Daily Question, May 24 With whom might I connect more deeply through the care that gratefulness inspires? 43 Reflections Share 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. Misty1 year agoMistyA terminallly ill relative. I get tangled up in sadness and grief. Practising gratefulness could help make the most of the time remaining. 5 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioThat’s a great idea, Misty. I wish for both of you peace and connection. 2 Reply Malag1 year agoMalagI hope with everyone I connect with. It’s easy enough where there is something I am benefitting from eg the postman delivers my letter, I appreciate that and may have a more grateful connection. Those close to me are so bound up with mutual beneficial connection (I hope) that it is similarly easy. Where it’s a random person it must be something to do with the inter-connectedness of us sharing the planet, that everything and everyone is in some way to be cherished. 4 Reply Ose1 year agoOseCare inspired by gratefulness leads me to connect more deeply with all people I am with and do encounter, as well as with all living beings, including nature and our Earth as a whole. It is heartwarming and reconnecting in all levels of being. Thank you! 4 Reply Javier Visionquest1 year agoJavier VisionquestThis got me thinking about my neighbors. Today I spoke with German, the retired auto mechanic from Bolivia who lives next door, who was always helping us keep one or another hoopty together and on the road. I watched him take care of his mom for years after her health began to fail, and he was there for her up to her dying day. Although most of the conversation between he and I is humorous anecdotes on aging and the stuff that ages along with us he did voice his concern over what would become of...This got me thinking about my neighbors. Today I spoke with German, the retired auto mechanic from Bolivia who lives next door, who was always helping us keep one or another hoopty together and on the road. I watched him take care of his mom for years after her health began to fail, and he was there for her up to her dying day. Although most of the conversation between he and I is humorous anecdotes on aging and the stuff that ages along with us he did voice his concern over what would become of him when he’s no longer able to care for his home. Read More4 Reply Cathie1 year agoCathieMy Hubby! When I focus on the things about him that make me count my blessings!!! 6 Reply Elaine1 year agoElaineThe question has done its work in me. It’s been simmering all day and prompted me to write my cousin with whom I rarely connect. Gratefulness inspires me to not take her presence in my life for granted and to take a few minutes to express my appreciation and love for her – just not too overtly or she would squirm. lol. 7 Reply Misty1 year agoMistyCute, Elaine! 3 Reply Dusty Su1 year agoDusty SuAnyone who needs a compassionate eye to see and understand them. To respond, not react. Including how I view and treat myself. 9 Reply Don Jones1 year agoDon JonesIt is a moment-by-moment proposition. If I am with others – those I am with. If I am sitting on a rock – the environment. If I am in meditation – the Devine. 8 Reply Melissa1 year agoMelissaIt actually helps me let go of my old stories, resentments or my “ego to be right ” with two family members that I struggle with. What a gift it is to have gratitude shift my judgement to see the good as well as the challenges of working out relationships. Because there is always good even if my ego wants to sometimes overlook it so I can justify my view point. Gratitude balances it all out to be a more truthful painting of my few family relationships I struggle with. 9 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioI’m impressed by your self-honesty. It must have taken a lot of courage to examine your “old stories.” Thank you, Melissa. 2 Reply SK1 year agoSKI would connect more deeply with the earth. I am tired of people. I want the earth to nurture me. I am grateful for the time and silence to be out there. 8 Reply Mica1 year agoMicaWith climate change – I just started a book that I’d read a review of: Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis. Neoliberal Exceptionalism and the Culture of Uncare – Sally Weintrobe I feel an uncaring about climate change, at a deep level. How can I?/Why would I? go so deeply into climate change as to care deeply about it? How would I endure the pain of doing so? 8 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioThose are courageous questions, Mica. I wish you the best in finding your answers. 🙂 3 Reply Mica1 year agoMicaThank you, dear Holly in Ohio – I’m regretting blowing off a fellow quilt guild member who is very worried about the coming heat from climate change – we both live in rather hot apartments. Talking about climate change is supposed to be good, according to the book. 2 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioMany people are getting anxiety about climate change. I have to admit, some days when I'm struggling against the heat or weird weather at the farm (like the late frost that took the apple blossoms and this year's apple crop) I get to feeling discouraged and wish that I had more power to help world behavior shift just a little bit. I have a teen who takes it and other news stories hard and sort of rebels against them in denial, because he doesn't feel like what he does makes any difference. I a...Many people are getting anxiety about climate change. I have to admit, some days when I’m struggling against the heat or weird weather at the farm (like the late frost that took the apple blossoms and this year’s apple crop) I get to feeling discouraged and wish that I had more power to help world behavior shift just a little bit. I have a teen who takes it and other news stories hard and sort of rebels against them in denial, because he doesn’t feel like what he does makes any difference. I am sure the human race has experienced this kind of thing before across many issues, like before WWII when many people could see war coming, but felt helpless, and others were in denial of the racism and danger, and yet others did all they could, sometimes at great personal risk. It seems to be part of our human nature to struggle with both personal empowerment and acceptance of what is beyond our individual control, and this internal struggle can come to us in any form, such as a personal health crisis that leaves us wondering if we are going to die. I don’t have any answers, Mica. With my self I just try to keep deepening my self empowerment by doing, but ALSO my acceptance, by trying to embrace inner peace and non-judgment, and by having faith that things will work out if we do what we can. Read More1 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioInteresting, Mica. Tell me the book title, please! I will ask you further up the daily question! 0 Reply Mica1 year agoMicaThank you, Holly in Ohio – certainly if I lose my peace of mind but do nothing else, I’ve just added 1 more unhappy person to the world. I’m reading a book about the problem and am actually pretty happy – AND I stopped my tiny bit of anaerobic composting after learning that it releases methane and such – 1 Reply Toby May1 year agoToby MayI am in the process of growing to know a special person. My gratefulness journey is allowing the distance between us to be more fulfilling rather that a hindrance.. 10 Reply Howie Geib1 year agoHowie GeibI can commit to writing more letters. Lots more letters. Letters allow the recipient to mull the words, over and over. It is a testament, a powerful connector. And the care piece is essentially my taking the time to not only write, to write with intention and precision so as to strengthen the bond. Gratitude is the oxygen for me in doing this. The ground of being. 10 Reply Carol1 year agoCarolI find myself quoting Br. David: “Gratefulness is a prelude to happiness, not vice versa.” An attitude of gratitude enriches all connections, all relationships, because it brings a positive perspective in even the most difficult circumstances. Just being reminded of this by my visits to this site and the sharing that occurs here makes me feel like I’m receiving a big and much needed hug. For this I’m grateful. 10 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioYes, it does feel like hugs, doesn’t it? 😀 Good night, Carol and everyone. See you tomorrow! 2 Reply Mica1 year agoMica‘Love your quote, Carol – I’ve copied it to my gratefulness doc. Thanks 🙏 ☺️ 😊 4 Reply Toni1 year agoToniMy family. They don’t connect with me even after I tried to keep us all connected during covid. I speak to my sister often but the rest of my family I only see on special occasions. I don’t know why that is exactly but instead of taking it personally and feeling resentful, I could just call once in a while and see how they are doing. 9 Reply Mica1 year agoMicaWarm wishes, Toni 💕👍🏾 4 Reply dcdeb1 year agodcdebI would say a friend of mine who is always seems contented with simple things. 8 Reply Chester1 year agoChesterMy elderly parents come to mind first – grateful for their continued health and presence now into their 80s. They are a key part of my personal history and offer a time-limited window into the foundational history that came before. Also with my children as their impressionable ages are also time-limited. 11 Reply Katrina1 year agoKatrinaHere is how I'm responding to this awkwardly worded question: I spent last week helping my sister navigate our vacation time together. She is 10 years older than me, and has always been the picture of fitness. She is now dependent on a walker and everything she does - even getting dressed - is a struggle. It was extremely challenging for me to witness this in a daily living situation (not just a visit), both emotionally and physically. But the gratitude I have for her mentorship, the love I hav...Here is how I’m responding to this awkwardly worded question: I spent last week helping my sister navigate our vacation time together. She is 10 years older than me, and has always been the picture of fitness. She is now dependent on a walker and everything she does – even getting dressed – is a struggle. It was extremely challenging for me to witness this in a daily living situation (not just a visit), both emotionally and physically. But the gratitude I have for her mentorship, the love I have for as a sister, the fun we still share, the core values we hold made my care and assistance for her not a second thought. My mindfulness of her needs was foremost in my thoughts, although I’m sure I didn’t think of everything. Love and gratitude made this week all the better. Read More11 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioYes, the sentence is a bit awkward... but if you take off the prepositional phrase it becomes easier to understand, "With whom might you connect more deeply through care?" My husband had an injury this week - a badly pulled muscle in his thigh that locked up and swelled to quite a large, hard, knot.. about the size of an open hand. He is very leanly muscular, so when his muscle locked up it seemed even worse and as hard as a steel radial tire. He could barely walk. It didn't help that it coin...Yes, the sentence is a bit awkward… but if you take off the prepositional phrase it becomes easier to understand, “With whom might you connect more deeply through care?” My husband had an injury this week – a badly pulled muscle in his thigh that locked up and swelled to quite a large, hard, knot.. about the size of an open hand. He is very leanly muscular, so when his muscle locked up it seemed even worse and as hard as a steel radial tire. He could barely walk. It didn’t help that it coincided with his getting his second Covid vaccine, so we could not give him any anti-inflammatories. We used ice, of course, but for the first time in our marriage, he let me massage him. I spent an hour, twice a day, massaging that knot, and it gave him quite a bit of relief. I had to begin very lightly, because he was in such pain, and very slowly increase the strength of the massage until it was rigorous, and then when I finished, I’d apply Tiger Balm before bed. You could literally observe the swelling going down as I massaged. The touch did something else… a connection he hadn’t felt before. It was new territory for him. He was surprised it worked and felt so good. Lol. The question (and recent experience) inspires me to try to connect better with my son today through care and appreciation. He is a teen – moody, often spending too much time on his phone/web and too silent with us. Sometimes he shuts us out. His dad and I both are trying to draw him out and get him to do other things and to talk more – about anything. Wish me luck today. And good luck to all of you! Read More10 Reply Kevin1 year agoKevinHey there, Holly, hope that your husband continues to heal, and with your healing hands. As for your teen son, that’s another “animal” all together! I worked closely with teens and children for nearly forty years…it’s tough, and even tougher for parents sometime who are doing the right thing….such as you and your husband are. 3 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioThank you Kevin. After years of feeling like a crazy mom, I finally learned to accept what I cannot control. As they say, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." When my husband and I married I promised the kids two things: that I would always love them, and that I would always be there for them. So I just remind myself of my promise. And fortunately, it has been a bit better with my teen yesterday and this morning. He actually came to me this morning to tell me something...Thank you Kevin. After years of feeling like a crazy mom, I finally learned to accept what I cannot control. As they say, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” When my husband and I married I promised the kids two things: that I would always love them, and that I would always be there for them. So I just remind myself of my promise. And fortunately, it has been a bit better with my teen yesterday and this morning. He actually came to me this morning to tell me something! Yay. Read More1 Reply Mica1 year agoMicaWishing you lots of luck, Holly in Ohio, and patience and trust! 🤗👍🏾🥰💕🍀 4 Reply Carol1 year agoCarolThank you, Holly. Your willingness to share so openly and hosestly is always a gift and an inspiration for me. 5 Reply Yram1 year agoYramThank you for this sharing. It inspires me to not give up with a relationship. 5 Reply Butterfly1 year agoButterflyHa ha! I had no problem with this question (for once!) This is what came to my mind: Through gratitude I find myself connecting more deeply with my true Self – that which is connected to all and everything. This, in turn, helps me to connect more deeply to everyone in my life as they are also part of that All and Everything, so there is no real separation between any of us. Gratitude helps that Self to flower in me and keeps my ego in check. 10 Reply Kevin1 year agoKevinThank you, my friend! This was helpful! 3 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started 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. 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