping down the mulched bits looking for tasty tidbits!
    There are new flowers in bloom. I took a photo of some today but I’m a bit tired so I will try to upload them tomorrow.
    Mostly today I spackled, painted, or worked with soil, trying to prepare some very large pots for belated tomato plants. But while I did these chores I enjoyed making old things fresh and clean, looked out the windows at spring, sunshine, and beautiful maple trees, talked to my elderly cat, and in general, just enjoyed be-ing, seeing, listening, feeling.
    I’m a little behind in sharing my photos. Here are the currant bushes I mulched last week. They don’t look like much now, but in a month or so they will be bigger and there will be enough red berries to make a batch of jelly! 🙂

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    • Pilgrim

      You sure do work hard, Holly!

      • Holly in Ohio
        Lol, no. I used to work hard, and then I got digestive issues and did very little last year, and had to abandon the farm project... I really couldn't. I didn't have much energy except to sit. This year I'm much better and trying to get moving again. Growing things, fixing the house, baking bread, seeing something changed, it cheers me! I know sometimes I might be a bit irritating for being cheery or busy-minded, but I have some shadows in my life, and being able to do stuff helps me stay in the...

        Lol, no. I used to work hard, and then I got digestive issues and did very little last year, and had to abandon the farm project… I really couldn’t. I didn’t have much energy except to sit. This year I’m much better and trying to get moving again. Growing things, fixing the house, baking bread, seeing something changed, it cheers me! I know sometimes I might be a bit irritating for being cheery or busy-minded, but I have some shadows in my life, and being able to do stuff helps me stay in the present and see blessings, and to avoid anxiety and sometimes sadness. I can think about problems that can’t be fixed, or I can think about plants and jelly.

        Oh Pilgrim! Yesterday I saw something so cute! I wish you could have seen it. Most of the birds are teaching their first young now, and I saw some cardinals… they love the mulch! Lots of things to eat, I guess. So I saw three of them hopping in a chain along the blueberry bushes, daddy cardinal showing the young how to find food! But they were kind of hopping in a chain! It was so funny. 😄

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  • Mica

    How’s this for an inspiring book title?? “Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good” – it’s by the author of today’s quote, adrienne maree brown.
    “How do we make social justice the most pleasurable human experience?” – that’s how the synopsis starts. What an amazing concept!
    Warm wishes to all, as always!🙃😊🥰❤️💕😘

    • Holly in Ohio

      WOW! Great concept. I’d read it! I have no time to read it right now and a stack of books waiting, …looking at me like the cat does when he wants to be fed… lol… but I still would like to read it Thanks for looking that up and sharing, Mica!

      • Mica

        Thanks for ‘sending’ me the ’email’ that was the first one I opened this morning, dear Holly. I’ve ordered a used copy of the book and will let you know about what I find valuable in it. Warm wishes to all, again –

  • Drew Blanton

    My day at Thrive Upstate was great! I even got a picture of myself under the sign. I’m already thriving!

  • Holly in Ohio
    Good evening, friends! I have been busy lately with several projects, but friends here are never far from my mind. It is spring, so I am busy gardening. It has been a goal for many years to put in fruit bushes and trees, which, on a limited budget, I have been doing a little at a time each year, sometimes getting cuttings or divides from friends. I have been weeding and planting and mulching almost every day, and when it rains or I get too much sun, then I'm working indoors on the old kitchen...

    Good evening, friends!
    I have been busy lately with several projects, but friends here are never far from my mind.
    It is spring, so I am busy gardening. It has been a goal for many years to put in fruit bushes and trees, which, on a limited budget, I have been doing a little at a time each year, sometimes getting cuttings or divides from friends. I have been weeding and planting and mulching almost every day, and when it rains or I get too much sun, then I’m working indoors on the old kitchen, repairing walls, fixing cabinets, and painting. I am grateful for things to do, and that I have the energy and health to do more this year than last year. My son will be bringing a house guest next month, so my husband and I are both motivated to “push” a little this month to get things done. He’s working on sanding and painting the porch floor, and me mainly on the kitchen. I should have house guests more often!!! 😂

    Here are two lemon trees I started from seed four years ago. (An exercise in patience is rewarded!). Today they are getting their first freedom and will spend summer completely outdoors this year. I am starting them for a few weeks on my back step so they can get used to the stronger sunlight. ☀
    Love to all.

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    • Nicki

      Holly, your trees look great and your gardening & projects sound delightful! All the best.

      • Holly in Ohio

        Thank you, Nicki!

        How are you, today?

        • Nicki
          Good morning Holly, Mom has specific things that she habitually likes to plant so per her request I got two flats of the brightest color New Guinea impatiens and eight red geraniums. I suppose I'm kind've a creature of habit too and as I always do I got blue lobelia and pink petunias for my porch planters. And I always plant two things in honor of my late grandmothers, zinnias for one, and flossflower for the other. I am also very affected by the moon and often don't sleep well during a fu...

          Good morning Holly, Mom has specific things that she habitually likes to plant so per her request I got two flats of the brightest color New Guinea impatiens and eight red geraniums. I suppose I’m kind’ve a creature of habit too and as I always do I got blue lobelia and pink petunias for my porch planters. And I always plant two things in honor of my late grandmothers, zinnias for one, and flossflower for the other.

          I am also very affected by the moon and often don’t sleep well during a full moon, at least in part because of the way the light comes in through the vaulted ceiling, it’s like a flood light is shining over our house. 🙂 In any case, it is good to take a day of rest and I hope you feel refreshed after yours. Have a beautiful day.

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          • Holly in Ohio
            🙂🌻🌼What a lovely good morning! Good morning to you, Nicki, and everyone here! I've been going to nurseries for herbs and I'm hunting for black currants (can't find them anywhere), but I was very tempted by the blue lobelia... they are so pretty and I think I remember they are good pollinator attractors, too! I want to put in some flowers and ornamental grasses for the view out our dining room windows, but it will have to wait until next year. I have a limited budget and I had to repla...

            🙂🌻🌼What a lovely good morning! Good morning to you, Nicki, and everyone here!
            I’ve been going to nurseries for herbs and I’m hunting for black currants (can’t find them anywhere), but I was very tempted by the blue lobelia… they are so pretty and I think I remember they are good pollinator attractors, too! I want to put in some flowers and ornamental grasses for the view out our dining room windows, but it will have to wait until next year. I have a limited budget and I had to replace the blueberry bushes from the deer damage, and have the goal of putting in the herb garden, too. But I did find some ornamental allium bulbs on sale, tall and with blue pom-pom-like flower clusters that I thought I might put towards the back. It’s a little late to start them but I will try. I liked the idea of the unusual shape of the flower clusters. So much fun!

            The moon gets me even when we have cloud cover, and even when I don’t know when the full moon is, so I think it must be tidal sensitivity in my case. Aren’t bodies amazing? No wonder young birds can migrate to an exact location they have never seen! Miracles in nature everywhere!

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        • Nicki

          I’m well today, Holly, thank you for asking. 🙂 I spent the morning flower shopping at a local nursery for my mother. It’s something we usually do together, but she had surgery last month and is recovering well, but it’s been hit or miss with going out. Still, it was lovely to be outdoors in the sunshine and amongst all the vibrant flowers. I hope that you had a lovely day too and that all your projects are going along well.

          • Holly in Ohio
            That sounds like a lovely thing to share with your mother! What did you choose? I was very tired today, and actually went back to bed! I have a strange connection to the moon, and usually have trouble sleeping when it is full. I think this was catch-up sleep! It was still nice, though, to nap with my cat, and my husband was sweet about it when he came home... I told him I hadn't done much and had gone back to sleep, and he said it was a lazy day and he wasn't going to do anything either! Lol....

            That sounds like a lovely thing to share with your mother! What did you choose?

            I was very tired today, and actually went back to bed! I have a strange connection to the moon, and usually have trouble sleeping when it is full. I think this was catch-up sleep! It was still nice, though, to nap with my cat, and my husband was sweet about it when he came home… I told him I hadn’t done much and had gone back to sleep, and he said it was a lazy day and he wasn’t going to do anything either! Lol. 😂

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    • Mica

      Dear Holly, it’s good to hear from you and to know that your absence has been due to ‘good news’ and not ‘bad news’ – more warm wishes to you 🙂

      • Holly in Ohio

        Thank you, Mica. I’ve missed you, too.
        I’ve been wondering how your paper went?

        • Mica

          Yes, I’m excited about how the paper is going, and my mind focuses and gets to work as the deadline approaches. But I won’t wait THAT long this time, will I, Dear Holly?!

          • Holly in Ohio

            hee hee… maaybee?
            But that’s what makes it so interesting! What will Mica do? It’s like a page-turning novel! 😁 I enjoy watching your creative genius! ❤

        • Mica

          Heh heh – I emailed to request a 3-day extension on the Apr 30 deadline and was informed that the deadline had been extended to June 15! 🙃😘 I’m actually sort of looking forward to working on it again – but not enough to actually start working on it again yet. But I did give a 5-min online talk at a conference yesterday, and I was happy with it.

          • Holly in Ohio

            hahahaha! You are such a procrastinator 😂 but that’s when you do your best work, right?
            That sounds great about your conference talk! I’m sure your paper will be great, too, once you “sort of” feel like finishing it! 😁

  • Ose
    So grateful for the Gratefulness-e-course actually running. It confronted and confronts me with deep seated pain and I forced myself to open up to it, as it seems to me at least right now, and for this, I am deeply grateful. It was so hermetically locked up and to feel some opening now gives me hope that may be I will be able to go much deeper in this process and so find relief and may be, perspective. Deeply grateful to you, dear Gratefulness-team, for all your enormous effort and collaborative...

    So grateful for the Gratefulness-e-course actually running. It confronted and confronts me with deep seated pain and I forced myself to open up to it, as it seems to me at least right now, and for this, I am deeply grateful. It was so hermetically locked up and to feel some opening now gives me hope that may be I will be able to go much deeper in this process and so find relief and may be, perspective. Deeply grateful to you, dear Gratefulness-team, for all your enormous effort and collaborative togetherness for the sake all, including me. 🙇🙏

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    • Holly in Ohio

      I am so glad the course is giving you hope, Ose. I have been noticing a shift for you. I don’t know if you feel the same, but to me it seems you are more at peace than you were last year. I know you have been working steadily towards your goal of healing.

      I am also deeply grateful for the gratefulness team, and all they do for all of us, and for those we do not know. ❤

      • Ose

        Yes, and wishing to you and me and everyone to heal and to become whole in every sense again. Peace and love to you, dear friend 🌈❤️

    • Mica

      Oh, Dear Ose, that is wonderful news. You have had a hard life, and it would be wonderful if you could heal from past pain. Hugs! 🙂

      • Ose

        Thank you for your wishes for healing, dear friend, and for the hugs! Yes, my life was hard at times, sometimes long times… like so many have to go through, but was and it is also really beautiful. Good night for now, dear Mica, and may you sleep well. 🙏✨

        • Mica

          Oh thank you, Ose – It’s a gift to be able to sleep well, and I hope we both sleep well tonight. I gave a brief talk successfully today and then bought myself a peach and a bunch of flowers at the supermarket. It was an unusual thing for me to do for myself, and it felt quite nice – flowers to you, with warm wishes 🙂

          • Holly in Ohio

            I will be grateful when the full moon is past and I can get to sleep more easily and not have crazy-dreams! But did anyone see the beautiful lunar eclipse? I looked out just in time to spot the earth’s shadow on the moon… it was lovely. That was Sunday night.

  • Drew Blanton

    I’m going to Thrive Upstate’s HASCI program tomorrow. I’ll be able to be an actor in plays there.

    • Holly in Ohio

      Exciting!
      I am reading this late, Drew. You may already be at Thrive Upstate, or soon will be. I hope you have lots of fun! I look forward to hearing about it when you get back.
      Love to you!

    • Mica

      Good luck, dear Drew. I look forward to hearing about the program and the plays you act in. Warm wishes – 🙂

  • Mary

    Hello friends.
    Tonight I spent a second night at the hospital.
    I wanted to feel a bit stronger after the surgery and also a bit more confident in my ability to walk. I am using a walker now and will be for the next few weeks or so.

    I am feeling really optimistic about having a right hip that works well. Thank you to all of you for holding me close. That means so much to me. I will keep you apprised of my progress!!!.Sending love to each of you!
    Mary

    • Nicki

      Peace and blessings to you Mary. I hope your recovery continues to progress well.

      • Mary

        Thank you so much, Nicki! Blessings to you as well!! 🥰

    • Mica

      That is such good news, Mary! Indeed it makes sense to use a walker as long as it seems to help you. I was on crutches after breaking the vestigial tendon in one of my legs. The doctor seemed to think I didn’t need crutches any longer, but I told him I used crutches if it hurt, and that reply satisfied him. Warm wishes and congratulations on getting a new hip!

      • Mary

        The walker is very helpful Mica. I have to be very patient with my body now.
        Pain is no fun, and easy does it. Limited movement is teaching me patience. ♥️

        • Mica

          Patient with your body – that’s a great way to think about it. I sometimes [often?] ignore my body’s pain instead of doing something about it, and I need to un-learn that bad behavior. The older I get, the more my body is going to complain if I don’t take good care of it. Limited movement – Yes! My feet are so much happier now that I limited their movement and did chair aerobics for a while. More warm wishes to you –

    • Holly in Ohio

      Thank you, Mary.

      You’ve been very courageous and I hope your healing will progress nicely! 🌺

      • Mary

        Thank you Holly. I have never had a wound like this.
        I will be glad when I’m not so sore. But healing should go well
        and for that I am thankful. 🥰

    • Anna

      Dear Mary! I am sure that “all shall be well”, trust Julian of Norwich’s words.
      🌼🌼🌼

      • Mary

        Thank you for reminding me of Julian of Norwich, Anna! All will be well.
        I will have to find a book about her. Her words were so calming and reassuring.
        ♥️♥️♥️😇

  • Alina

    On a trip to the Azores some years back, I stumbled upon love. 🙂

    • Mica

      What fun, Alina – you found that there, or you made it? I should post something I photographed that I saw on the beach once. Warm wishes to you –

      • Alina

        I literally just walked upon it. The landscapes there are beyond beautiful; and as we were walking a path to one of their craters, this was on the sideline! 🙂

        • Mica

          That was a treat, and thank you for sharing it with us! 🙂

  • Holly in Ohio

    For Christine, for Mary, and for all those here: Lily of the Valley blooming here:

    • Butterfly

      Thank you, Holly. Your picture reminds me of my childhood home and I can remember the scent just looking at the picture 😊

    • Christine

      Oh, I’m so glad I’m visiting the lounge today. Wonderful. Thank you Holly. Isn’t it a beautiful little flower and big in scent. I think “Beauty” is one of the most valuable gifts that is given to us humans. There is always something to enjoy. At the moment the lily of the valley that blooms and smells in the darkest places in the garden, and also gives me sweet memories. Thank you so much for being such a beautifully engaged friend.🥰💐🌹

  • Ose

    Dear Mary, hope all went well with the surgery. Incense was lit for you this morning and my prayers are with you. May you open your eyes tomorrow with a smile on your face that after healing of the wound, you may soon experience your walking free of pain again. Good night for now, and sleep well. 😴

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