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. Honor our Community Terms & Conditions Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. Mica11 hours agoMicaGreater Good in Action posted a 5 min exercise: a Fierce Self-Compassion Break – with some scientific evidence, in the pdf, that it’s helpful – https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/fierce_self_compassion_break?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&utm_campaign=6c5e39d4f1-GGIA_Newsletter_August_2022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-6c5e39d4f1-57450167 0 Reply Rabbit3 hours agoRabbitThanks Mica. I read this and saved it for later. It reminded me to be grateful that I am safe in my home. Many are not. 1 Reply Mica1 hour agoMicaMe too – I haven’t done it and am grateful not to have any big problems lately 🙂 0 Reply Rabbit16 hours agoRabbitSome more flowers from Saugatuck. 4 Reply Rabbit1 day agoRabbitThis hydrangea is from another Michigan lakefront community, Saugatuck. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio1 day agoHolly in OhioNow there’s a pop of color!!! 😊 1 Reply Diane2 days agoDianeMaybe it’s summertime or the BEing outside and breathing humid, rich air, but I’m different somehow now, knowing that it’s a gift and the morning dove is cooing just for me. 5 Reply Mica2 days agoMicaSuch a happy-sounding difference, Dear Diane 🙂 2 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitLove those coos. 3 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitThoughts on hope. 4 Reply Holly in Ohio2 days agoHolly in OhioEmily Dickinson. How powerful! Thank you, dear one! …my eyes are watering up with thankfulness. 2 Reply Diane2 days agoDianeOne of my favorites. Thanks for the reminder! 6 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitA close up. 2 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitThe garden tour is back. Hydrangeas can be vastly different in Michigan within a 1 1/2 hour drive. Holland on Lake Michigan has warmer winters than where I live in in the Battle Creek area. Holland’s hydrangeas are always glorious. Ours has matched theirs only once in the past 16 years that I have been paying attention. Here is my glorious year. 3 Reply Mica2 days agoMicaHolland Michigan! My children’s paternal ancestors were Dutch, and we visited there once. I remember one of the signs that was for sale: “Come on, wife, let’s go to bed. The guests want to go home now” 🙂 We have one of those Friesland names ending in -sma 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 days agoHolly in OhioI know I keep saying these flowers are beautiful… but they ARE!!! That color is amazing. It is like a cotton candy bush… but I would rather have the lovely smell of the hydrangea than the sweet of cotton candy! 1 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitMore hydrangea pictures are coming. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio3 days agoHolly in OhioI am contemplating HOPE today. It is sometimes an awkward thing for me. I have memories of hope and pain mixed together. These days, climate change and the pain that our dear planet is experiencing can be very frightening to me. My usual way of dealing with this is to put my head down and work on what is immediately in front of me, and I to try to make myself smaller, with less of a negative impact on the planet, and to limit my exposure to bad news when it gets too much for me. This works t...I am contemplating HOPE today. It is sometimes an awkward thing for me. I have memories of hope and pain mixed together. These days, climate change and the pain that our dear planet is experiencing can be very frightening to me. My usual way of dealing with this is to put my head down and work on what is immediately in front of me, and I to try to make myself smaller, with less of a negative impact on the planet, and to limit my exposure to bad news when it gets too much for me. This works to a degree, but leaves me with moments of anxiety and deep sadness. I am looking for a new way of navigating the present and future, and finding peace in this challenging time.. So this morning I started thinking about Pandors’s Box and what it might mean. There is a reason hope was in the bottom of Pandora’s Box, along with evils, but interpretation varies as to why it was there. Some, like Nietzsche, feel that Hope was another evil, perhaps the worst one, and a torment. Others see Hope as a remedy or solace, and a way of navigating through evils. There are yet other interpretations as to why it was there. How do you feel? What do you think about Hope in your own life? There is coming up a 5 day practice of Hope at Gratefulness.org that I’m going to participate in, and, “hopefully” figure out my feelings. If you would like to participate, too, I’m going to put the description and registration page here. I “hope” to see some friends on this journey. 🙂❤ Make Your Heart a Vessel of Hope: A 5-Day Practice Read More 3 Reply Mica2 days agoMicaThank you yet again, Holly! 🙂 I signed up, too – it’s free and involves 5 daily emails: Make Your Heart a Vessel of Hope: A 5-Day Practice I recognized Pandora but had forgotten the Hope and am delighted with your educated commentary about it. This book led me to hug my old baby doll: Weintrobe, Sally. Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 days agoHolly in OhioInteresting! Is it a book I should ask about at my library? 1 Reply Mica2 days agoMicaNone of my family chose to read it. But none of them seems too stressed out over climate change. What I got out of it was the need to have something that warms your heart, so to speak. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 days agoHolly in OhioYes! That makes sense to me. And yes, that is what i need. 1 Reply Kate2 days agoKateI’ve signed up, too. I think hope is such a difficult topic. If one hopes too much or too specifically, it can lead to disappointment and disillusionment. I’m trying to focus on each moment. To find pleasure or joy or contentment in watching my dogs play or sleep or try to get away with naughtiness. To enjoy our walks together. To listen to the birds sing in the morning. To receive a phone call or visit from my kids or a friend. To laugh at something silly. To enjoy a good meal with ...I’ve signed up, too. I think hope is such a difficult topic. If one hopes too much or too specifically, it can lead to disappointment and disillusionment. I’m trying to focus on each moment. To find pleasure or joy or contentment in watching my dogs play or sleep or try to get away with naughtiness. To enjoy our walks together. To listen to the birds sing in the morning. To receive a phone call or visit from my kids or a friend. To laugh at something silly. To enjoy a good meal with friends. To explore quilting possibilities with a beautiful piece of fabric. I can’t really impact global events, except to add my vote when the time comes or work locally to positively impact others. If I dwell on world negatives, I feel paralyzed. It’s hard sometimes to remain positive. Read More3 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitHolly, I agree with every single word of your post. This site and all of you have been hope for me. C.S. Lewis wrote, “We read so we know we are not alone.” I have my husband’s son here today so will try to get back later with another thought on hope. 1 Reply Diane2 days agoDianeI too have my partner’s son here today. Odd you shared that and I’m smiling at the common link. 1 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitHe and his wife are gone now. Less than a 24 hour visit from Texas but good for my husband to see him. Looking at your picture I am guessing your visitor is a little guy. Jerry’s son has grown kids. Enjoy the time. they grow up fast. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 days agoHolly in OhioWhat a lovely quote, Rabbit! 😊 1 Reply Pilgrim2 days agoPilgrimHolly, for me Hope is the Light. It may be barely a flicker or a glimmer, a light very far away at the end of the tunnel. It may look like the one person's kindness that day (or week), or the one thing that makes me laugh a little after a long time has passed since the last time I laughed. It may show up in the one positive story I read among all the other offerings on CNN or another news outlet. Yesterday what made me smile was that when I went out for the mail, I saw a couple doing the same, w...Holly, for me Hope is the Light. It may be barely a flicker or a glimmer, a light very far away at the end of the tunnel. It may look like the one person’s kindness that day (or week), or the one thing that makes me laugh a little after a long time has passed since the last time I laughed. It may show up in the one positive story I read among all the other offerings on CNN or another news outlet. Yesterday what made me smile was that when I went out for the mail, I saw a couple doing the same, with two small and lively dogs and a lovely little girl holding hands in the middle. A small adventure in an ordinary day.. Read More2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 days agoHolly in Ohio😄 Wow. I never imagined yesterday when I posted that I would get such beautiful responses that make me smile! I love that image of the little girl between the grown-ups! It reminds me of when the mail arriving felt like a very big deal! 😊 2 Reply lotus blossom3 days agolotus blossomthanks, Holly. i signed up. 🧡 1 Reply Rabbit2 days agoRabbitI signed up too. 💜 1 Reply Yram3 days agoYramI awoke in a bad mood but the naked lady and shrimp smoothed that feeling. Thanks friends. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio3 days agoHolly in OhioI’m so glad it did! We’re here for you, Yram. I hope your day is better now and you are enjoying it. 🌺 1 Reply pkr4 days agopkr“Naked Ladies”, for all the flower lovers, Rabbit & all here. ❤️🌸 8 Reply Rabbit3 days agoRabbitShe is lovely. So different from my colors. Thank you! 1 Reply Pilgrim3 days agoPilgrimStunning, pkr! 1 Reply Mica4 days agoMicaThanks, pkr – I remember a church woman who told about how shocked her young grandson was when she pointed out ‘naked ladies’ to him. They’re a great flower, aren’t they, especially because the flowers stand alone after the leaves have died back. 🙂 2 Reply Rabbit3 days agoRabbitOh my! I didn’t know anything about naked ladies in the flower world. 1 Reply Mica3 days agoMicaHere they are, naked 🙂 2 Reply pkr4 days agopkr😂😂😂 1 Reply Holly in Ohio4 days agoHolly in OhioThank you pkr! Those are GORGEOUS! 🤗 1 Reply Holly in Ohio4 days agoHolly in OhioThinking of our caregivers… I thought this was lovely. 3 Reply Rabbit3 days agoRabbitThat is sweet. I remember visiting a woman with Alzheimer’s once. She could still sing songs from long ago but she pretty much didn’t have any connection with the world today. The songs seemed to give her some peace. 1 Reply Mica5 days agoMicaCool quote again this morn. I pasted it high up in my gratefulness doc. The quotes in my doc aren’t in chronological order now – I add the ones I like somewhere into the doc, depending on how much I like them 🙂 Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. THICH NHAT HANH 6 Reply Holly in Ohio5 days agoHolly in OhioBreathe in joy! Breathe out stress…. 🙂 2 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioTonight I saw a news article on PBS that made me happy. Here is my hero of the week: a young man who is working to save a species, educate folk, and he’s doing it in a fun way. Enjoy! 2 Reply Mica2 days agoMicaThanks, Holly – I finally watched and am delighted! I want to post on Tik Tok “How to lower your water bill with a rubber band!” but I’ve never even visited TikTok. I’ll consult my granddaughters about it tomorrow. 0 Reply Butterfly4 days agoButterflyThat is brilliant, Holly! Made me feel happy too. Thanks for sharing 😊 2 Reply Yram6 days agoYramThank you all for the comments. I am so happy for the connection. The flower tour is amazing. 4 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioI’m glad you are here enjoying it, too! I’m smiling big over here after reading your comment! 😁 Wasn’t that a great idea of Rabbit’s? 2 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitLet’s stop and visit another hydrangea. This one is for the friends who like them green. This one turns whiter as the season moves along. Flower season is moving fast up here in Michigan. 3 Reply pkr4 days agopkrThank you Rabbit, I love hydrangeas. Beautiful 😊 0 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioOne of my favorite white flower bushes is the very old fashioned Spirea. I wish I had room to put one in. They remind me of my childhood. I love them when they are shaggy and unpruned! Their flowers are past right now or I would take a picture of my neighbor’s one. I grabbed this from an article about propigating them on Gardener’s Path. 3 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitOh, yes I like them too. Did not notice them much or at all this year. They speak childhood to me too. Have you heard people call them Bridal Wreath? 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioNo I haven’t, but they would be so lovely in a bridal wreath! I think… in my memory… they are in bloom in June and July. 🙂 0 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaSpirea! The name is familiar to me, but the flower clusters remind me of Lantana. The web hasn’t yet let me know if the 2 are different or not. Lantana can be fairly small. My favorites are the red-orange-yellow ones, but they don’t thrive on my balcony. 😐 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioIt might be too warm for Spirea where you are. It says “zones 4-8.” Here is a close up of the flower clusters. 1 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitWe are certainly having warmer seasons in Michigan. I hear the zones may change. 1 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaThanks – yes, flowers similar to Lantana but in more irregular clusters. 1 Reply Rabbit1 week agoRabbitToday the garden tour makes a stop to see hydrangeas. 4 Reply lotus blossom6 days agolotus blossomlovely hydrangeas, Rabbit. thank you. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 week agoHolly in OhioThank you, Rabbit. 🥰 You are doing all of us such a wonderful service! I feel like I am receiving flowers every day! It is a wonderful pick-me-up. ❤ I haven't had a chance to get out with my camera, yet, to take pictures of flowers. Yesterday we drove one son to Columbus, moved him in, and checked on the others who went down with a car and a UHaul and were moving in, too, then we drove back home at about 5. It was a long, very hot drive, both times. There had been three accidents slowin...Thank you, Rabbit. 🥰 You are doing all of us such a wonderful service! I feel like I am receiving flowers every day! It is a wonderful pick-me-up. ❤ I haven’t had a chance to get out with my camera, yet, to take pictures of flowers. Yesterday we drove one son to Columbus, moved him in, and checked on the others who went down with a car and a UHaul and were moving in, too, then we drove back home at about 5. It was a long, very hot drive, both times. There had been three accidents slowing down and stopping traffic, and the traffic was especially heavy with everyone returning to O.S.U. and it being a main shipping route. At one point driving south it took us an hour to go six miles. On the way back, we saw the other direction at a stand still behind the recovery crews and a huge crane, and we decided to “measure” how far cars were backed up. It went for 12 miles! We were so lucky not to get slowed down as much as if we had gone later, and I had thoughtfully packed a large container of ice and water and wrapped it up in a polar fleece and it stayed cool and refreshing the entire day! Today we had a plumbing issue at home and some cleaning to do. We got that sorted, though! So everything is all right The kids are fine and we’ve been checking in with them. The day was filled with domestic duties, and sheets drying on the clothesline in the breeze. Now we get to relax for a wee bit and enjoy the evening. 🌇 Read More2 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitIce huh? We had a power outage a couple days ago. We went and bought extra ice for the frig and freezer but the outage lasted so long we had to replace almost everything in the refrigerator. Always something. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioAwh! I hear power outages are expected to happen more frequently. Have you heard of a Zeer Pot? It would help you save some stuff like milk and keep it cool, without ice, just with water. You can build one or several easily.. It is a clay pot, inside of a larger clay pot, with river rock or gravel in between, and an old pot lid for the smaller pot. It works by evaporation. I can give you a link to instructions if you would like it. 3 Reply Holly in Ohio5 days agoHolly in Ohio(In response to Mica’s post below) My dad was also Navy, and piloted a PBY in the Pacific. 0 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaYes, my dad was in WWII Navy radio engineer. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioI think you have to plug the holes in each pot for this, otherwise it is pretty straight forward to make. We try to make it a rule when our power goes out not to open the freezer at all. We found that way we can keep the frozen food safe for about eight hours, as our freezer is always full and the frozen stuff helps keep it cold for a long time if we don't open it.. We try to plan what we need in the fridge for the day, and then open the fridge for seconds to grab the milk and anything else we w...I think you have to plug the holes in each pot for this, otherwise it is pretty straight forward to make. We try to make it a rule when our power goes out not to open the freezer at all. We found that way we can keep the frozen food safe for about eight hours, as our freezer is always full and the frozen stuff helps keep it cold for a long time if we don’t open it.. We try to plan what we need in the fridge for the day, and then open the fridge for seconds to grab the milk and anything else we want as quickly as we can. Then we rinse our largest thermos with cold tap water so it is cool, and pour milk into it, and then we leave the fridge closed until the power is on. That usually works. 🤞 Like minds, Mica! Read More0 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaI have an old camping cooler and quite a few ice pack things in my freezer, so I can go for a while ok. Our power was out for about a day after our first rain last fall – they were spraying water on sparking or flaming power poles outside my building. I just kept the freezer closed, and nothing got too warm. PG&E deals with electrical problems after things break, which happens a lot with the first rains 🙁 1 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitWow! That is new to me. Will have to look into this more affordable option. Many people in our neighborhood have whole house generators but it is a big investment especially since we should be thinking about downsizing or no upstairs. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioI forgot to say, it works by evaporation. You pour water onto the gravel, and renew with water as needed. 2 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitOh my goodness, what a couple days you have had Holly. Glad it is all behind you. I think a drive to the grocery store is long. I have a friend who once told me anything she did involved problem solving and I completely agree. The trouble is after you solve one another one comes along wanting to be solved. It gives us purpose. 🥰 2 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaI was in utero when Hiroshima was bombed. My birthday is in December too 🙂 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in Ohiowow, Mica. Was your father in WWII? My father was also. He was 43 or 44 when I was born. 1 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaI’m pretty old, Rabbit! My granddaughters are 12 and 15, and I’m a few yrs older than one might expect from their ages. Turning green with age is a funny concept, even for flowers. I look forward to seeing hydrangeas again – hopefully this week 🙂 1 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitI am a Christmas baby 73 years ago. Yes, green means youth to me. Did I say it backwards? 🤔🐇 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioThat is so true! (What Rabbit said, I mean, Lol). 1 Reply Mica1 week agoMica6 mph – Ugh, dear Holly! 😐 1 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioWhen we were stuck in traffic… we have a car with a black interior and no air conditioning… there is something in my head that just realizes I can’t do anything about it, so I just let go, and then everything is okay. Cameron relaxed, too. We listened to music, we talked. Maybe there is a lesson there in how to have patience? 1 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitOh, a big great lesson. Do you remember when you were a girl the saying? Patience is a virture and virtue is a grace. Both of these together make a very pretty face face. Imagine saying this to a boy. Ha ha! I think I thought of that because of a book I am reading set in 1951-1961 so far. 1 Reply Mica6 days agoMicaHolly, that’s wonderful! I started reading the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, because it was the most interesting thing within arm’s reach, and it’s all about ‘restraint and modifications of the mindstuff’ 🙂 1 Reply Mica1 week agoMicaThe different colors on hydrangeas are fun, Rabbit 🙂 I think it might be because the acid level of the flowers changes as they get older 1 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryYears ago I heard that if the soil is acidic hydrangeas will be pink, if alkaline they will be blue. But now I think hydrangeas are either bred to be pink or blue and soil acidity doesn’t matter. 2 Reply Mica1 week agoMicaYes, it makes sense that hydrangeas come in different colors. Indeed the web says: Hydrangeas are available in pink, purple, blue, white, and green across several species. Some species change color based on the pH in the soil. Acidic soils will lead some to turn blue, while an alkaline soil will cause your Hydrangeas to bloom pink. And with aging: All hydrangea blooms turn different colors as they age. The most common color for pink and blue hydrangeas to turn is green (especially in the South w...Yes, it makes sense that hydrangeas come in different colors. Indeed the web says: Hydrangeas are available in pink, purple, blue, white, and green across several species. Some species change color based on the pH in the soil. Acidic soils will lead some to turn blue, while an alkaline soil will cause your Hydrangeas to bloom pink. And with aging: All hydrangea blooms turn different colors as they age. The most common color for pink and blue hydrangeas to turn is green (especially in the South where climates are hot and humid). After the blooms turn green, they may pick up shades of pink and burgundy. Green! I’ll look for that 🙂 Read More1 Reply Rabbit6 days agoRabbitThe ones I see in the fall in Michigan are a variety named Limelight or similar so I think they are intended to be green. I laughed at changing color with age. You all sound younger than me but the age spots and new freckles make you think you are changing color. 😂😎 2 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryI love hydrangeas. Lovely 2 Reply Mike S1 week agoMike SGreetings everyone. I hope you all are doing well. Here’s a photo of my wife Maggie. and I. next year we will celebrate 30 years of happy marriage.💕☺️ 8 Reply Holly in Ohio6 days agoHolly in OhioWonderful! YOu make a lovely couple! 😃 0 Reply lotus blossom6 days agolotus blossomcongratulations on your 30th, Mike and Maggie. beautiful photo! 1 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryNice picture, Mike! Maybe I’ll get brave and post one of my husband and myself. 3 Reply Mike S1 week agoMike SYes please do 1 Reply Palm1 week agoPalmGood to see you again, dear Mike and to “meet” your lovely wife. Thank you for this picture and congratulations to both of you. 2 Reply Rabbit1 week agoRabbitYou are a lovely couple. Enjoy each minute together. I was inspired by the gratefulness word for the day today. It seemed about love. 2 Reply Anna1 week agoAnnaYour wife and you are wonderful Mike! Congratulations and best wishes as your anniversary approaches. Thanks for sharing! 2 Reply Mica1 week agoMicaA quilt for Rabbit 4 Reply Rabbit1 week agoRabbitThank you Mica. It is pretty and eye catching. My husband likes the geometric quilts and I tend to the picture. They are all lovely. Such an accomplishment too. I like the dolly. Thanks for including her. I was just talking to my neighbor about my childhood dolls. Maybe I will post a picture of them. 2 Reply Mica1 week agoMicaShe’s Patricia, named after my mother’s Patricia and given to me in 1950 after which my mother put her Patricia into our coal furnace. I was going to donate her [Patricia, not my mother!] to a thrift store, but I read a book about emotional suffering from climate change worries, and it recommended having something comforting around you. And, Rabbit, I replied about the quilt to Michele below 🙂 1 Reply Michele1 week agoMichelethis reminds me of the old arcade game Q*bert:)
