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Gratefulness
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As a person who quite naively but intentionally built thorny protective walls for much of her life, I’ve been pruning. So my ‘habit of mind’ is two-fold: First has been to establish the practice of not building those prickly walls anymore. Second is the ongoing process of trimming a lifetime’s thorny vine collection as an effort not only to see the beauty of nature but to allow some ingress.
At first take, I find myself trying to think of sudden death stories, tragic stories I’ve read of, or heard about where someone died too young or of drug overdose or alcohol abuse. I think those stories inspire us to treasure life, and I am sure many in this Lounge will have good ones. I look forward to reading them when I check back later today!
In my reading earlier this morning, while not a story, this offering by Mike Martin seems to be my current life-treasuring inspiration:...
In my reading earlier this morning, while not a story, this offering by Mike Martin seems to be my current life-treasuring inspiration:
“If we only see the harvest as a time to be grateful, we miss the opportunity to be grateful for rest, planting, and caring.”
Great Fullness of Life = Gratefulness for Life? I can contribute by tending the garden where I am planted and doing it completely present and to the best of my ability.
I wish I knew the list of basic needs we should reference. There are so many! However, if we look at basic physiological needs…….. * Homeostasis * Health * Food and water * Sleep * Clothes * Shelter ………….then I would say that I’ve led a privileged life. I’ve never had to worry about any of those. While I wonder about this slight discomfort that feels like a shame for maybe not having suffered enough (??...
I wish I knew the list of basic needs we should reference. There are so many! However, if we look at basic physiological needs…….. * Homeostasis * Health * Food and water * Sleep * Clothes * Shelter ………….then I would say that I’ve led a privileged life. I’ve never had to worry about any of those. While I wonder about this slight discomfort that feels like a shame for maybe not having suffered enough (??), I do feel grateful. Such a conundrum!
Finally, an easy question for me to answer! Early morning is the most peaceful time of day for me. The moment after just waking up, usually between 4:00 – 4:30 AM. I hear the cat jump from his window perch to run to greet me. The dogs lazily look up from their slumber and accept a head-pat before they go back to sleep. The smell of coffee brewing. Sitting a few moments in the darkness outside, looking at the stars and the moon in this vast Florida sky. Booting up my computer...
Finally, an easy question for me to answer! Early morning is the most peaceful time of day for me. The moment after just waking up, usually between 4:00 – 4:30 AM. I hear the cat jump from his window perch to run to greet me. The dogs lazily look up from their slumber and accept a head-pat before they go back to sleep. The smell of coffee brewing. Sitting a few moments in the darkness outside, looking at the stars and the moon in this vast Florida sky. Booting up my computer and recording yesterday’s various activities that I track. And my time here, with the gratefulness network. The animals have all fallen back to sleep, along with my sleeping husband. There is no one out on the street as I sit here at the keyboard, peering out the window. I hear nothing. My senses are all relaxed. I am in a no-judgment zone here and perfectly at peace. Namaste.
I think I can better embrace imperfection by righting wrongs where I can, but especially – being at peace with things I cannot change.
Memories of my grandparents, now long-gone of course, sustain me during those unsettling moments of “who am I?” It was with them, in their lives, held in their arms, that I felt safe and loved. Both sets of grandparents were wonderful and I learned so much about life and love from those four people. Forever grateful. ❤️
You speak my heart, dear Sunflower. What I’ve not been able to put into words, you have. TY.
Yes! This, exactly! This opening/closing time is something that has always nagged at me but I’ve never successfully framed it into a cohesive thought I could grab ahold of. Many thanks!
“Opening and closing my time with them…initiating connection and closure.” I think I get this, Howie, but can you expound on it, please?
I appreciate what you’ve written here, Mica. For nearly 20 years, I was involved in a cultish movement under the guise of a very ordinary looking small-town street corner church. That was messy, and the leaving, even messier. Those years I most certainly did blindly follow someone else’s teachings, not thinking for myself. I’ve been out of that for about 25 years now and quite honestly, free from its imagined/self-imposed strictures, for about 5 years. I now celebrate freedo...
I appreciate what you’ve written here, Mica. For nearly 20 years, I was involved in a cultish movement under the guise of a very ordinary looking small-town street corner church. That was messy, and the leaving, even messier. Those years I most certainly did blindly follow someone else’s teachings, not thinking for myself. I’ve been out of that for about 25 years now and quite honestly, free from its imagined/self-imposed strictures, for about 5 years. I now celebrate freedom every single day! This is why I love what you wrote, my friend!
Wow, well said. Do you know how sometimes you start reading someone and think ‘here is a person who writes in a way that my heart gets it’? Thanks for keeping up with your posts here, Howie- I appreciate them more than I say.
Oh Papilio, I love what you wrote here! So many lessons I’ve had lately from my garden and you’ve just added another important layer. Thank you for taking the time and energy to write this!
Thinking of you, Michele. That’s a tough spot. xo
What a fantastic idea, Melissa! I want to join you. Whenever I eat out or get food to go, I’ll order an extra meal to give away. You are a beautiful person, Melissa. Thank you for posting this. ??♀️?❤️
Perfect! Man, you’ve got a way with words, my friend!
“Let go or be dragged.” Yes, that!
Oh, Trish, that sounds exactly like the dream-vision I always have in the back of my mind!!
I’ve read this four times, Javier, and I have felt my mind open to unlimited possibilities. “What if this whole episode were perfect all along……?” Indeed. Thank you for this seriously thought-provoking post.
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