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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.

  • Holly in Ohio
    Good morning friends! I hope this day is a joy to you. I apologize for not being here as much of late... I've been working flat-out on the kitchen. I feel behind in most parts of my life, including practice, but know I can only do so much and must prioritize for a few weeks. Today I'm going to try to take it a little easier, since my arthritis started complaining, ... lol... my friend Connie used to say, "Uncle Arthur came to visit." (Mr. Arthur Itis) We are expecting a heat wave this week so...

    Good morning friends!
    I hope this day is a joy to you.
    I apologize for not being here as much of late… I’ve been working flat-out on the kitchen. I feel behind in most parts of my life, including practice, but know I can only do so much and must prioritize for a few weeks. Today I’m going to try to take it a little easier, since my arthritis started complaining, … lol… my friend Connie used to say, “Uncle Arthur came to visit.” (Mr. Arthur Itis) We are expecting a heat wave this week so my plan has been to get the window shades back up on the southern windows in the kitchen today, maybe wash the windows first, and a some other little things done, but also give myself time to just sit and relax. I need to recoup. We pull the shades in heat waves to prevent the sun from hitting the floor, and it helps a lot to keep our place cooler.

    Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful abandoned their box nest again. She was fussing inside it earlier this week, stuffing and stuffing, then Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful were arguing with each other, and next I knew, nothing. The straws sticking out of the nest have not shifted for days and no sight of them. I do hear him singing sometimes, so I think they are close, still, but it looks like they are laying their clutch elsewhere. At this moment I hear little chirps of sparrows and the song of cardinals. I’m hoping for rain today. We will need it before the heat wave or I will be watering plants this evening.

    This morning I am grateful for the opportunity to do things still, like fixing the kitchen. It’s starting to pull together now, and my husband is excited and pleased, and talking about getting the backsplash I wish for the sink. (He’s very thrifty, so when he’s suggesting spending to get a backsplash, I know he’s excited!). My son is also pleased with the kitchen. There is still a lot to do on it, like the cupboard doors and the floor refinishing, and half a window frame, but I like that it looks clean and bright. Yesterday I scrubbed bright the old refrigerator on all sides, and cleaned the gaskets with a toothbrush, before putting the refrigerator back in its place. Simple things, like a clean kitchen, a place to cook good food, is a blessing. We will get it done, and it will be present for new memories of cooking and shared meals.

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    • Mica

      I ‘like’ your ‘Arthur’ Holly. One of those difficult relatives that most of us have 🙂
      Like you, I close the blinds when it gets hot – the forecast was for a hotter day today, so I’m grateful for the overcast sky! My condo’s windows all face southwest, which is wonderful for sunsets and not so wonderful for heat, which may well get much worse. Warm wishes – 🙂

      • Holly in Ohio

        Cool wishes, Mica, 😉😊
        I did get the shades mounted again, and now I am polishing the little brass parts of the cupboard door handles.

        I just spotted a sparrow’s nest! I don’t know if it is “my” sparrows, but the nest is wedged in between the telephone hookup and the house across the street, and the sparrows just flew out of it to my walnut trees. Hm. ☺

        • Mica

          Ah – MDF – my new word for the day: ” MDF was developed in the United States in the early 1960s based on the design of hardboard” That is uninspiring, but paint, as you say, is good. It’s fun to see traces of wood grain texture on my white cupboard doors. I’ve always lived with formica – rounded edges in the last 2 houses. Tho I might have gotten fake marble in a bathroom redo in my last house. Fun fun. YOu are inspiring!

        • Mica

          Polishing brass… I have brass doorknobs that I’ve given up on polishing. It was important to me at first, but no longer. I replaced the knobs on my kitchen drawers and cabinets with nice flowered porcelain [?] ones from a thrift store 🙂 That was my big ‘kitchen remodel’ when I moved in. Our condos are from the ’60’s.

          • Holly in Ohio
            My cabinets are at LEAST that old, in fact I think the shelves part goes back to the Great Depression era, repurposed from the earlier kitchen in this house when it was in a different room... or some ripped out shelving from somewhere else, before they had Craig's List. The doors, though, are early MDF... ugh! But fine enough with paint on them, and the cabinet handles look mid-century modern. I kind of like the handles, so I kept them. They are heavy! The inside of the cabinet doors and the sh...

            My cabinets are at LEAST that old, in fact I think the shelves part goes back to the Great Depression era, repurposed from the earlier kitchen in this house when it was in a different room… or some ripped out shelving from somewhere else, before they had Craig’s List. The doors, though, are early MDF… ugh! But fine enough with paint on them, and the cabinet handles look mid-century modern. I kind of like the handles, so I kept them. They are heavy! The inside of the cabinet doors and the shelves were ORANGE when I moved in, and the counter top underneath the newer, but still ancient brown counter top on top, was orange formica! The kind with the aluminum edges tacked on. Very retro! I almost felt like we could carbon date this kitchen, LOL. Cameron had to replace our brown counter top which was warping, and he let me choose between the four cheapest countertop designs we could find, hahaha. I picked the imitation marble, and then worked my “design” off of that. I found a dish mat also in faux marble, and have been painting the cabinets white and the walls a very pale gray to coordinate, and like magic, it actually works! I have a marble tile backsplash picked out that we haven’t ordered yet. It is such a small space behind the sink we could afford it, but I have to figure out how to cut it or I’ll have to go with faux marble vinyl tile stick-ons. We are trying to find a free single cabinet to put by the stove and we have about 22 inches of countertop left we could put onto it. I’ve gone through cans and cans of paint in this room, even ceiling paint, and many containers of spackle, including one and a half gallons of “dust control” to smooth the walls. That’s why it has been taking me so long to finish. Then I have a plan for the floor, but I might wait until late summer to do that and give myself a break. We’ll see. Anyway, my family is happy about the kitchen, and a little surprised that I could pull a rabbit out of a hat. ðŸ‡ðŸŽ©

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        • Annie

          I never see birds visiting me at my apartment. I am on the third floor and love my balcony. We are not allowed to have bird feeders…boo! But to my surprise about a month ago two doves sat on the balcony railing. I took pictures of them and tried to post here but I got that “heads up ” notice so I can’t share them. It was amazing they stayed there for about 20 minutes ! I wish they would come back….

          • Mica

            Yes, Annie – doves are fun. They have nested on my balcony a few times over the last several years, which is such a treat. But a crow killed the babies the last time or 2. My neighbors have a humming bird feeder. We’re not allowed to feed the ducks at our condo’s ‘lake’ but I haven’t heard anything about bird feeders.

  • Annie

    Happy Saturday ! How are you dear friends ?
    I haven’t been here in quite a while. I thought is was time to check in….Please know you are in my prayers always 🙂 Have a great weekend !

    • Holly in Ohio

      hi Annie! I hope life has been treating you well. Thank you for your well-wishing!

      • Annie

        Hi Holy ! I missed you and all the lovely people who post here. How is the weather there ? Today it will be 72 …but most days it’s in high 70’s or 80’s. Have a great day !

        • Holly in Ohio

          Today it is pleasant, and in the 70’s, but we are expecting a heat wave this week, with temps in the upper 80’s and 90’s for a few days. I’m planning to cook meals outdoors to keep the heat out of the house. Thank you for asking. I hope you have a great day, too!

  • Mica
    Today’s quote looks like an old translation of the Latin: "Take full account of the excellences which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not." MARCUS AURELIUS I haven’t heard us ‘hanker after’ much during my lifetime. I like the quote though. Another translation says, “…and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours. â€Here’s a quote of his that I don’t necessarily agree with: “In an express...

    Today’s quote looks like an old translation of the Latin:
    “Take full account of the excellences which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.” MARCUS AURELIUS I haven’t heard us ‘hanker after’ much during my lifetime. I like the quote though. Another translation says, “…and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours. â€Here’s a quote of his that I don’t necessarily agree with: “In an expression of true gratitude, sadness is conspicuous only by its absence.†What Would Brother David Say, do you think?? 🙂

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    • Holly in Ohio
      There is a quote from the Talmud that I read decades ago that stuck in my mind. Recently I tried finding it again and discovered that translations vary so much as to give the one quote several meanings, depending on how it was translated. As I remember it, though, it read something like, "God will hold us responsible at Judgment for every blessing given to us that we failed to appreciate." The word "hanker," which my father would use, is an odd word to use in translation. hank·er /ˈhaNGkÉ...

      There is a quote from the Talmud that I read decades ago that stuck in my mind. Recently I tried finding it again and discovered that translations vary so much as to give the one quote several meanings, depending on how it was translated. As I remember it, though, it read something like, “God will hold us responsible at Judgment for every blessing given to us that we failed to appreciate.”

      The word “hanker,” which my father would use, is an odd word to use in translation.
      hank·er
      /ˈhaNGkər/
      Origin

      early 17th century: probably related to hang; compare with Dutch hunkeren . (from Oxford languages).

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      • Mica

        Thanks! – as in ‘hunker down’ – a friend of mine was fond of ‘hygge’ – Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.

        • Holly in Ohio

          I love the idea of hygge, and it is very compatible with gratefulness! 😄 I’ve started collecting on Pinterest some of my “favorite things” for each month of the year. For June I have birds feeding their young, gathering blueberries, blueberry jam, lightning bugs, and eating outdoors. I could probably add more things, like The International Festival, the beaches at Lake Erie… hm, what else?

  • Christine

    For once, I answer the question of the day over here because I want the show a picture.
    Seeing the sun rise every day at my favorite place, 10 minutes walk from my house, gives me a radiant smile and also happy tears. I can feel the beauty 🌞

  • Mica
    Sending warm wishes to you all and to dear Mary. It's time for me to read my email from Greater Good in Action, which is about "How to Get More Out of Your Walks" ... 20 minutes daily for at least one week. ... As you walk, try to notice as many positive things around you as you can. ... As you notice each of these positive things, acknowledge each one in your mind ... Try to walk a different route each day... https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/savoring_walk?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Cent...

    Sending warm wishes to you all and to dear Mary. It’s time for me to read my email from Greater Good in Action, which is about “How to Get More Out of Your Walks” … 20 minutes daily for at least one week. … As you walk, try to notice as many positive things around you as you can. … As you notice each of these positive things, acknowledge each one in your mind … Try to walk a different route each day…
    https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/savoring_walk?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&utm_campaign=0f03098b8f-GGIA_Newsletter_June_2022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-0f03098b8f-57450167

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  • Anna

    Dear Mary, how are you after the surgery? I miss you, I hope your recovery and rehab are completed and you can easily walk.

    • Ose

      missing her, too, her last post was telling about good progress in recovery, hopefully this went on fine for her. Our prayers for healing are with you, dear Mary. Wishing all a lovely day full of sunshine.

    • Holly in Ohio

      I miss Mary, too, and hope she is recovering well. I think she will be back before long.

  • Holly in Ohio

    I had a wonderful surprise today. Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful moved back into their house! Sparrows usually lay two sets of eggs a year, though last year (their first breeding year) Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful lay three sets. So I think at this time of year, this will be their second. Mrs. Hopeful is a bit nervous, so I pulled down my rattan blind over the window. Mr. Hopeful is still looking a little shaggy. He does this funny little puffed up dance that I love to watch. 🙂

    • Mica
      What a treat! Enjoy! I was happy having moved my dove nest tray, but they wanted it back in the old place. I was thinking of getting a new plant to have something more in the old dove nest space, and I realized - DUH! If I want more in that space, I want to put the dove nest tray back there! I don't know if they'll nest there again, but at least they have the opportunity. I think the new places I planned for their nest space weren't high enough in the balcony for them. And my bro wrote about the...

      What a treat! Enjoy! I was happy having moved my dove nest tray, but they wanted it back in the old place. I was thinking of getting a new plant to have something more in the old dove nest space, and I realized – DUH! If I want more in that space, I want to put the dove nest tray back there! I don’t know if they’ll nest there again, but at least they have the opportunity. I think the new places I planned for their nest space weren’t high enough in the balcony for them. And my bro wrote about the little drying stream on his property and the bathtub in the stream with tadpoles in it. [He finds all manner of stuff buried in his VT property!] We all have our yard pets. 🙂
      And I wrote ‘greatful’ in an email accidentally today. Such a day full of events..

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      • Holly in Ohio

        You see? It was a great day, so it is a great-full day! 😄

        I think I am finally getting sleepy. My head was so filled with interesting thoughts this evening that it was disquieting, but not unpleasant. It is hard to describe what I was thinking, it was more a different perspective about what, for me, are the important things in my life. Anyway, sleep now, or at least to try. Love you, friend, and each friend here! Good night. 🌙

        • Mica

          Thanks, Holly, for the link about getting a laptop ready for donation. You’ve inspired me. I tend to dismantle my laptops when they stop working in some way. That’s fun but indeed I’d rather do what I did with my old non-functioning printer: put it by the dumpster in the condo garage with a sign that a super geek might be able to get it working. You have inspired me to learn how to wipe a laptop so I can pass it along.

        • Mica

          Thank you, Holly – I have paper writing guilt, too, but that will be over in a week when the deadline comes 🙂
          I sent my computer friend an email, “a pity” about how it was a pity that the oldest computer was too broken to pass along. Wishing you a guilt-free tomorrow and hoping you don’t read this before tonight is over 🙂

          • Holly in Ohio
            As it turns out, I am reading it in the morning. I have an idea - this won't, unfortunately, help your friend, but - Since I am on the journey to "zero waste," I am always coming across sources to donate or recycle things. Might your old laptop still benefit someone in a homeless shelter? This first link is how to prepare your laptop for sale or donation (so your information is secure). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbShr8SNw-g This second link is a place that raises money for a charity of ...

            As it turns out, I am reading it in the morning. I have an idea – this won’t, unfortunately, help your friend, but – Since I am on the journey to “zero waste,” I am always coming across sources to donate or recycle things. Might your old laptop still benefit someone in a homeless shelter?
            This first link is how to prepare your laptop for sale or donation (so your information is secure). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbShr8SNw-g
            This second link is a place that raises money for a charity of your choice, through your donated laptop: https://donorconnection.org/

            There are other ways, however, that your old laptop can be made serviceable again for others. Just let me know if you would like more information, and I’ll dig it up for you.

            Most computer repair shops these days also refurbish old laptops. That is another option for your friend, but usually it takes time to refurbish it and she might need one sooner, but it might be a good place to find one that is inexpensive. And… question… did you ever reset that third laptop to factory settings? Sometimes that works when nothing else does. 💻 hahaha this is so funny, they still have “floppy disk” emoji: 💾 Sounds about right, doesn’t it? 😄

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        • Mica
          Dear Holly, I hope you had a good night and a good day since posting this. Or whatever you needed to have! I suppose sometimes we benefit more from the not-so-good experiences that teach us valuable lessons. Sigh! Your thoughts sound interesting - giving you a different perspective. I had a painfully different perspective this afternoon after happily helping my friend with the dreadful confusion of her computer. I'm feeling guilty for my wealth of imperfect computers [3 of them...] all of whic...

          Dear Holly, I hope you had a good night and a good day since posting this. Or whatever you needed to have! I suppose sometimes we benefit more from the not-so-good experiences that teach us valuable lessons. Sigh! Your thoughts sound interesting – giving you a different perspective.
          I had a painfully different perspective this afternoon after happily helping my friend with the dreadful confusion of her computer. I’m feeling guilty for my wealth of imperfect computers [3 of them…] all of which I used this morn to try to help her with hers. I feel greedy ðŸ™

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          • Holly in Ohio
            You are not greedy, Mica, just fortunate and able to recognize it. You said yourself you were trying to help her, and that shows generosity. I don't think we should feel bad about being fortunate. It was a good day, just busy. The days are not long enough for me to get to everything these days. I'm feeling "garden guilt," "craft guilt," and "housekeeping guilt." Is that silly, or what?! No need to. Human experience is so funny. Maybe in the morning I'll start some bread and then get to painti...

            You are not greedy, Mica, just fortunate and able to recognize it. You said yourself you were trying to help her, and that shows generosity. I don’t think we should feel bad about being fortunate.

            It was a good day, just busy. The days are not long enough for me to get to everything these days. I’m feeling “garden guilt,” “craft guilt,” and “housekeeping guilt.” Is that silly, or what?! No need to. Human experience is so funny. Maybe in the morning I’ll start some bread and then get to painting. 🙂ðŸžðŸ–Œ

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        • Holly in Ohio
          Mrs. Hopeful is still stuffing the nest. I see some long grasses/small reeds sticking out of the hole. She reminds me of some shoppers - she won't stop until she can't fit another thing in her home, Lol! A little patching, but mostly painting, painting, painting today. The kitchen is starting to look closer to done, now that the pale grey paint is starting to go up. I wish I'd selected it just a tad darker. When wet it is hard to tell the pale grey apart from the white trim and cabinets! I ...

          Mrs. Hopeful is still stuffing the nest. I see some long grasses/small reeds sticking out of the hole. She reminds me of some shoppers – she won’t stop until she can’t fit another thing in her home, Lol!

          A little patching, but mostly painting, painting, painting today. The kitchen is starting to look closer to done, now that the pale grey paint is starting to go up. I wish I’d selected it just a tad darker. When wet it is hard to tell the pale grey apart from the white trim and cabinets! I only have a week now to try to finish the painting, including some cabinet doors that are currently removed. It will be tight schedule before company comes. And after that I still have the floor to refinish and the backsplash to put in (I need to learn how to do that), but first things first. You should see me, 😂 I wash myself before dinner, but I’m just going to be “pinto” until this job is done, as I always miss speckles of paint on my person or in my hair, even. Right now I have a very white elbow along with other speckles. I forgot I had set my elbow down on a wet paint can lid when I was concentrating on “cutting in” close to the ceiling!

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  • Holly in Ohio

    I’ve been thinking of our several caregiving friends. Sending love, we are here when you need someone to listen or to take a little break. â¤â˜•ðŸ™‚

  • Mica

    I’d like to teach a young relative about the value of kindness. The Dalai Lama says his religion is kindness, and one can always practice it. Here’s a quilt made for me by a fellow guild member. I made her one that said “Teamwork.” I pictured ‘heavy duty’ Teamwork in her role as facilitator and distributer of charity quilts – but No! It was Wonderpets’ Teamwork she was thinking of! : “WHAT’S GONNA WORK? TEAMWORK!”

  • Ose

    The days after. What can I say? All is gone which was once at the horizon of possibilities. Doors closed. That´s it mainly. My silent crying out. How sad to not have been able to let go of what had a grip on me far too long. I simply could not let go. If there is a message in this to you all my dear friends here in the lounge, it is please do better. it is heartbreaking without making noise any more. May all beings be blessed. ðŸ™

    • Diane

      Dearest Ose…..may you be aware of God’s Presence and know that you are The Beloved. That truth never changes no matter the sorrows that can and do visit us in this life. Sending you much peace my friend. 💕

      • Ose

        Thank you, dear Diane, for your warm friendship and the reminder of the guiding Truth. Yes, and with all my appreciation, sending heartfelt greetings and blessings to you.

    • Holly in Ohio
      My dear friend, I am sorry you are hurting so. Please be kind to yourself and gentle. I know letting go is something you wish so much, but if it were me who could not let go, what would you tell me? You would be gentle, and tell me it is all right, and for me to begin again, and that whether I let go or not, I'm still loved and loveable. And YOU are loved, Ose, and things will be okay. We are all human and not perfect, but still good and precious. Try to find peace in one moment today, especial...

      My dear friend, I am sorry you are hurting so. Please be kind to yourself and gentle. I know letting go is something you wish so much, but if it were me who could not let go, what would you tell me? You would be gentle, and tell me it is all right, and for me to begin again, and that whether I let go or not, I’m still loved and loveable. And YOU are loved, Ose, and things will be okay. We are all human and not perfect, but still good and precious. Try to find peace in one moment today, especially peace with yourself. Take a deep breath. Be a friend to yourself. Perhaps look at a flower or smell an orange. We love you, Ose. Things will be okay.

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      • Ose

        Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt words, soothing me, the beautiful flowers (a hibiscus?) and for all your presence here in the Lounge. It is a precious gift to all of us. May you have a lovely day, dear friend. Blessings.

        • Holly in Ohio

          Hibiscus or Hollyhock or even Rose of Sharon? I’m not very good at telling them apart, but they are pretty, aren’t they? 🙂🌺

          • Ose

            Yes, dear Holly, they are absolutely beautiful!

    • Pilgrim

      Dear Friend, we encircle you with light, hope, grace and friendship from wherever we are on this planet. We are here. And as Mica writes, please do be kind to yourself. Kindness is everything.

      • Ose

        Thank you dearly, dear Pilgrim, for your kindness and care. With a big hug to you, and may you be blessed, dear Pilgrim, sending you heartfelt greetings. Ose

    • Mica

      Dear Ose, may you be kind to yourself! 🙂

    • Mica

      Oh, Ose – May YOU be blessed, dear Ose. Thanks so much for thinking of the rest of us. Is it ever too late?? Warm wishes and hugs to you 🙂

      • Ose

        What about you, dear Mica, is it ever too late? Free mind´s questions to ponder on 😊

        • Mica

          Dear Ose, thanks for your wonderful reply to me. I feel like I’ve known you for years now – starting when I first logged on to this site. I value your friendship. May peace be with you! 🙂

        • Mica

          My mother’s death comes to mind. I so wanted Not to carry resentments about her beyond her death, and I didn’t! Part was due to my intention, and a huge gift was the opportunity to be with her on her last day, when my daughter and her husband drove me to be with her. Seeing her reversion to a hungry baby gave me so much compassion for her! I told her over and over and over, “Jean, you were a Good Girl!â€

          • Ose
            Dear Mica, thank you for all your precious contributions at this evening and for your immediate presence to the story-stuff. You helped me so much to find my way out of this hole of old personal story of which the sticky threads hopefully will be cut so that it all might have a pale, peaceful place of memory in the cupboard of soul´s collections. - later after pondering, I would like to alter this particular sentence: Something to alter… so that things become pale …. is not a good idea. So ...

            Dear Mica, thank you for all your precious contributions at this evening and for your immediate presence to the story-stuff. You helped me so much to find my way out of this hole of old personal story of which the sticky threads hopefully will be cut so that it all might have a pale, peaceful place of memory in the cupboard of soul´s collections. – later after pondering, I would like to alter this particular sentence: Something to alter… so that things become pale …. is not a good idea. So far I used this image, which I will not any more. The thing is to see and realize that what troubled me is not existing. So simple as that.

            Yours and the friendship of all of our dear friends here helped me so much again. You all build trust, and confidence to let go of old stories in all of us, which is so freeing and helps making space for more ideas to contribute to the whole all together. May you have a wonderful day also, dear friend. Thank you dearly, and many blessings to you. ðŸ™ðŸ’—🙇

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          • Ose

            Thank you for this also, dear Mica.ðŸ™

    • Anna

      Dear Ose, I join Butterfly, something very hard is troubling you, and your pain is so great, dear friend.
      Tell us something more, Ose, we are listening you. Don’t be afraid, you are such a courageous woman, such a kind soul. Warmly,Anna.

      • Ose
        Thank you dear Anna and dear Butterfly, for your kindness. Not so easy to explain. I am caught up in my life`s story in crucial moments when I want and need to express my commitment to belonging and to my dear friends here whom I love and with whom I feel home. Then instead of being in the moment, story-related stuff rules the situation. This resulted in a line of failure in crucial moments and my feeling for the moment being is seeing the taillights of a train leaving, and in it all what my hea...

        Thank you dear Anna and dear Butterfly, for your kindness. Not so easy to explain. I am caught up in my life`s story in crucial moments when I want and need to express my commitment to belonging and to my dear friends here whom I love and with whom I feel home. Then instead of being in the moment, story-related stuff rules the situation. This resulted in a line of failure in crucial moments and my feeling for the moment being is seeing the taillights of a train leaving, and in it all what my heart is longing for and where I feel I belong. It feels a complete disaster. I –related. And I am in complete panic then. It always seem to end up in a self-fulfilling prophesy of a long gone story, of which I need to let go of.

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        • Mica

          Looking back on situations perhaps like what you describe, I ask myself, “Why didn’t I apologize?” I’m hoping to do better in the future. But maybe your situations are different.

          • Ose

            Still hoping to do better in the future also, dear friend.

    • Butterfly

      Dear Ose, You sound in so much pain right now. Do you feel able to go into more detail about what is troubling you? I send you much love and hope you can find some relief from your suffering very soon â¤ï¸

  • Holly in Ohio
    My happy thought this morning is that my neighbor gave me something to plant. I got it into the ground yesterday evening. It wasn't something she bought, she was instead dividing what she had. I don't know what it is called yet, but it looks a bit like variegated hosta, but with the leaves on stems. I love it when people do this! It makes me think of Colonial times when everyone got most of what they grew in their garden that way, unless they carried seeds on a ship. Isn't the world wonderful w...

    My happy thought this morning is that my neighbor gave me something to plant. I got it into the ground yesterday evening. It wasn’t something she bought, she was instead dividing what she had. I don’t know what it is called yet, but it looks a bit like variegated hosta, but with the leaves on stems. I love it when people do this! It makes me think of Colonial times when everyone got most of what they grew in their garden that way, unless they carried seeds on a ship. Isn’t the world wonderful when we cooperate with each other and share?

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    • Mica

      Your post, Holly, reminds me of Jefferson’s home, Monticello – the garden had a lacy blue flower that was also a volunteer in my yard on the other side of the USA. At Monticello, it was identified as ‘Love in the Mist’:

      • Holly in Ohio
        Those are beautiful! They remind me a bit of cornflowers, but I see that like Queen Anne's Lace, Love in the Mist has a lacey halo! I will look for some seeds next year! Monticello? 😄 Very flattering! Not nearly so grand, here. I spent some of the day painting and spackling, and some of the day pulling weeds! Our dear neighbor showed us how to cut a scrap of glass we'd saved to fit the space of a cracked window in our kitchen. That was so nice of him! And he has mentioned before that he lo...

        Those are beautiful! They remind me a bit of cornflowers, but I see that like Queen Anne’s Lace, Love in the Mist has a lacey halo! I will look for some seeds next year!

        Monticello? 😄 Very flattering! Not nearly so grand, here. I spent some of the day painting and spackling, and some of the day pulling weeds! Our dear neighbor showed us how to cut a scrap of glass we’d saved to fit the space of a cracked window in our kitchen. That was so nice of him! And he has mentioned before that he loves seeing my Caladium in the spring, as it is green long before other things, here. Tomorrow morning I am hoping I can find some at a store to give to him as a thank you. Caladium is often variegated, sometimes with white, red, or pink, but mine is just green with slight variegation, sort of like this:

        Read More
        • Mica
          Love in the mist is in the buttercup family! - Nigella damascena, love-in-a-mist, or devil in the bush, is an annual garden flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is native to southern Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia, where it is found on neglected, damp patches of land. It grew briefly on my balcony, but I don't water the plants enough to keep it alive. My California poppies died too. Succulents are what grow best. The Caladium looks like my daughter-in...

          Love in the mist is in the buttercup family! – Nigella damascena, love-in-a-mist, or devil in the bush, is an annual garden flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is native to southern Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia, where it is found on neglected, damp patches of land.
          It grew briefly on my balcony, but I don’t water the plants enough to keep it alive. My California poppies died too.
          Succulents are what grow best.
          The Caladium looks like my daughter-in-law’s fake plant on their dining table, after lots of live plants failed to thrive there. They recently bought a number of fake plants, including a monstera, partly for backgrounds when they zoom for work.Amazon’s monstera looks quite awesome compared with my twisted live one, but I love seeing the actual leaves, especially when they open up.

          Read More
          • Holly in Ohio

            I remember Monstera! One of my ag classes was taught by a very accomplished woman who had her own large interior landscaping business. We learned a lot about indoor plants and did a number of unusual things, like caring for a green roof (covered with different types of Sedum). Caladium looks like it would be an indoor plant, but it isn’t. Most of the classic indoor plants are tropical, because they can withstand low light conditions (being used to dense forest conditions).

  • Drew Blanton

    A more grateful world would be a more peaceful one.

    • Holly in Ohio

      Yes, it does seem to follow naturally, doesn’t it? 🕊

      • Drew Blanton

        Yes.

      • Drew Blanton

        Yes. I just wish humanity were able to realize that. I saw both TOP GUN movies yesterday. They were good, but they weren’t very peaceful. They could’ve also done with little or no cussing. I call cussing verbal violence. I think the kissing was probably a little too sexual for my niece and nephews. They’re only 11, 13, and 14.

  • MaryL

    That’s wonderful, Holly. Your creative solutions remind me of my grandmother’s saying, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.”

  • Holly in Ohio
    My mother grew up in an isolated rural area, and I think perhaps I got from her the blessing of "making do." I'm still working on our kitchen, which really needs a big budget makeover, but my husband and I don't have the cash for it and won't borrow for it, so instead my job these days has been to try to repair and paint the old cabinets and plaster walls, which takes an enormous amount of hours. I started a new wall this week, scraping, patching, scraping more, patching more, but last night I g...

    My mother grew up in an isolated rural area, and I think perhaps I got from her the blessing of “making do.” I’m still working on our kitchen, which really needs a big budget makeover, but my husband and I don’t have the cash for it and won’t borrow for it, so instead my job these days has been to try to repair and paint the old cabinets and plaster walls, which takes an enormous amount of hours. I started a new wall this week, scraping, patching, scraping more, patching more, but last night I got primer on some of the wall so I can see the dings and where to fill further. Just that much was such a joy to see this morning! Clean and white, it brightens the kitchen. I’ve always loved the joy of making or leaving something a bit better than when a found it. Our store is almost completely out of paint right now, so I have been using our leftover paints for the 2 coats between the primer and the top coat, and then I will have to wait until the store is stocked again! But ‘making do’ made me realize I can use up some off-white paint that would otherwise sit in cans unused, and it lets me keep going on the project. I don’t have any particular skill in this area, I just practice and learn ‘on the job.’
    Many of our joys come to us – nature, the arts, the weather, people, good fortune – but many other joys are available to it by us doing or making or giving.

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  • Holly in Ohio

    Sending best wishes to our caregivers!

  • Mica

    Curriculum for peace

    What if we taught
    mostly kindness
    with a bit of math
    instead of the other
    way around?

    bentlily by Samantha Reynolds

  • Kristi
    Good Morning Dear Gratitude Lounge Friends - I am writing to let you know that after a much-needed holiday weekend for our team, Jeseph will be making every effort to put the banner back at the top of this page today. Thanks for your patience, and thanks to Helen for writing to [email protected] to let us know. We have a small but mighty - and mighty committed! - Gratefulness team to start with, but we are smaller of late as one of our team members has had Covid and Serafina is out fo...

    Good Morning Dear Gratitude Lounge Friends –

    I am writing to let you know that after a much-needed holiday weekend for our team, Jeseph will be making every effort to put the banner back at the top of this page today. Thanks for your patience, and thanks to Helen for writing to [email protected] to let us know. We have a small but mighty – and mighty committed! – Gratefulness team to start with, but we are smaller of late as one of our team members has had Covid and Serafina is out for a bit. If there is anything about which you need to alert us, best practice will be to jot an email to our contact mail address and we will do our best to respond as quickly as we can.

    With grateful care and blessings to each and all.

    Kristi Nelson, on behalf of Your Gratefulness Team

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  • Ose

    Can I send something, some greetings to you all here?

    • Holly in Ohio

      Of course, Ose.
      How are you this evening? 🙂

      • Ose

        Thank you, dear Holly! It was a bit of a roller coaster this evening, and thanks God it calmed again. Thanks for asking! Have a lovely day, my dear ☀ï¸

        • Holly in Ohio
          I hope you have a lovely day today, too, Ose! This early morning the air is still cool here, but it will get hot later. I am enjoying the cool air with my front door open, to cool down the house before I shut it against the coming heat. I hear the birds singing their morning songs as if they are here in my living room with me! It is a new day. Nothing from the past taints it or influences what day this will become... it stands on its own. I hope your first joy of the morning leads your day. ...

          I hope you have a lovely day today, too, Ose!

          This early morning the air is still cool here, but it will get hot later. I am enjoying the cool air with my front door open, to cool down the house before I shut it against the coming heat. I hear the birds singing their morning songs as if they are here in my living room with me! It is a new day. Nothing from the past taints it or influences what day this will become… it stands on its own. I hope your first joy of the morning leads your day. ☀♥🌺

          Read More
  • Mica

    I’ve been wanting to share something I wrote in my journal many years ago, and I’ve finally connected to the piece of paper again. I wrote about something “… for which I’m grateful. ‘Grateful’ looks funny – why should it be related to ‘grate’… It should be ‘Greatful’.”
    But now I’d use a word other than ‘should,’ not wanting to ‘should on’ myself unless it’s absolutely necessary!
    Happy Memorial Day to all – even if it’s not a holiday in your country, you can still be happy 🙂

    • Holly in Ohio

      😄
      I’ve misspelled ‘grateful,’ as ‘greatful’ many times, Mica!

      …but I am GRATEful for Parmesan cheese!

      • Mica

        Oh thank you, Holly – You are mindful when you write ‘greatful’ even if it’s a misspelling. I thought of cheese, too, regarding ‘grateful’, but my journal said ‘grate on’ – ‘grate on me’?? Ouch!!

  • Cliff

    I try to get a sense of the sacred, especially in nature. And I am grateful for the trees that I see around me.

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