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. Ose1 month agoOseGood morning, dear friends here in the Lounge! Yesterday I started drawing and painting, which I loved to do in my youth. As a present for my dear sister who will celebrate her birthday next week, I started to draw a portrait of her together with her daughter (copying a photo). So grateful for my former teacher who deeply inspired many of us and taught arts in a multitude of ways at school, so that even after so many decades, I may come back to it, and as far as I can see right now, nothing of h...Good morning, dear friends here in the Lounge! Yesterday I started drawing and painting, which I loved to do in my youth. As a present for my dear sister who will celebrate her birthday next week, I started to draw a portrait of her together with her daughter (copying a photo). So grateful for my former teacher who deeply inspired many of us and taught arts in a multitude of ways at school, so that even after so many decades, I may come back to it, and as far as I can see right now, nothing of his teaching is lost! Drawing seems to be like riding a bike… you never can unlearn it 🙂 So happy that it seems to manage! Thank you dearly for this precious gift which allows to even create a present for my sister. Wishing for you all that you may have a lovely and peaceful Sunday, my friends. Read More3 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaWhat a wonderful gift for your sister, Ose! I’m taking an online sketchbook class whose goal is to have us sketching every day. It’s a wonderful goal for me but one that I am far from achieving. Happy painting and drawing, Ose! 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in Ohioooo! Sweet! 😃 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioI am so happy you are drawing again! 🤗 It seems so “right” that you are an artist. What a lovely gift for your sister and niece! ⤠1 Reply Ose1 month agoOseThank you, dear Holly for being with me in this! Many here are creative in various ways, like you, like Anna who loves to sing, like Palm and her daughter, like T.Henry and sparrow … I am always very touched and happy to hear or see something about your beautiful art work, dear Holly, and of those of our friends also. 3 Reply Palm1 month agoPalmDear Ose, thank you for thinking about us, I am heart warmed and inspired. It is so good to hear that drawing is like riding a bicycle. I’m glad you are doing something you enjoyed in your youth. I have been reflecting on Louise Hay’s words about nurturing the child in us and how I could do it, thank you dearly 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioThank you! And yes, thank you for reminding me that so many here are talented! It is a happy thought in my heart. Pilgrim is musical, and Christine, too, and I’m certain there are others! 1 Reply Anna1 month agoAnnaDear Ose, I’m so happy for you, you are an artist, music, drawing … it’s a grace. May your heart find a place of joy, peace, spirituality, fulfillment in your art. And happy birthday to your dear sister … I suspect she and I will have close birthdays😊 2 Reply Ose1 month agoOseThank you, dear Anna, for your kind reply and your encouraging wishes! When will be your birthday? The one of my sister is next Thursday. 2 Reply Anna1 month agoAnnaMay, 26th!!! Anyway, the same month!!🤗 0 Reply Mary1 month agoMaryHi Anna, Ose and all! My birthday is coming up right after yours Anna, May 28.ðŸ˜ðŸ˜Š 1 Reply Ose1 month agoOse😊😊🌺 0 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioThe wind that blows The cool winds of the night, The moon that shines so bright, That feeling of silence in the air, Know that someone really cares, I am wishing you good night, Because I want you to sleep tight, Good night, my dear! ““`-Anonymous 3 Reply Michele1 month agoMichelelove this poem – reminds me of my mom’s wind poem she wrote 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in Ohiogood morning, Michele! How nice to have poems your mom wrote! My mom didn’t write, but I have little sketches she made. 🙂 1 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaDear Holly, I’m sleeping ‘tight’ now with my weighted blanket – 15 lbs of it. I like it. Thanks for all you share with us. Warm wishes to you and all here – 2 Reply Drew Blanton1 month agoDrew BlantonI don’t know what it is, but lately my body feels hot every single day. 1 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaDear Drew, I sometimes think about the advantages of ‘too hot’ vs ‘too cold’ but when it’s your body, indeed it probably makes sense to see a doctor. Good luck! When I moved from CA to VA, I wondered if I’d like the summers or the winters better, but the summers were too hot and the winters were too cold 😠My condo gets too hot, because its windows all face southwest, but it’s wonderful to see the sunsets 🙂 2 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioInteresting. I don’t know why, either. Should you ask your doctor? 1 Reply Drew Blanton1 month agoDrew BlantonProbably. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioThe maple leaves are just beginning to come out of their buds here. I can hear a cardinal singing. The sun is out and it looks like spring, but it is also very cold. We had a hard frost last night and I am hoping our 2 new hives of bees have survived this cold. They haven't been in their homes a week yet, and they have not been eating their sugar water. Crossed fingers! They might be balled up inside and dancing, to keep their queens warm. Nature is amazing! A day or two more and it will be war...The maple leaves are just beginning to come out of their buds here. I can hear a cardinal singing. The sun is out and it looks like spring, but it is also very cold. We had a hard frost last night and I am hoping our 2 new hives of bees have survived this cold. They haven’t been in their homes a week yet, and they have not been eating their sugar water. Crossed fingers! They might be balled up inside and dancing, to keep their queens warm. Nature is amazing! A day or two more and it will be warm again. Nature and nature’s rhythms are endlessly fascinating. Even in the city, we see birds and wild plants, trees, and insects, going about their business as if we were barely here. Nature is here to fascinate and comfort us, if we but look. Here is a little frog I photographed in my garden two years ago… Have a lovely day, my friends! Read More 4 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaDancing bees! That takes me back many decades. And what a fine frog – my bro nurtures the seasonal pond on his property and gets lots of tadpoles and frogs, but not ones as fine-looking as that one. He learned that it can be good for the tadpoles, to let the pond dry out, because then fish don’t grow and eat the tadpoles. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in Ohiohaha… yes, there is no pond on this farm, but there is a part of the field that gets very water logged and “wants to be a pond.” But I wondered if this maybe is a type of tree frog? There is a small wood nearby my garden plot. At any rate, he is a handsome devil, isn’t he? Yes, bees dance together to generate heat around the queen. It’s like a mosh pit! 😠1 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaI wonder if yours is a toad even? Quite impressive little critter. My bro's ~3 acres in VT has endless trash buried in its woods, including a bathtub that is now part of the pond. Now that his cat has 'aged out,' the tadpoles are his 'pets.' I remember the dancing bees of Von Frisch and the controversy with Wenner - he and I were at UCSB: "In 1967, American biologist Adrian Wenner (1928–) launched an extensive challenge to Karl von Frisch’s (1886–1982) theory that bees communicate to eac...I wonder if yours is a toad even? Quite impressive little critter. My bro’s ~3 acres in VT has endless trash buried in its woods, including a bathtub that is now part of the pond. Now that his cat has ‘aged out,’ the tadpoles are his ‘pets.’ I remember the dancing bees of Von Frisch and the controversy with Wenner – he and I were at UCSB: “In 1967, American biologist Adrian Wenner (1928–) launched an extensive challenge to Karl von Frisch’s (1886–1982) theory that bees communicate to each other the direction and distance of food sources by a symbolic dance language. Wenner and various collaborators argued that bees locate foods solely by odors. Although the dispute had largely run its course by 1973 – von Frisch was awarded a Nobel Prize, while Wenner withdrew from active bee research – it offers us a rare window into midtwentieth century discussions about animals, language, and cognition.” Read More2 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioBee research has gone very far in the last few years, because of miniaturizing technology, making fine observation much easier. Did you watch the PBS link I posted yet? As of 2020, this wildlife photographer has greatly contributed to our understanding of bees. He was even able to track, and show their route in gathering pollen. Please see it. It will "blow your mind." It has a wonderful, humanizing story, too! 😊 When the day warmed up today, I saw activity at both of our hives! I'm very ...Bee research has gone very far in the last few years, because of miniaturizing technology, making fine observation much easier. Did you watch the PBS link I posted yet? As of 2020, this wildlife photographer has greatly contributed to our understanding of bees. He was even able to track, and show their route in gathering pollen. Please see it. It will “blow your mind.” It has a wonderful, humanizing story, too! 😊 When the day warmed up today, I saw activity at both of our hives! I’m very grateful for that. We don’t know about the queens, it is too cold to open up the hives, but it is still a good sign that the workers seem relaxed and are showing normal activity. That’s a good idea about froggie possibly being a toad, but our toads are brown and very warty and we see them often (they are easy to catch, too). The tree frogs are shy, so we hear them all the time, they sing like a chorus in summer, but we rarely see them. They are not a “true frog,” not quite sure what that means, only that we often hear them in forests, and they do climb trees! No idea how they are born, as it doesn’t seem they need a pond. I think it may be a “grey tree frog,” …yes they are green, lol. Here is the amphibian identification for Ohio: http://www.ohioamphibians.com/frogs/frogspecies.html The frog was on my bush green beans, by the way, so you can see it was pretty small. 🙂🸠Read More0 Reply Holly in Ohio1 month agoHolly in OhioSomething I like about these Caregiver Tips, is they were obviously written by caregivers, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers. ⤠2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in Ohio“The sun just touched the morning; the morning, happy thing, supposed that he had come to dwell, and life would be all spring.” Emily Dickinson 2 Reply Mike S2 months agoMike SI am grateful for a decent nights sleep, the first in a long time. 7 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaHeh Heh! I’m not grateful for a poor night’s sleep, but I’m grateful to have decent nights’ sleep maybe half the time these days. Warm wishes to you, Mike 🙂 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioHooray!! It makes a huge difference, doesn’t it? Now to go for two in a row…! 🌙🌙 1 Reply Mike S2 months agoMike SThanks Free 3 Reply Irish_Coffee132 months agoIrish_Coffee13I just started on this website today but lit a candle for myself and my Battle Buddy / fiancée . We are two military veterans struggling with ptsd and addiction. This a new start for us. New meds, new therapy and groups to join in on, new found dedication to ourselves, our families, and each other. 7 Reply Mary1 month agoMaryWelcome! Wishing the best for both of you. It sounds like you are off to wonderful new start! ♥ï¸â™¥ï¸ 1 Reply Butterfly2 months agoButterflyWelcome to Gratefulness, Irish Coffee. I hope you find it helpful and a place of solace â¤ï¸ 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioWelcome! Many of my buddies when I returned to college were vets with ptsd, too. I was in an agricultural program, and they were drawn to the program. Something about working with growing things, healthy food, fresh air, and nature is very healing. What are some things you find healing? 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioI don't know if you can see this, but it is looking like my strawberry experiment is working! (The experiment where I planted sliced strawberries from the grocery store). There are two tiny little plants here, and there is a third in the box. I will know for certain when they develop their true leaves, but I planted them in soil mix and coir, so I don't think there were stray seeds here. You can also see where the strawberries created mold when i did this, so next time I will remove the see...I don’t know if you can see this, but it is looking like my strawberry experiment is working! (The experiment where I planted sliced strawberries from the grocery store). There are two tiny little plants here, and there is a third in the box. I will know for certain when they develop their true leaves, but I planted them in soil mix and coir, so I don’t think there were stray seeds here. You can also see where the strawberries created mold when i did this, so next time I will remove the seeds first. But this is great — it means anyone with a sunny balcony or space, and a strawberry can make some of their own strawberry plants! Normally a plant is about $4 each, but strawberries in season are fairly cheap and can give lots of plants. 😄 Read More 3 Reply Mica1 month agoMicaWhat fun! Go, Holly! 1 Reply Butterfly2 months agoButterflyThat’s amazing, Holly! I have to admit I didn’t think your experiment would work! Glad to be proved wrong! I wonder how long it will take for them to grow into fruit-bearing plants. Let the experiment continue….. 😠2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioHahaha… yes, it may take a while before I taste any fruit! The plants are so wee! This is an exercise in patience, that is for certain! 🌱🌱🌱 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioThinking of our many friends on their caregiver journey… 3 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaFun – thanks, Holly! And there are at least 50 more tips.. 2 Reply Anna2 months agoAnnaThank you dear Holly, I feel engaged in caregiving, so your thought is right a balm. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioThis morning I am grateful for cleaning out and helping others. This last year I have struggled a bit to "keep moving." My mind, my nature, is frenetically energetic. Often the energy is fueled by past traumas, the energy of which I learned to channel into better directions like creativity and learning. Labor and creativity suits me better. Too much stillness and I turn inward, not in a good way but to mean self-talk and anxieties. But the last few days I have been moving more, and I'm grateful ...This morning I am grateful for cleaning out and helping others. This last year I have struggled a bit to “keep moving.” My mind, my nature, is frenetically energetic. Often the energy is fueled by past traumas, the energy of which I learned to channel into better directions like creativity and learning. Labor and creativity suits me better. Too much stillness and I turn inward, not in a good way but to mean self-talk and anxieties. But the last few days I have been moving more, and I’m grateful for that change. It was spring grass that created this change in me, as I watched it growing in the yard next door. There is an empty house next to mine. The owner became a distant landlord a decade ago, and the house was terribly neglected, sat empty some years, and other years had tenants who had issues. such as addiction. For the last two days I have picked up things in that yard – broken glass, rusty metal, broken plastic things, there is a wet mattress in the back yard. There were several large playhouses and a large dog carrier that I moved to the tree lawn, and my husband and I enjoyed them being taken away by families who wanted them. There was so much in the yard, it could not be mowed, and spring is sending up tufts of grass through things and it would soon be out of hand. There is a mowing company that will mow, but they won’t move a single thing. Five trash bags, four large play things to the curb, plastic bottles to recycling, hazardous stuff for the collection center, a large tote of metal stuff for the scrap yard, and there is still stuff there in the yard that will require a dumpster. But I’m glad now that it is much better, and now I am turning to my own house which seems a delight compared to the nightmare next door, and I no longer feel so overwhelmed, nor want things I don’t need. I found a home this morning for my extra canning jars – a college student who actually cans and is trying to go zero-waste! 😃 She asked me a canning question last year, and I thought she might want them. I know when I was younger, free canning jars would have been like getting treasure! It makes me happy to give them away. And I’m polishing up some old pots and pans for my kids who are getting their first apartments. That is also a joy! Have a great day, filled with love. Read More 3 Reply Anna2 months agoAnnaDear Holly, I love what you did, and the way you tell us your experience is very nice. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioThank you, Anna 🙂 1 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryHow nice Holly to get that yard cleared out. The view from your house must be much improved. I can see how dealing with so much stuff would help you appreciate the lightness of living more simply. I especially love how you were able to put the playhouses out and how they were picked up by others who can now enjoy them. Great use of your energy!😀💕 Mary 3 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioIt was lovely to see the playhouses go! One lady stopped with a van, but was having trouble getting the largest play house into the van, so my husband went over and helped her take it apart so she could take it, and we had a lovely short chat. She was so excited! And we watched another man come on foot with a kid’s wagon and a shipping strap, and though it looked impossible, he strapped the much larger playhouse onto it on to the wagon, and rolled the house down the street! 😂 1 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryThat’s so great to hear!😊 1 Reply Mica2 months agoMica‘Nother good one today! May such calm of soul be mine, so as to meet the force of circumstances. AESCHYLUS 2 Reply Anna2 months agoAnnaI thank all my dear friends in this Lounge who thought of me. I feel grateful, each of you gave me hope. Feel warmly embraced, you all. ⤠6 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryAgain, so much heartfelt love to you dear Anna. Just as you have given so much of your own love here, in the Gratitude Lounge, You are loved in return. I do so hope it helps you as you move through each day to know that your friends here are with you. We hold you in our hearts. And I pray that God will give you extra grace each day. Sending my love to you, dear Anna. â™¥ï¸ Mary 4 Reply Diane2 months agoDianeCara Anna....I am so glad to have dropped in for a visit on this Saturday. I want you to know that I always hold you close in my heart mio amica. I scrolled down and read about the challenge you are facing with your mother.. You have my love and admiration for the way you are taking care of your mama and especially through all the emotions that can be so painful from our childhood. I understand thris all too well...in this, and in so many other ways we are spirit sisters. Although I am no...Cara Anna….I am so glad to have dropped in for a visit on this Saturday. I want you to know that I always hold you close in my heart mio amica. I scrolled down and read about the challenge you are facing with your mother.. You have my love and admiration for the way you are taking care of your mama and especially through all the emotions that can be so painful from our childhood. I understand thris all too well…in this, and in so many other ways we are spirit sisters. Although I am not posting these days, I keep this community in my prayers and am grateful for all the love and support I have received here over the many years. I am sending you un grande abbracio across the ocean with my grateful love dear friend. ♥ Read More7 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioWe love you, Anna! ⤠4 Reply Nicki2 months agoNickiI created a simple earth altar yesterday with finds from my yard and garden. It's a "Celebration of Spring" with remnants of the past winter. The plants are both wild and cultivated. Mint leaves, pansies, and phlox from my garden and wild dandelions and purple dead nettle as well as the bare heads of dandelions that have already shed their seeds. The cypress sprigs are from a row of trees on the edge of the yard that took a pretty hard beating during a January wind/snow storm. They created a b...I created a simple earth altar yesterday with finds from my yard and garden. It’s a “Celebration of Spring” with remnants of the past winter. The plants are both wild and cultivated. Mint leaves, pansies, and phlox from my garden and wild dandelions and purple dead nettle as well as the bare heads of dandelions that have already shed their seeds. The cypress sprigs are from a row of trees on the edge of the yard that took a pretty hard beating during a January wind/snow storm. They created a brown/green blanket over the hard packed snow and my garden is still littered with them. Read More 4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaSo beautiful, Nicki – it warms my heart. And moss! – always a favorite of mine. Many thanks 🙂 2 Reply Anna2 months agoAnnaBeautiful Nicky! 2 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryLovely!🌸🌻🌸 2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioBeautiful, Nicki! Thank you so much for sharing this! It makes me smile. 😄 1 Reply Pilgrim2 months agoPilgrimBeautiful! Thank you, Nicki! 2 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaI like Elizabeth Lesser’s quote today, “When you feel yourself breaking down, may you break open instead….” 2 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioI liked it, too! It is quite a beautiful paradigm shift! 😄 2 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryYes, this requires nothing less than a complete paradigm shift This is what I am looking to do now. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioThis morning I am grateful for bees of all kinds, not just honeybees but also bumbles and other wild bees that do so much work for us and bring us so much joy in the form of flowers and food. They truly are amazing creatures! We received the call to pick up our bees two days ago, but as some of you also experienced, we had two days of snow, and it was too cold to install them. We left them at the beekeeper's shop where they could be warm and waited for yesterday when the sun was out to go pick ...This morning I am grateful for bees of all kinds, not just honeybees but also bumbles and other wild bees that do so much work for us and bring us so much joy in the form of flowers and food. They truly are amazing creatures! We received the call to pick up our bees two days ago, but as some of you also experienced, we had two days of snow, and it was too cold to install them. We left them at the beekeeper’s shop where they could be warm and waited for yesterday when the sun was out to go pick them up. When we install, my husband Cameron has to suit up completely, because he is severely allergic to bees and has to be run to emergency if he is stung. Even still, he absolutely loves beekeeping! I do not have to suit up or even wear gloves. I used to, but now I know I only need something to cover my hair, like a bandana, so that if bees land on my head they won’t get tangled. Something that made this experience a delight this year, was I told my neighbors about it. Our neighbors around the corner have two boys, and they have been homeschooling them since Covid. I thought they might enjoy coming to watch us install. So they came over, and Takeshi, who is 11, was particularly fascinated, and brave enough he could come very close to observe. He even had read up about honey bees before coming, so we had some lovely conversation! One thing I brought up was how busy a queen must be laying eggs. A hive has between 40,000 and 80,000 bees in it, and most of them (the workers) only live for about six weeks. They need to be constantly replaced, and there is only one queen. So how many eggs must a queen lay in a day? How many seconds between laying two eggs? It isn’t really a math question to solve, but you could hear the boy trying to work out the problem, and it does inspire awe of fascinating bees! So yesterday we replaced the plugs in the queen boxes with fondant, so they can slowly eat their way through in the next few days and free themselves. Too early, and the workers will think this queen is an invader, and will kill her, so instead we time release so they can get used to each other. We tacked the queen box to a frame and placed her inside the hive, then opened up the container holding the bees and gently shook some of them out, and then placed their box still of worker bees inside the hives. Then we placed feeders into the front of the hives to get them started, until they know their new home and food sources. Today it is cold again and rainy, but I can see a few workers go in and out, exploring and getting a chance to use the toilet (they never go inside the hive unless they have dysentery). But tomorrow we will go back in the hives and take out the transport boxes and replace the space with frames so they can begin building “comb.” In a couple more days, we will go back in and make sure that the queens are free and doing well, and a few days after that we want to be able to see the queens working and laying eggs and the workers building new comb. Love to everyone! I hope you have a great day. Read More 2 Reply Butterfly2 months agoButterflySo interesting to hear about your bees, Holly. I have bee logs set up in my garden for solitary bees. I love to see them coming and going with bits of leaves that they put between each of the eggs that they lay in the tubes. 🥰 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioHow lovely! Did you ever see that video by PBS about bees? It is one of my favorite documentaries, and I think you, in particular would like it. I’ve posted it before, but I’ll tag it here again: https://www.pbs.org/video/my-garden-of-a-thousand-bees-trjhzt/ 0 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaWow – thanks! Interesting about the queen being seen as an invader. How about carpenter bees, named for their habit of excavating holes in wood, in order to rear their young.? 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioWhen you get a "package" of bees, the queen and the workers are not known to each other yet. It is like an arranged marriage, LOL. One of the jobs of workers is to make certain there is only one queen in their colony at a time. So the workers we are getting think they still belong to a different queen. Their previous colony was "split" so that a brand new queen could have attendants. Carpenter bees, on the other hand, are "solitary bees." They do not form colonies, per se, though you may see ...When you get a “package” of bees, the queen and the workers are not known to each other yet. It is like an arranged marriage, LOL. One of the jobs of workers is to make certain there is only one queen in their colony at a time. So the workers we are getting think they still belong to a different queen. Their previous colony was “split” so that a brand new queen could have attendants. Carpenter bees, on the other hand, are “solitary bees.” They do not form colonies, per se, though you may see them grouped together where conditions are good for their living. They bore into wood, but for every hole you see, it branches out inside like fingers, so it can wreak havoc on a building, without your knowing it is quite so bad. Carpenter bees are also pollinators, so discouraging them from making holes in a building is preferable to destroying them, but sometimes there is not much choice… it may be them or the building! Fortunately, they don’t like paint, varnish, or putty! That is the easiest way to discourage them from homing in your building. They had riddled the ceiling beams in a barn at the farm, so I learned about them two years ago, to find out what could be done about them. Bees or wasps might be either colonizing or solitary, depending on their type. Bumble bees have colonies of about 50. Mason bees make colonies, paper wasps are another that make colonies, yellow jackets, too. But there are many, many, types of solitary bees and wasps, and most of them make holes in dry, loose, soil in a sunny location, and are quite gentle. More of our world is pollinated by wild bees and wasps than by honey bees, and we need them. I want to make a bee hotel for these types. Something like this: Read More 3 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaFun, Holly - such a lot of interesting new info. We made bug houses once in the art from scrap zoom class - mine is certainly not swarming with bugs, but I haven't taken it apart to investigate - it's down on the floor of the balcony between 2 big pots, so I don't have good access to it. Yes - we had a bare wood roof-type structure over our patio in Isla Vista, and carpenter bees liked it. I think we took it down - the aerial view of the house on Google Maps makes me wonder what all has been do...Fun, Holly – such a lot of interesting new info. We made bug houses once in the art from scrap zoom class – mine is certainly not swarming with bugs, but I haven’t taken it apart to investigate – it’s down on the floor of the balcony between 2 big pots, so I don’t have good access to it. Yes – we had a bare wood roof-type structure over our patio in Isla Vista, and carpenter bees liked it. I think we took it down – the aerial view of the house on Google Maps makes me wonder what all has been done – did they pave the back yard?? Enjoy your bees! It’s great that you and Cameron both are so interested in them. Read More1 Reply Mike S2 months agoMike SAnd I have resumed my early morning practice of gratefulness, saying everything that comes to mind that I am grateful for. And it is wonderful. Before I even get out of bed I am seeding my mind with just the energy of gratefulness. What a perfect way to start the day 4 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioLovely! 2 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryI am sending my love to all my lovely friends in the gratefulness lounge and on our beloved gratefulness site. I have been especially happy to find grateful sea with us. You have been missed, grateful sea, and having you here with us again brings so much joy!!â™¥ï¸ I would also like to send out extra love to Anna. Dearest Anna, you have had your share of difficulties, yet you say little about them. And this of course is your choice to make. Please know how much I care about you Dear One, and k...I am sending my love to all my lovely friends in the gratefulness lounge and on our beloved gratefulness site. I have been especially happy to find grateful sea with us. You have been missed, grateful sea, and having you here with us again brings so much joy!!â™¥ï¸ I would also like to send out extra love to Anna. Dearest Anna, you have had your share of difficulties, yet you say little about them. And this of course is your choice to make. Please know how much I care about you Dear One, and know how dearly you are loved.â™¥ï¸ I am feeling especially grateful for all of you, my friends. Thank you for your unfailing support and kindness to me. I always know where to come when I want to share my feelings and be met with deep goodness and love. My heart is full.♥ï¸â™¥ï¸â™¥ï¸ Blessings, peace, and great comfort to all. Mary Read More6 Reply grateful sea2 months agograteful sea💚 1 Reply Palm2 months agoPalmâ¤ï¸ 2 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryâ™¥ï¸ 3 Reply Anna2 months agoAnnaDearest Mary, your words move me ... as I am waiting for my technical visit to the hospital for the calibration of my cochlear device. I am a little impatient but the doctor always tells me that I have to trust her, calmly and with a positive attitude. You've really made my day, because sometimes I feel so down, but not to my ears, that's a small part. What is hard now is the way I take care of my mother and the amount of burdens of my childhood and youth that arise when I am with her. I join...Dearest Mary, your words move me … as I am waiting for my technical visit to the hospital for the calibration of my cochlear device. I am a little impatient but the doctor always tells me that I have to trust her, calmly and with a positive attitude. You’ve really made my day, because sometimes I feel so down, but not to my ears, that’s a small part. What is hard now is the way I take care of my mother and the amount of burdens of my childhood and youth that arise when I am with her. I join you in your joy for Grateful Sea, I am happy as well. Dear Maria🌸🌸 Read More5 Reply grateful sea2 months agograteful seaI join Mary and all of our friends here in sending out extra love to you, dear Anna 💚 2 Reply Palm2 months agoPalmDear Anna, I send you good energies for patience during this time, that you can wait gracefully for the response from the health system and especially strength as a caregiver to your mother. I understand you, I have been having small doses of the same test and reliving childhood burdens. May we stay conscious through all of this. Sending a hug â¤ï¸ 4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaOh, dear, Dear Anna – the mother-daughter relationship can be so difficult, can’t it? Warm wishes to you! 3 Reply Ose2 months agoOseA big hug to you also from me from sister to sister, my dear friend Anna 💕 5 Reply Pilgrim2 months agoPilgrimDear Anna, I join with others here in holding you in light, love and prayer as you navigate each day. I have walked the path of the “designated person” quite some time ago when Mom suffered Alzheimer’s disease. Deep blessings, my friend. 7 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryI truly know what you mean about the stress and exhaustion involved in caring for a parent. I also know that with dementia people can say especially hurtful things without giving it a thought. I don’t know how you deal with something like this, dear Anna. I am so sorry that you, one of the kindest people I know, have this pain to deal with. Please know that my heart is with yours dear Anna, and thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. So much love to you! ♥ï¸â™¥ï¸...I truly know what you mean about the stress and exhaustion involved in caring for a parent. I also know that with dementia people can say especially hurtful things without giving it a thought. I don’t know how you deal with something like this, dear Anna. I am so sorry that you, one of the kindest people I know, have this pain to deal with. Please know that my heart is with yours dear Anna, and thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. So much love to you! ♥ï¸â™¥ï¸â™¥ï¸ Mary Read More5 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioWhat a lovely post, Mary. How wonderful to have yourself, Grateful Sea and Anna in our community! Dear Anna, you may be in a difficult part of your life, but you will get through this. Any of us here would be glad to be supportive whenever you wish to talk about it. Sometimes the hardest part is feeling like we carry our burdens alone, and though we all are here to connect with gratitude, that sometimes isn't easy if we stuff our stresses and feelings inside. That even difficult times can off...What a lovely post, Mary. How wonderful to have yourself, Grateful Sea and Anna in our community! Dear Anna, you may be in a difficult part of your life, but you will get through this. Any of us here would be glad to be supportive whenever you wish to talk about it. Sometimes the hardest part is feeling like we carry our burdens alone, and though we all are here to connect with gratitude, that sometimes isn’t easy if we stuff our stresses and feelings inside. That even difficult times can offer special blessings, is something that YOU taught me, Anna. ☺ Love to you ⤠Thank you for being here. 🌞 Read More3 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryDear Holly, I believe that on our Gratefulness site, The Question of the day, once asked members to share some of their favorite sayings. I was surprised to read how many said that theirs was- This too shall pass. As I think of this now, I am reminded that everyone has their own personal struggles, and that at various times in life these struggles can be profoundly difficult. At these times, This too shall pass, can be reassuring. Your kind words to Anna were helpful to me. Love to you Holly....Dear Holly, I believe that on our Gratefulness site, The Question of the day, once asked members to share some of their favorite sayings. I was surprised to read how many said that theirs was- This too shall pass. As I think of this now, I am reminded that everyone has their own personal struggles, and that at various times in life these struggles can be profoundly difficult. At these times, This too shall pass, can be reassuring. Your kind words to Anna were helpful to me. Love to you Holly. â™¥ï¸ Mary Read More4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaGood plan, Mary: “This too shall pass” – thanks 4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaEudora! What fun to get a quote from Eudora – our old long-time email software, named because of her short story about the post office.’…not to point the finger in judgment but to part a curtain, …’ Thank you, gratefulness staff – 1 Reply Mike S2 months agoMike SA poem from unknown I smile and Chant om From the baseline of my voice and send ripples coursing through my body Like the spiral galaxies in the universe Don’t ever think You are anything less Send everything. Close your eyes Observe the inbreath and the outbreath. Do this 10 times. Turn the observer you told your mind and watch thoughts go by like clouds. Don’t get caught in the clouds, but allow yourself to rest back gently into the pure awareness, the essentia...A poem from unknown I smile and Chant om From the baseline of my voice and send ripples coursing through my body Like the spiral galaxies in the universe Don’t ever think You are anything less Send everything. Close your eyes Observe the inbreath and the outbreath. Do this 10 times. Turn the observer you told your mind and watch thoughts go by like clouds. Don’t get caught in the clouds, but allow yourself to rest back gently into the pure awareness, the essential clarity and acidity that you are. We are peace, we are infinite, we are boundless space. And the pure, lucid consciousness we are has been since the beginning of the universe and all universes. Read More3 Reply Mary2 months agoMaryThis is beautiful, Mike! It reminds me o the peace of meditating and also reminds me how helpful this practice could be for me. I need to begin. (again) Thank you Mike. â™¥ï¸ Mary 2 Reply Mike S2 months agoMike SYes meditation is a wonderful pursuit. Some people misunderstand meditation is a big deal and hard to do and so they either don’t give it a try or they try a little bit and feel like they have failed. Start out by just saying I’m going to be quiet now. You can sit or lay down or even walk, whatever position suits you or all of them. And then start by observing your breath in breath, cool air passing over the back of the throat and then the exhale warm air coming out. Follow the breath 5 to 1...Yes meditation is a wonderful pursuit. Some people misunderstand meditation is a big deal and hard to do and so they either don’t give it a try or they try a little bit and feel like they have failed. Start out by just saying I’m going to be quiet now. You can sit or lay down or even walk, whatever position suits you or all of them. And then start by observing your breath in breath, cool air passing over the back of the throat and then the exhale warm air coming out. Follow the breath 5 to 10 times and your mind will already start to quiet down a little bit. Then turn the observer you toward your mind. You may notice repetitive thoughts, thoughts about the past or the future or some negative main stream going on. You can resist getting caught up in the thoughts simply coming back to the breath each time. You may get caught up many such times that’s fine and normal, just continue coming back to the broth. After a while you’ll notice that the pole of your thoughts is less strong until at some point you simply watch them going by like clouds. When you get to this point you are now able to rest more in your true nature which is pure consciousness itself . Consciousness is lucid. You can’t really see it because it’s just like space vast and limitless and eternal. This is the God or Christ within, and when you get space from your thoughts you’re able to rest in your inner sanctuary of peace Read More4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaThank you, Mike! Om Om! I didn’t want to Count 10 breaths, so I just moved along my fingers. Once when I was feeling meditative, leaning on the bridge over the lagoon, watching ducklings, I wanted to know how many there were, but my meditative mind didn’t want to count, What my meditative mind would do was say ‘3 ducklings here. 4 ducklings there. That’s 7 ducklings.’ A strange and memorable experience. 1 Reply Holly in Ohio2 months agoHolly in OhioUnknown sure is a good poet! 😄 This is one I will come back to, and come back to. Thank you! 1 Reply « Previous 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 Next » New to Practice? Visit the Practice Space for more opportunities and insights. 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