I know what I can change is hard work for me. But that’s what I care.
Deepen my awareness of the moment and transform any lack of patience into a humble welcome even of a bad feeling. Yes, welcome, open the door of my heart, even a bad feeling is a part of me. So to speak, have a coffee with it. Then again open my heart, find a new peace, smooth the corners of my soul, especially with my old mother who is increasingly confused after my father’s recent death, and also with people of different opinions from mine.
Many wishes to you all, and to all people you love.

Dear friends, as a wish for the incoming new year, I paste here a prayer from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, written before his execution in a concentration camp, in 1944. A way to give thanks in dark times. I found the English translation on the web, I hope that it is correct, that it is right what the poet wanted to say. I read the Italian translation and the English one seems to me a good translation. But the first version was in German, and I don’t know this language. Anyway, here it is.

With every power for good to stay and guide me,
comforted and inspired beyond all fear,
I’ll live these days with you in thought beside me,
and pass, with you, into the coming year.

While all the powers of Good aid and attend us,
boldly we’ll face the future, be it what may.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
and oh, most surely on each new year’s day

The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening:
the long days of our sorrow still endure.
Father, grant to the soul thou hast been chastening
that Thou hast promised—the healing and the cure.

Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving
even to the dregs of pain, at thy command,
we will not falter, thankfully receiving
all that is given by thy loving hand.

But, should it be thy will once more to release us
to life’s enjoyment and its good sunshine,
that we’ve learned from sorrow shall increase us
and all our life be dedicate as thine.

To-day, let candles shed their radiant greeting:
lo, on our darkness are they not thy light,
leading us haply to our longed-for meeting?
Thou canst illumine e’en our darkest night.

When now the silence deepens for our harkening,
grant we may hear thy children’s voices raise
from all the unseen world around us darkening
their universal paean, in thy praise.

While all the powers of Good aid and attend us,
boldy we’ll face the future, be it what way.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
And oh, most surely on each new year’s day!

November 27, 2020. My father died after three months of great pain. His illness was due to professional cancer, because he had worked with asbestos.
during his last months I experienced the incredible paradox between wonder in front of a blue sky, the autumn colors, between gratitude for the love and kindness of my good friends, trust in God and on the other hand deep sadness.
Since 2015 I have been visiting this site every day. Without the practice of gratitude that I learn here, I could not have endured my pain, nor the paradox. Instead I was sincerely grateful for the treasures I have had and still have. My father’s face, his expression of pain, is still in my memory, but I’m sure he is now in the glory of the light, walking in that special light that he had always sought, that he had always loved.

Dearest Diane, thank you for your “blessings”, I really need them.
I remember that your grandmother was from Parma, I love Parma and the surrounding places, the beautiful hills with fabulous castles and medieval villages. Bedonia is right there, not far from the sea, not far from the city, and at the same time in a awsome landscape of woods. Mushrooms….special food… “prosciutto”!!!
This year it seems that the sky has decided to give us a gift, the snow. It is not that frequent where I live. Skiing is banned this year, as it is difficult to maintain social distances near ski lifts and inside mountain huts. We hope so much in the spread of the vaccine, dear Diane!