Reflections

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  1. c
    carol

    Happiness arises when there is connection with others, nature, myself nature, humour ; when completing some task; meditation and breathing and tai chi; experiencing some cause for pleasure or perception of pleasant; although short lived- getting what I want; kindnesses given and received, care given and received, valued given and received, when experiencing gratitude, the absence of fear and aversion and clinging, seeing others happy; seeing someone getting quality affordable housing….
    How to make more room for it– give value to it

    11 months ago
  2. Robin Ann

    Spending quality time with friends and family. I am actually headed to Cape Cod this coming Monday to spend 2 days with one of my Mother’s long time friend and now mine. She is 86 years old and lives by herself but does wonderfully. Her long distance sight is limited lately so I am looking forward to helping her with any needs she may have and spend quality time. I will also take the time to plant flowers at my Mother’s grave which I like to do every year. It is my birthday on Tuesday so I have treated myself to an overnight at a hotel Monday night. : )

    11 months ago
  3. Dolores Kazanjian

    Singing. Giving the dog a belly scratch. Being with my husband. Laughing at a funny movie or TV show. Walking in nature. The smell of lilacs blooming. Just being alive.
    It is amazing to me how humans seem to value so many things above happiness: being right, being “successful,” ego stuff. Dogs don’t suffer from that.

    11 months ago
  4. pkr

    Many things make me happy. I am especially happy when I walk among the almighty Redwoods. Spring has sprung here in No. California so on my walks among the Reds I get to enjoy spring flowers. There are so many flowers blooming right now. My walks are absolutely delightful & bring me immense Joy.
    I try to walk everyday & work hard on being present so I don’t miss any of Mother Nature’s gifts.
    Happy Monday to All…🌲🌸🌼😊

    11 months ago
  5. Emmaleah

    Being alone in nature brings me joy. I have a wonderful job which usually includes a hefty amount of hiking through mountaind and streams alone and I love it; it brings me great peace. However, I’ve recently had to give up much of my outdoor solitude in exchange for working with groups of people. As an introvert, this has been extremely draining. I am making a promise to myself to advocate for what I need and for what brings me happiness.

    11 months ago
  6. Carol

    I share a Morning Med from 2017: Morning Meds Nov 2 2017 Free or Happy
    “It is true that we are called to create a better world. But we are first of all called to a more immediate and exalted task: that of creating our own lives.”Thomas Merton
    Good Morning, When I read Merton’s quote this morning, it reminded me that the best way to contribute to the creation of a better world is to understand that LET is the creative word. If we learn the art of letting go in our own lives, we will be better equipped to contribute to the creation of a better world. This reminded me of a meditation I wrote a few days ago. The question that spawned it was the daily question on gratefulness.org for that day and I did post it on that site. I have discovered a group of folks there who regularly respond to the daily question. I enjoy reading their responses and getting to know the thoughts and feelings of the community that the daily question gathers. Here is the question I responded to that day:
    What am I willing to let go of in order to be a little more free and/or happy?
    My reaction to this question is also a question: Do you want to be free or happy? I want to be free. I have a wish for all of us and that is to remember (to quote Br. David) that our motivator is either “fear or trust.” That identifying the difference between hopes and hope is very necessary. To paraphrase Br. David: Hopes are something we can imagine with our finite minds but hope is about the unknown. It requires trust. We constantly engage in self talk—feverishly seeking and trying to find happiness through someone or something. Might we be putting LIFE on hold? Br. David speaks of “BEing Joyful” instead of seeking happiness. Try “doing” joy. It doesn’t work. Life is for living not taking. It is for letting not getting. I think of the song, “Me and Bobby McGee.” It goes: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Nothing ain’t worth nothing but it’s free.” I remind myself often that LIFE is FREE. It is a mysterious gift. When I allow my self-talk to shackle my mind with shoulds and woulds and coulds, it’s hard to let life BE. I know today that life is not about performance. It’s an evolutionary process and it is trustworthy. In my experience, the willingness to let go is about the willingness to trust–to “lose control to the Spirit that dwells deeply in us all.” This is very different from being in control or out of control. It requires moment to moment mindfulness and monitoring of my self-talk.

    “Every time we catch ourselves getting reactive, every time we catch ourselves acting as if the outcome of the situation has the authority to name who we are, we are to take a deep breath and remind ourselves that it’s not true.” Meister Eckhart

    Otherwise, just do our best and let Life BE.

    11 months ago
  7. luv-1-nutter

    Spiritual business then automatically everything of material neccesities will be obtained and according to the I -Ching ..one must give up everything in order to get happiness, don’t seek happiness but let happiness find you like a butterfly it might just flit on your hands

    11 months ago
  8. Yram

    My morning routine! I don’t need to add, but just appreciate/ enjoy what I have.

    11 months ago
  9. sunnypatti

    Being alive makes me happy! How to make more space? Just be, I guess. And be grateful for every day that I get to wake up 🙂

    11 months ago
  10. Nannette

    I am retired and at home- and grateful I can do mostly what I want to do. I am happy with my life…and I don’t need any more. I am very happy that I have this site to come to every day. Blessings to one and all. Wishing you a very happy day!

    11 months ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      Thank you Nannette.

      11 months ago
  11. Pilgrim

    Freedom to choose. Connecting online with friends I no longer live near … they know me, understand me, and our shared memories are a blessing. Music, spending time at the beach, being with family, a good book.

    11 months ago
  12. Antoinette

    Meditation has made me less anxious, restless and worried. I’m very happy walking in nature and I love to swim. I get to do both often. I also love going to workout and I do that almost every day.
    Painting makes me happy and I have made space for it once a week at minimum. Maybe I will try to add more time for it ? Being creative makes me feel in flow with nature. Thank you . 🌻

    11 months ago
  13. Joseph McCann

    “Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.” Chuang-Tzu

    11 months ago
    1. Antoinette

      Joseph this is so true! Striving is so different from being in the flow. After meditation has become more of a habit I see that I can let go of this worry of I have to do something all the time !
      There is only happiness when I let go of this me who….
      The grateful mind is what remains – full and at peace.

      11 months ago
  14. Laura

    A day to call my own without any tasks to complete. I’m not sure making more space for them is the answer. What makes such days so deliciously freeing and indulgent is their scarcity. More isn’t necessarily better in this case.

    11 months ago
    1. Barb C

      Yes! Those days are special ones.

      11 months ago
  15. Sheila

    SO many things- going for a walk outdoors, listening to relaxing music, sending notes and cards to friends and family, burning incense. These are just a few of the many things that make me happy. It is true that the simplest pleasures bring the greatest joy. I am retired and do make time for the things that make me happy. May everyone have a blessed day. 🦋🧘‍♀️🌈

    11 months ago
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