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 videos to illustrate your reflections. Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Cathy2 weeks agoCathyFor me, nothing brings more peace to my soul than standing before the mighty sea. Do you love the sense of being small, too? 5 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaYes I love this sense. Cathy, you are an artist! 0 Reply Patjos2 weeks agoPatjosI love the vastness of the starry night sky, which reminds me that there is sooooo much more to us. I like to stand there until the the feeling comes that I myself stretch out into space quite beyond my imagination! Even now in daylight, I can close my eyes and still the night sky of space is all around. What a blessed day! Thank you for the question 🙂 0 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr2 weeks agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrI grew up by the sea. If I’m away from water, I suffer for the longing of it. I do enjoy being on the beach and seeing the vastness and constant movement. I drove 4 hours to be back by the ocean for a total of 20 minutes and then back to my assigned work. That 20 minutes sustained me for weeks. 2 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyI totally get this, Alicia Mary Ann ❤️ The pull of the ocean is magical, yet very real. 0 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann Parr❤️🕊 0 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaYes, small as a grain of sand, a molecule of water or salt, a photon. Life-giving, the ocean. 4 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimFor sure, Cathy. First time I saw the sea in person I was 12. It was life changing on so many levels. I think I felt small, and yet privileged and utterly gifted. Thank you for bringing this reminder into my heart today. 5 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyYour words bring that feeling to my heart, Pilgrim. Thank you. 4 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyAltering one of my photos never feels right, but I did try a filter on this one and loved it. It feels magical to me. May we experience awe with delight. 8 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryHi Cathy, Lovely! 4 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaDear Cathy, I love it! I love magical images and fairy tales … they pamper me. During my holidays I like to let myself go in fantastic stories. 5 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseA dear friend with an artist´s eye sent this foto to me with her kind and heartfelt wishes for the New Year, which touched me deeply, as we have had difficult times, where our friendship was or may be still is tempted in the sense of how deep our love for each other truly is. I took it as a sign of hope, which I would like to share with all of you, but especially with you, dear Carla. May the light of love shine upon all of us, igniting our hearts. 9 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaSo luminous and hopeful, dear Ose, thank you. 2 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseMay the light brighten the shades of sadness in you and in all of us who suffer so that joy may break through like God´s rays find way through the clouds. Blessings to you, dear grateful sea. 3 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaThank you, dear Ose. Blessings to you this night. 2 Reply Carla2 weeks agoCarlaMy dear Ose, I’m touched by your sharing this photo for me (& others)! I’m seeing it on 1/3/20 (USA time). Your generosity & tenderness is a balm. Thank you & many Blessings to you dear friend! & friends of the gratefulness community this New Year! Namaste. 2 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseMay you be well, dear Carla. Many blessings to you, too. 1 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaNamaste. 1 Reply Mica2 weeks agoMicaAnd all the ‘God rays’ – that’s what the lines of sunbeam are called, according to a photographer I know. Thanks and hugs! 4 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOsesuch an apt description, dear Mica. Thank you! 2 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryDear Ose, Yes, I am noticing all the light places in the midst of the dark.. Gorgeous picture. Mary 4 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseThanks to my friend who sent the photo to me, and thanks to you, dear Mary! ❤️ 1 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaSo nice, Ose! It really brings hope, peace and, at least for me, a sense of deep intimacy. I imagine myself looking at the lake from a cozy house with a fire and some tea. Right now I am looking at the sunset, the sky is wearing its pink dress, with an orange note near the roofs where the sun has just greeted us. I sipped my tea, read your post and now I’m relaxing, I feel so happy. 6 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseWonderful to see you are relaxing and feeling happy, dear Anna, Have a peaceful weekend, dear friend. 2 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryAnna, I love the way you said the sky is wearing her pink dress. When I put long drapes in my living room/dining room area I said so many times, “It feels like this room just put on a dress. Putting on a dress, wearing a pink dress. This evokes a n image of loveliness. 💕 Mary 5 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnna❤❤⚘⚘ 2 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryJust curious, I’m a tea drinker. I usually drink black tea with milk and a little sugar. What kind of tea do you drink? 3 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyAs a lifelong coffee drinker, I’ve just recently started exploring tea and I’m amazed at the varieties! This past week I’ve enjoyed steeping a bay leaf in hot water for a bit. Mary, I would love to learn more. 1 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaMary, usually I drink earl grey tea, because I love the taste of bergamot, which is a kind of citrus that grows in the south of Italy. Maybe it grows also in the US, but I don’t know. Yesterday I spent my first day of 2020 by my sister and I taste Osmanthu tea, it is delicious! I think that I will buy it! 3 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimThank you, dear friend Ose. This is beautiful. Yesterday watching the Rose Bowl Parade on tv, the theme was Hope, with many floats, quotes and signs of hope throughout the parade. And now you bring this beauty as a sign of hope. These two combined come to me as invitation to take Hope as a word/invitation for the year. I have lost a lot of my hope over the last couple of years or so. It is time to restore this, plant hope in my heart and soul more deliberately, and allow its work within. Blessin...Thank you, dear friend Ose. This is beautiful. Yesterday watching the Rose Bowl Parade on tv, the theme was Hope, with many floats, quotes and signs of hope throughout the parade. And now you bring this beauty as a sign of hope. These two combined come to me as invitation to take Hope as a word/invitation for the year. I have lost a lot of my hope over the last couple of years or so. It is time to restore this, plant hope in my heart and soul more deliberately, and allow its work within. Blessings to you, my friend. So many blessings. Read More4 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseDear Pilgrim, may your hands fully heal, and may your belief in the good things to be there for you be a bright star shining for you this year which just begun. We walk together in this also, dear friend. Blessings to you. 0 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyHow beautiful! The photograph and your words, Ose. Hope is powerful! 4 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeHappy New Year my loyal companions on this journey....thank you for traveling with me through 2019. Thank you helping me journey with joy, gratefulness and light. It is true what Ram Dass has said "We are all just walking each other home". This miraculous community walked beside our dear Ursula in this life ...it was an honor and a privilege to walk her home. I am humbled and grateful. Thank you for all the love....you all have such a special place in my heart....I don't have sufficient...Happy New Year my loyal companions on this journey….thank you for traveling with me through 2019. Thank you helping me journey with joy, gratefulness and light. It is true what Ram Dass has said “We are all just walking each other home”. This miraculous community walked beside our dear Ursula in this life …it was an honor and a privilege to walk her home. I am humbled and grateful. Thank you for all the love….you all have such a special place in my heart….I don’t have sufficient words. I look forward to 2020 knowing that we will continue to travel together. Be blessed my dear friends….I am so very grateful for each and every one of you. ~With grateful love I share this Buddha-blessing ♥ “May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy and safe.” Read More7 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathy“We are all just walking each other home”. Thank you, Diane. 1 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimThank you, dear Diane, for these words and for walking with all of us through years and life's occurrences. Ram Dass' words have been so meaningful for me. And just the other day I found in my journal these words that Ursula wrote in this space last January: "I deserve softness, gentleness, well-being, joy." These are true and abiding words that could be reminders for all of us. I want to believe and keep them in front of me in the year ahead. Be well and happy, dear friend. You have a speci...Thank you, dear Diane, for these words and for walking with all of us through years and life’s occurrences. Ram Dass’ words have been so meaningful for me. And just the other day I found in my journal these words that Ursula wrote in this space last January: “I deserve softness, gentleness, well-being, joy.” These are true and abiding words that could be reminders for all of us. I want to believe and keep them in front of me in the year ahead. Be well and happy, dear friend. You have a special place in all of our hearts, as well. Read More3 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseThank you dearly, Diane for your heartfelt blessings for all of us. May you and your family be well, dear friend. May your younger daughter unfold happily into her new situation. It is a joy to continue to travel with you in 2020 . and with all our dear friends here. Thank you for being here with me and all of us ❤️🙏 3 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaThank you Diane, for every word, for being here, for remembering dear Ursula. May you be well, blessed and joyful. May the new light that we can see through the sunset enlighten your journey to spring. 4 Reply reality2 weeks agorealityMay this New Year find all of us new, everyday, all the way through 🙂 reality 6 Reply reality2 weeks agorealityForgot to mention the photo’s not mine 🙂 james 8 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyLook at this! 365 new days to joyfully discover what is right around the next bend in our Trail! 6 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrThank you for this picture! I imagine myself taking off shoes and sitting on bank with water rushing over my feet. 0 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeThank you Kathy…and happy new year! One of my resolutions this year is to take more walks no matter the weather…and just this morning I bought myself a new wool hat with ear flaps so that I can be warm during my trail adventures! ~Blessings ♥ 5 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaHappy new year, Cathy. Thank you for reminding me that life is an adventure. 5 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaThank you Cathy, this is a joyous image for me. It reminds me some landscapes near to re sea. Happy New year! 4 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimBeautiful, Cathy – your photo and your words on this first day of the New Year. Thank you and blessings to you. 4 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaI’d like to be an artist and imagine a large group of friends hugging each other, wishing the best for this 2020, sending love to the world. This is my thought when I think of all of you here. I am not an artist but in my mind there is this extraordinary image. It lives in my heart. With love for each of you. Many blessings and serenity. 6 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeCara Anna….I agree with grateful sea. You are an artist of the most special kind…creating lovely images from your kind heart. Thank you for making me smile….you helped me imagine us all together in a big group hug. ♥ ~With my love and blessings dear friend 5 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaDear Anna, I believe you are an artist, painting with words the image that is in your heart. I can see it clearly and I am grateful to be a part of it. Hugs and best wishes for this new year to you and to all, sent with love from grateful sea. 7 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimWhat a wonderful image, dear Anna. Thank you, and may blessings and peace abound in the new year for you. 5 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseMy last prayers before going to sleep are for you here sharing, wishing you and your loved ones and friends a Happy New Year, rich in heartwarming encounters, full of sparkling inspiration to offer the light that you are to the world around and unfolding into your true potential. May this become true for all our fellow people. May love and peace be in all our hearts. Happy new year to all who share and visit here, and beyond. 7 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrThank you, dear Ose. Grateful for the lovely people here. 1 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeDearest Ose….sending you happy new year blessings with gratitude for your beautiful prayers for us all. ♥ 3 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaMany blessings to you dear Ose. May your 2020 be full of hope, creativity, art, peace. Sending love to you, sweet friend. 5 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimBeautiful, dear Ose. Thank you for these words of hope and blessings … and may you, too, experience such love, hope and peace, my friend. 5 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseThank you for your reply, and your wishes, dear friend. 3 Reply Ann2 weeks agoAnnBlessings to all on this Tuesday Prayer Day. 8 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaBlessings to you dear Ann, and happy New year! 4 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaDear Ann, thank you for being you and for being here. Blessings to you as well. I lit my candle early this morning and it burned much longer than I expected, though it was just a stub. I was able to sit outside all bundled up on the back porch and the flame danced in the wind. Sending love from grateful sea. 3 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseThanks for the reminder, dear Ann! 4 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaDear Ose, blessings of the new year to you. 5 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseThank you so much, dear grateful sea. May all loving and healing energies be with you. May you be blessed, dear friend. A warm embrace, if I may, Ose 5 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaThank you, dearest Ose. 5 Reply Cathy2 weeks agoCathyOn this last day of 2019, may we lay down the burdens of the year past, shake ourselves off, breathe deeply, slowly turn and face 2020, smile, feel our bodies fill with gratitude for life and experience joy as we walk into the new year. 10 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaDear Cathy, welcome, friend. Such a powerful blessing you bring. May it be so. 4 Reply manda2 weeks agomandaHello everyone! You have all been in my heart and thoughts for many months and it is joyful smile I have on my face as I read your words. Though I am so sorry to hear about the loss of loved ones and illnesses many of you are experiencing. Jack bear passed away on 10/2, the love of my life, but I am beyond grateful for the many years I shared with him and he passed away peacefully. I am grateful for our newest family member, Stella Luna, who has a beautiful playful spirit and brings immense ...Hello everyone! You have all been in my heart and thoughts for many months and it is joyful smile I have on my face as I read your words. Though I am so sorry to hear about the loss of loved ones and illnesses many of you are experiencing. Jack bear passed away on 10/2, the love of my life, but I am beyond grateful for the many years I shared with him and he passed away peacefully. I am grateful for our newest family member, Stella Luna, who has a beautiful playful spirit and brings immense love to our little family. She connects me to the merriment of being a mom and I am truly grateful to feel this sentiment. I am grateful for my body and the ability to continue to bike after some falls and I love the reminder if you fall or crash, get back up and do what you love. I am blessed with such caring and thoughtful people in my life. I am sending you all love and hugs from Flagstaff sweetest friends. xoxo Read More 7 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrWhat a sweet pup! Lovely face! 1 Reply manda1 week agomandaThank you so very much, your words mean a lot to me! 0 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeOh my gosh.....Manda! How wonderful to hear from you dear friend. I have thought of you so often and wondered how you were. I am so sorry to hear that Jack bear has crossed over the rainbow bridge...yet grateful that he did so peacefully. Stella Luna looks like such a sweetie... she is such a lucky little pup to have you for her momma! Manda....I am wishing you continued health and happiness for the coming year as you shine your light in your beloved Flagstaff..and beyond! ~With grateful ...Oh my gosh…..Manda! How wonderful to hear from you dear friend. I have thought of you so often and wondered how you were. I am so sorry to hear that Jack bear has crossed over the rainbow bridge…yet grateful that he did so peacefully. Stella Luna looks like such a sweetie… she is such a lucky little pup to have you for her momma! Manda….I am wishing you continued health and happiness for the coming year as you shine your light in your beloved Flagstaff..and beyond! ~With grateful love and blessings ♥ Read More2 Reply manda1 week agomandaAhh thank you - he is and is with Violet and I just am over the moon that I had so many wonderful years of giggles, smiles, play, and romps in the woods with them :) Stella monkey knows all about her brother and sister in the heavens! I sit here and am just full of smiles reading your words and how lucky I am to have such a beautiful network of people around the world to share with, no judgements - just supporting one another and rooting each other on! I wish you the sweetest 2020 and believe...Ahh thank you – he is and is with Violet and I just am over the moon that I had so many wonderful years of giggles, smiles, play, and romps in the woods with them 🙂 Stella monkey knows all about her brother and sister in the heavens! I sit here and am just full of smiles reading your words and how lucky I am to have such a beautiful network of people around the world to share with, no judgements – just supporting one another and rooting each other on! I wish you the sweetest 2020 and believe it will be a magical year for you and your family, xoxo Read More0 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaManda! A big hug to beautiful YOU, and to the spirit of dear Jack bear, and to the new light in your life that is Stella Luna. Sent with love from grateful sea. 5 Reply manda1 week agomandaLovely grateful sea, thank you my friend and I send you oodles of love back! 0 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseWelcome back, Manda! Like Sylvie and Aine, you have been missed a lot. So happy to see you here again, dear friend. I am so sorry that you lost your Jack Bear, who always accompanied you so lovingly. And good to know that Stella Luna is with you and your family now. Heartfelt greetings to you ❤️ 8 Reply manda1 week agomandaThank you dear Ose, I have missed you and this group too! The gift of being here and reading your words is a beautiful song to my heart! Sending you loving hugs friend! 1 Reply Ana2 weeks agoAnaThank you for sharing about your loss as well, Manda. You remind me of how grateful I am to have gone to Brazil to see my dad for Thanksgiving right before his passing. I am so grateful that I was able to talk to him, be there for my mom and say goodbye even not knowing that it was what I was doing. Thank you for the sweet reminder of beauty in the midst of grief. 6 Reply manda1 week agomandaCara Ana, I am so happy you were able to have a special time with your dad in Brazil before Thanksgiving. I know how hard it is when they are no longer there to smile with, laugh with, share words with – and sometimes the not knowing can bring some of the sweetest moments into our life. You are beautiful and I am so happy to share in gratitude with you! xoxo 0 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimOh my gosh, Manda! I have thought of you often and wondered how your life has evolved! I am sorry for the loss of Jack Bear. Stella Luna is sweet and a beauty. Love and hugs back to you. 5 Reply manda1 week agomandaPilgrim!! How I lit up when I saw you are still here – thank you for being a part of this tremendous group, working towards seeing the good in all things through the midst of hardships, loss, but also joy, love, and beauty! Big loving hugs your way my sweet friend <3 0 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaManda!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5 Reply manda2 weeks agomandaLove to you sweet Anna!!! <3 4 Reply Drew Blanton2 weeks agoDrew BlantonI think you need to type something before posting a picture. I even have a picture of a certificate that says I helped a pope become a saint somehow, Maybe I can find it. 7 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrDrew! I’m happy to see your post. I enjoyed seeing this certificate re Saint John Paul II. I hope all goes well for you. Take care, Drew. 2 Reply Drew Blanton1 week agoDrew BlantonI’m going to the hospital tomorrow morning for testing. We’re still trying to find out what’s going on with my brain. 1 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaDear Drew, I join Alicia in wishing you well, most well, friend. Thinking also of your caregivers at home and in the hospital. Thank you for letting us be part of your circle. Sending love from grateful sea. 1 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrHi, Drew, thank you for letting us know . I will say prayers for you now, before I sleep, and tomorrow morning and through the day. I’m glad to hear from you. There will be more well wishing from your friends throughout the US and the world. Some are sleeping now . Take care, dear Drew. When you can, let us know how you are. Best to your caregivers, too. I’ll include them in my prayers. Love, Alicia 3 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeDear Drew….happy new year! And thank you for all the pictures you post here. They are always delightful! 🙂 2 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaHappy new year to you and yours, dear Drew. 2 Reply Mica2 weeks agoMicaWow! Congrats Drew! Yes- I remember needing words before picture, too. 3 Reply Ana2 weeks agoAnaI am grateful for all of the support of friends and family as I grieve the loss of my father who passed away on December 8, 2019. The love I have received these last few weeks has been everything. Here is our last family picture with my dad. 9 Reply Alicia Mary Ann Parr1 week agoAlicia Mary Ann ParrIt’s a beautiful photo. I know I must talk for others to say I’m honored to be able to see your wonderful family. It’s still a raw time for you and your loss. Please treat yourself tenderly and be with others as you can. This is no time to be alone for long, Ana. God bless you all. Alicia 1 Reply Ana1 week agoAnaThank you so much, Alicia. It’s been particularly hard on my mom. Prayers for all of us! 1 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeDear Ana…..how lovely to see this beautiful photo of your family together with your dad. I am so sorry for your loss and offer a prayer that you will find comfort in the memories you have of your beloved father. Thank you for sharing from your heart and in your sorrow….sending you love and blessings friend ♥ 1 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaDear Ana, I am so touched by the love I see in the photo of your family with your dad. I sit beside you now for a moment in your grief. Wishing you comfort. 4 Reply Ana2 weeks agoAnaThank you so much. I can feel the love and support of this group! 4 Reply Ose2 weeks agoOseDear Ana, may I offer my condolences for you and your family. May you and your family be blessed with strength and the light of love during the days to come. You and your family are in my prayers also. 4 Reply Ana2 weeks agoAnaThank you so much, Ose. 3 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimI am sorry for the loss of your father, dear Ana. I am glad that you have much family surrounding you with love. Holding you all in prayer. 4 Reply Ana2 weeks agoAnaThank you so much!
