Reflections

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  1. J
    Johnny

    My new little Corgi puppy Charlie. She is mystified, intrigued and joyful at the discovery of a pine cone in the backyard.

    5 months ago
  2. Robin Ann

    Finding a short new hike near my home today, enjoying new scenery and fresh air while getting some exercise.

    6 months ago
  3. Anna

    I am only thinking of Christine.

    6 months ago
  4. Don Jones

    On the back of Christine’s news, it is the awareness of life itself in this moment.

    6 months ago
  5. Ngoc Nguyen

    My singing voice adds delight to my life. I am so happy to know that even though I have nothing in my life; money, job, good score in studying etc… I still have a voice to sing for me and for everyone who wants to listen to my singing.

    6 months ago
    1. Dolores Kazanjian

      Yes, making music is magical. I, too, love to sing and will do so at every and any opportunity.

      6 months ago
  6. Barb C

    Noticing my moments of delight and writing them in my journal every day definitely adds delight! Themes that show up often: being outside in nature, moving my body, tasting something wonderful, feeling changes of temperature in the air, seeing birds or wildlife, noticing when the house is very very quiet, moments with people I love.
    Today’s delights: a bike ride to the house of a friend who lives nearby, a cup of good tea and conversation, trees that look as if they’ve been partially dipped in pots of bright paint, flavors of a dish of potatoes, mushrooms, and chard topped with chimichurri made with herbs I grew, hot fresh coffee.

    6 months ago
  7. pkr

    I like others here, am saddened by Christine’s heartbreaking post. I intend to find delight in music today in honor of Christine, piano music.
    Let music fill the air in honor of our dear beautiful Christine. 🎹🎶❤️

    6 months ago
    1. Michele

      that is so beautiful PKR.

      6 months ago
  8. Charlie T

    I could make a long list of things
    that bring me delight, but I will
    spare you all the minutiae.
    When I’m tuned to it, I can find
    delight wherever I am and with
    almost anything. The trick is being
    tuned to it. Oriented in that
    direction. This gratitude practice
    is definitely helping.
    I am fully aware of the horrific
    situations in so many places, but I
    am seeking to balance and bring
    awareness to my current situation.
    Living in this moment, after all,
    is all I have.

    6 months ago
  9. Carol

    My attention in recent days has been focused on coping with pain and attempting to keep myself in the present moment and not project into the future. Delight has not figured into the equation. The poem below is not a poem designed to be uplifting. But,after reading today’s question, I turned to it because it is a poem that reminds me not to measure the quality of my life through this painful lens that I’m currently experiencing.

    Brief for the Defense by Jack Gilbert

    Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter everywhere. If babies
    are not starving someplace, they are starving
    somewhere else. With flies in their nostrils.
    But we enjoy our lives because that’s what God wants.
    Otherwise the mornings before the summer dawn would not
    be made so fine. The Bengal tiger would not
    be fashioned so miraculously well. The poor women
    at the fountain are laughing together between
    the suffering they have known and the awfulness
    in their future, smiling and laughing while somebody
    in the village is very sick. There is laughter
    every day in the terrible streets of Calcutta,
    and the women laugh in the cages of Bombay.
    If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,
    we lessen the importance of their deprivation.
    We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
    but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
    the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
    furnace of this world. To make injustice the only
    measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
    If the locomotive of the Lord runs us down,
    we should give thanks that the end had magnitude.
    We must admit there will be music in spite of everything.
    We stand at the prow again of a small ship
    anchored late at night in the tiny port
    looking over to the sleeping island: the waterfront
    is three shuttered cafes and one naked light burning.
    To hear the faint sound of oars in the silence as a rowboat
    comes slowly out and then goes back is truly worth
    all the years of sorrow that are to come.

    I share my reaction to the poem in relationship to today’s question of What adds delight to my life.

    Gilbert reminds me that “I/we can do without pleasure but not delight.”  He’s preaching an attitude of gratitude. He’s reminding us that without darkness, how could we measure or see the light?

    I quoted a line from a Leonard Cohen poem yesterday: “…there’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” In contrast, Gilbert is reminding me that I need to let this little light of mine shine even when it’s experiencing life through a painful lens. He ends the poem with the image of “one naked light burning.”

    I had a dear friend who suffered both physical and mental anguish his whole life but his mantra to his dying day was always “Don’t let anything rob you of your joy.”

    Gilbert puts it this way: “We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure, but not delight.”

    6 months ago
    1. Barb C

      Thank you for sharing this powerful poetry.

      6 months ago
    2. Laura

      Thank you for sharing Gilbert’s words. Life is immense, both joyful and painful, often mixed up together. I hope you can find some relief for your pain.

      6 months ago
      1. Carol

        Laura, I appreciate your words.

        6 months ago
    3. Charlie T

      Thank you once again, Carol. 🙏
      Our cosmic radio dials are tuned
      to a similar frequency. Sending you
      some warmth and hoping you find
      relief.

      6 months ago
      1. Carol

        Thank you

        6 months ago
    4. S
      Ana Maria

      Thank you Carol for such a powerful poem. Lots to process in the magical words written by you. I thank you!

      6 months ago
      1. Carol

        You are most welcome.

        6 months ago
  10. Nannette

    Today I am saddened beyond words of Christine’s news and her farewell to us. I can only think of her and her journey. May God Bless her and protect her on her last journey.

    6 months ago
  11. Laura

    My kids!

    6 months ago
  12. Michele

    October – my favorite month, autumn my favorite season, Halloween my fav Holiday.
    this time of years ALWAYS adds delight to my life. oh yeah, the food too – chili, Sauerbraten, pumpkin everything
    music – I enjoy listening to Loreena McKennitt this time of yr; watching scary movies all month {although I’m the type will watch all year, lol}
    I’m really looking forward to my Philly trip next weekend – going on a fun haunted hayride in the woods, seeing family, looking forward to change in weather from FL
    Have a good relaxing weekend everyone.

    6 months ago
    1. S
      Ana Maria

      Thank you Michele for the reminder to have fun!!

      6 months ago
  13. Butterfly

    My granddaughters who are coming to visit tomorrow and will leave me utterly exhausted!
    My garden with all the trees, shrubs, flowers and birds that I can look out on every day.

    6 months ago
  14. Joseph McCann

    My lovely wife Cheryl and the love we have for each other.

    6 months ago
  15. EJP

    Children.

    6 months ago
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