Close
Close

Receive “Word for the Day” each day in your inbox

See our Privacy Policy

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Menu Gratefulness Donate

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.

  • Drew Blanton

    This is a picture I just took of my recliner featuring my M&Ms blanket and my curtains.

    • Mary

      Hi Drew,
      I see you have changed your picture. The new one looks very nice!
      How was your move? I remember you said you were moving around the winter solstice.
      So that was quite a while ago.
      How are things going for you now?
      Mary

      • Drew Blanton

        They’re fine, but I heard on the news that COVID-19 will be with us forever, Now I’m hoping and praying that Jesus returns sooner than we think! I’m probably not the only one who feels like I’m breathing on myself with the face masks.

        • Mary

          Hi Drew.
          Yes, I don’t love face masks, but they are part of the routine now.
          Are you doing Art these days?
          Sending love to you Drew. ❤️
          Mary
          Mary

          • Drew Blanton

            I’m taking Art classes on Zoom. That may change when I can start going to the place in Greenville called Thrive Upstate.

  • sm
    Hi friends. Currently I am enjoying a glass of wine while resting on my couch. Had a rough day at work, but I am choosing to let that go and remain positive for the days to come that will be better. I am trying to incorporate more mindfulness in my daily life in hopes of being more aware and present. Too often I look back and feel like I have missed so much, that I was never actually mindfully present in many situations that have taken place in my life. 2021, for me, is all about being present. ...

    Hi friends. Currently I am enjoying a glass of wine while resting on my couch. Had a rough day at work, but I am choosing to let that go and remain positive for the days to come that will be better. I am trying to incorporate more mindfulness in my daily life in hopes of being more aware and present. Too often I look back and feel like I have missed so much, that I was never actually mindfully present in many situations that have taken place in my life. 2021, for me, is all about being present. Presence also brings peace as I can become more aware of the words and actions that I choose, because too often I become unaware and sometimes say/do things that I wish I hadn’t. Wishing you all a happy & healthy February!

    Read More
    • Annie

      Hello sm, Could you please pass along a glass of wine for me ???? Especially now cause I am making a big pot of my homemade sauce…I also try to be present…when enjoying a meal notice the texture, smell etc…I’m getting better at this !
      Thanks !

    • Mary

      sm, Yes presence. Absolutely. In 12 step groups the 3 A’s are used when making changes in oneself.
      1 Awareness
      2 Acceptance
      3 Adjustment
      In that order.
      I find however that becoming aware and accepting myself are my real challenges.
      Thanks so much for sharing.
      ❤️ Mary

    • Mike S

      Seems like you are on the right track. All the best.

    • Palm

      Dear sm, thank you for the reminder about thinking positively and being mindful of the moment. Blessings to you

      • Mary

        Hi Palm.
        Blessings! I hope you are well.
        How is your little artist doing? 💕
        Mary

        • Palm

          Mary… it’s good to hear from you! she’s doing well. Mostly happy, still drawing and doing imaginary lego plays with her dad, which helps me a lot… I agree with you about coming back to gratefulness. And about the first two A’s, thanks for sharing this! 💕 Palm

  • Mike S

    I just saw an inspiring video of many women leaders around the world. I have long felt that humanity’s current ills cannot be solved until we all integrate the wisdom and compassion of women. I think I heard a saying in Africa like: “ The world is born at the woman’s breast. She who feeds will not then destroy, but will give more life.”
    The video is second down on my Facebook page. Just copy this link and place in your browser.

    https://www.facebook.com/mike.seymour.7330

    • Palm

      Dear Mike, yes, I agree. I too follow Marianne Williamson and it has helped me a great deal. I just watched a video in which she says that spirituality and politics should not exclude each other. I wonder if dissolving this belief would get more women involved in politics.
      Blessings to you.

  • Diane
    Lovely friends It is a gift to be here with you this morning. We have had quite the snow storm here in our NJ farmland. I'm grateful for the cozy fire next to me and the warmth of our quirky little farmhouse on such a blustery cold day. I am grateful to be grateful for the respite from our labors. I am so tempted to be frustrated that we cannot make any progress right now. We have miles to go before we sleep. But our 65+ year old bodies are aching all over and I'm learning once again to ...

    Lovely friends

    It is a gift to be here with you this morning. We have had quite the snow storm here in our NJ farmland. I’m grateful for the cozy fire next to me and the warmth of our quirky little farmhouse on such a blustery cold day. I am grateful to be grateful for the respite from our labors. I am so tempted to be frustrated that we cannot make any progress right now. We have miles to go before we sleep. But our 65+ year old bodies are aching all over and I’m learning once again to let go and let God….this is a constant lesson in my life as I recognize and repent of my control-freak ways!
    “We have our plans and God laughs” is one of my favorite sayings.😊 It has been true all my life and I am learning to laugh too!

    Dearest Ursula….grateful for the gift of our friendship across the miles which now endures among the stars.
    ~Have a blessed day my dear friends ♥

    Read More
    • Palm

      Dear Diane, I look forward to reading your Tuesday Prayers posts. Thank you for the smile, yes, “God laughs”… 😊 but I think it’s good to have a plan… I am grateful for the divine guidance I have received throughout this confusing time. It has taught me faith. All shall be well, friend. Blessings friend

    • Pilgrim
      Dear friend, sometimes something is sent that doesn't feel like a gift at all - a great snowstorm, for instance, full of quiet and invitation to stay indoors, sit awhile by the fire, and breathe deeply. Maybe it frees us from the hurry, the pressure of doing (at this moment, anyway), and allows our minds and bodies to unwind a bit. Then we may notice a bird on a branch nearby, cat paw prints on the deck, a book nearby that we pick up and open to any page - which is just the right page at that mo...

      Dear friend, sometimes something is sent that doesn’t feel like a gift at all – a great snowstorm, for instance, full of quiet and invitation to stay indoors, sit awhile by the fire, and breathe deeply. Maybe it frees us from the hurry, the pressure of doing (at this moment, anyway), and allows our minds and bodies to unwind a bit. Then we may notice a bird on a branch nearby, cat paw prints on the deck, a book nearby that we pick up and open to any page – which is just the right page at that moment. And in that moment, grace prevails … or we are more aware of it, at least. May you find restoration in the midst of all that goes into moving house and heart. Many blessings, my friend.

      Read More
      • Palm

        So true, dear Pilgrim. Thanks for the insight. Yesterday we had no electricity the whole day and, although I was fretting about being disconnected, I tried to think that it was an opportunity to have a break from the internet. I now appreciate it even more. Blessings friend

  • June K C
    I read in the paper yesterday about a pediatrician who advises his patients to write in their journal daily to relieve their anxieties and fears. Keep it simple. His suggested format: 1.) Write three things you are grateful for. Be specific, e.g., “I enjoy drinking hot chocolate on a rainy day.” 2.) Write your life story in six words, e.g., “Born, school, work, work, play, play. 3.) Imagine you had a magic lamp and make three wishes. Again, be specific. I think this works great for adults ...

    I read in the paper yesterday about a pediatrician who advises his patients to write in their journal daily to relieve their anxieties and fears. Keep it simple. His suggested format:
    1.) Write three things you are grateful for. Be specific, e.g., “I enjoy drinking hot chocolate on a rainy day.”
    2.) Write your life story in six words, e.g., “Born, school, work, work, play, play.
    3.) Imagine you had a magic lamp and make three wishes. Again, be specific.
    I think this works great for adults as well. I started yesterday. Keeps me grounded and hopeful.

    Read More
  • Mike S
    Along with my visit to gratefulness site every day I also read one or more of the meditations from Marianne Williamson’s book A Year in miracles. She has wonderful short writings for every day. Along with Kristi’s book and gratefulness I have a heart full of good feelings and thoughts to ponder on as I begin my day. This is one prayer from day 29. “May my Internal Teacher remind me always that I am one with all Creation. I am not separate or apart from love. I bend my thoughts in the dir...

    Along with my visit to gratefulness site every day I also read one or more of the meditations from Marianne Williamson’s book A Year in miracles. She has wonderful short writings for every day. Along with Kristi’s book and gratefulness I have a heart full of good feelings and thoughts to ponder on as I begin my day. This is one prayer from day 29.

    “May my Internal Teacher remind me always that I am one with all Creation. I am not separate or apart from love. I bend my thoughts in the direction of love for myself and others, that I might be delivered from the pain of a fearful world.”

    Read More
  • Palm

    Dear Anna, thank you for sharing this special moment, it gives me the feeling of communion with friends.
    Please know that I think of you, dear friend.
    From Palm

  • Mike S

    Thanks SM.

  • sm

    Sounds like you have an exciting year ahead! I wish you the best on your endeavors and hope your new practices leave your body and soul feeling anew. Best!

  • Mike S

    Thanks for sharing about that student.

  • Annie

    Beautiful June …beautiful !!!

  • June K C

    When I taught first grade many years ago, one of my students was a refugee from Cambodia. She loved that song and asked to sing it every morning. I imagined the horrors she and her family had witnessed and how much joy and comfort the words of that song brought her. There were times I became teary-eyed watching her sing that song, a radiant smile on her face. I can still hear her today, “…You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

  • Annie

    Good morning Pilgrim, Thank you for your suggestions. My oldest granddaughter is Alexa, my sunshine girls daughter… she is 13 years old. Next my son’s three… Samantha who is 10, her sister Katy is 7 and their baby sister River is 3 weeks old.
    Have a lovely day !

  • Pilgrim

    That does sound like the perfect gift, Annie! How old are your granddaughters? Could be a beaded bracelet or a kit to make one, or to make anything – age dependent! A book, specially selected? A lava lamp? Fuzzy socks? I just saw some Valentine’s options in the Target ad. Special time with grandma?

This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A.

DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png

© 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living

Website by Briteweb

We are delighted to announce the release of Kristi Nelson’s book Wake Up Grateful

0

Your Cart