Daily Question, April 12 What are some lessons I have learned from elders in my life? 36 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. Dominica4 months agoDominicaOverall, a lesson I've learned from knowing many, many elder humans is that age alone doesn't guarantee happiness, contentment, or the (outward suggestion of) wisdom. We have to cultivate that and make it a habit. Otherwise, we can easily end up with a lifetime of inertia of habits of other mind patterns which bring a lot less happiness. My one surviving grandparent, my maternal grandmother, is a wonderful example of someone who has cultivated joy, acceptance, love, and gratitude and so now i...Overall, a lesson I’ve learned from knowing many, many elder humans is that age alone doesn’t guarantee happiness, contentment, or the (outward suggestion of) wisdom. We have to cultivate that and make it a habit. Otherwise, we can easily end up with a lifetime of inertia of habits of other mind patterns which bring a lot less happiness. My one surviving grandparent, my maternal grandmother, is a wonderful example of someone who has cultivated joy, acceptance, love, and gratitude and so now in her 90’s she truly radiates that. I see her as an example of how I’d like to be at that age, but I know that isn’t a given… I need to practice it now! Read More1 Reply Malag4 months agoMalagPlay the long game. Put effort in over time to get results – not always looking for immediate gratification 2 Reply Ose4 months agoOseThese come to mind: To take care of everything; be kind and be true; to be present; to let go of or to transform unhealthy habits; to change perspective into a “glass half full”; to respond instead of react; deeply grateful for the manifold offered support to those concerned and to all of you who share here. 2 Reply Beatrice4 months agoBeatriceI have learnt that an empty vessel makes a lot of noise, thus i should listen more and Talk less. I should appreciate everything and be grateful to everyone 2 Reply Ose4 months agoOseStill – nothing inside; empty forms chiming soundless Easter bells – welcome! 1 Reply Hot Sauce4 months agoHot Sauce1. The lazy person works twice as hard. 2. If you want to be happier despite the challenges in life, learn to reframe your thoughts about those challenges. 3. If a person comes to you with a minor challenge in a pastoral care situation, listen to them, ask them what they feel their options are, and don't try to tell them what to do. If they come to you with a crisis, then advice-giving may be warranted. 4. If you try to be forgiving of others, they will generally reciprocate and be lenient...1. The lazy person works twice as hard. 2. If you want to be happier despite the challenges in life, learn to reframe your thoughts about those challenges. 3. If a person comes to you with a minor challenge in a pastoral care situation, listen to them, ask them what they feel their options are, and don’t try to tell them what to do. If they come to you with a crisis, then advice-giving may be warranted. 4. If you try to be forgiving of others, they will generally reciprocate and be lenient when you make a mistake. 5. Even if you believe in a soul, that is not a good reason to devalue the body, especially when ideologies that devalue the body have been used to commit all kinds of atrocities against marginalized people. Read More2 Reply Linda4 months agoLindaBe kind. 2 Reply Kylie Watson4 months agoKylie WatsonI have learned that everything happens for a reason and to just enjoy everything life has to offer! Be grateful and happy. 2 Reply Hermann-Josef4 months agoHermann-Josefstay calm and peaceful. We will see what happens. Take your time 2 Reply Diane4 months agoDianeMy maternal grandmother lived with us and helped raise me. Without words, my sweet little Italian "nana" taught me more about unconditional love than anyone in my life. My brother is 3 years younger than me, but I consider him an elder...indeed he is an elder in his church. He taught me to "stay in my own lane" and to "let Go and let God".....both of these setiments have been a source of healing for me. And then there are the elders in my life who I have never met. Too many to name but one s...My maternal grandmother lived with us and helped raise me. Without words, my sweet little Italian “nana” taught me more about unconditional love than anyone in my life. My brother is 3 years younger than me, but I consider him an elder…indeed he is an elder in his church. He taught me to “stay in my own lane” and to “let Go and let God”…..both of these setiments have been a source of healing for me. And then there are the elders in my life who I have never met. Too many to name but one stands out. Henri Nouwen taught me that I am the Beloved. And that knowing has made all the difference. Have a blessed day everyone ♥ Read More4 Reply dragonfly4 months agodragonflyKindness is the solution to many challenges, very few material goods are needed to be happy and time is precious, use it wisely. 3 Reply alara4 months agoalaraI don’t know what’s in their hearts and minds. I know that I want to stay curious, appreciative and having experiences of pure gratitude. 2 Reply Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuIt’s a long game. Pace yourself. On the other hand, especially from the dying. Don’t waste time on the trivial problems, the small hurts, love is what matters most. 2 Reply Carol4 months agoCarol"It doesn't matter how the Jack Ass got in the ditch. You just have to find a way to get him out." "Tears are not always sadness. Many times they are anger." "April showers bring May flowers." "A penny for your thoughts." "The opposite of fear isn't courage. It's love." "Keep it simple, Stupid!" "You can't live on What Ifs" "What is IS." "Don't turn a situation into a problem." "Go with the flow." "There is a part of you that has never been afraid. Call it forth." "Be the Peace you se...“It doesn’t matter how the Jack Ass got in the ditch. You just have to find a way to get him out.” “Tears are not always sadness. Many times they are anger.” “April showers bring May flowers.” “A penny for your thoughts.” “The opposite of fear isn’t courage. It’s love.” “Keep it simple, Stupid!” “You can’t live on What Ifs” “What is IS.” “Don’t turn a situation into a problem.” “Go with the flow.” “There is a part of you that has never been afraid. Call it forth.” “Be the Peace you seek.” “What do you know for sure, anyway?” Read More6 Reply pkr4 months agopkrCarol, thank you for all this wisdom. Love them All. Have a joy filled day.❤️🌼🌸 1 Reply Mica4 months agoMicaThank you, Carol – ‘jackass’ pulled me in! My mother was fond of Keep it simple, Stupid, but I thought she should omit the Stupid part, because she suffered so from negative feelings already! Fear – love = another great one 🙂 and Situation – problem 🙂 and, the final one reminds us that we can’t foretell the future. Warm wishes to you – 2 Reply carol4 months agocarola difficult one– greet harm, cruelty, theft, etc with forgiveness welcome everyone into your home be thoughtful of the well being of others be wary of institutionalisation help when you can 2 Reply Laura4 months agoLauraI heard, “This too shall pass,” frequently from my mom whenever I railed about difficult circumstances. I also like, “The best things in life aren’t things.” Saw that on a wise and elder bumper sticker several years ago. 😉 2 Reply Pilgrim4 months agoPilgrimSince I would be considered an elder at this point, I have a long backward glance at the wisdom that has been passed on to me. One I remember hearing a lot is "waste not, want not," passed along from the Grandmothers and then Mom & Dad. I also learned that there is a song for everything ... in my musical families, someone was always busting out in song for any occasion. A simple word brings a memory, and then someone is singing and others join in if they are around. Still happens. From my...Since I would be considered an elder at this point, I have a long backward glance at the wisdom that has been passed on to me. One I remember hearing a lot is “waste not, want not,” passed along from the Grandmothers and then Mom & Dad. I also learned that there is a song for everything … in my musical families, someone was always busting out in song for any occasion. A simple word brings a memory, and then someone is singing and others join in if they are around. Still happens. From my grandmother, a can of tomato soup can go a long way and be used for many things. And leave some room in the garden to grow flowers and not just vegetables. Her Zinnias were extraordinary. Importantly, be kind, listen well and fully, love much. We only get one life. Read More5 Reply pkr4 months agopkrThank you Pilgrim for all this wisdom you are sharing today and have shared on this site. I appreciate you & your wise words & thoughts. Thank you kindly. Many blessings to you on this beautiful spring day.🙏❤️🌸🌷🙏 2 Reply Pilgrim4 months agoPilgrimThank you so much for your kind words, pkr. It has been a beautiful spring day here, as well. Glorious! I had an unexpected walk between loads of laundry that made such a difference in my day. 2 Reply Diane4 months agoDianeDear friend….as always, your words are wisdom to me. Thank you for sharing all these years. “Be kind” reminds me of the infinetly wise elder the Dalai Lama who said “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindess”. ~Blessings ♥ 2 Reply Pilgrim4 months agoPilgrimThe deep wisdom, my Friend, from those who have prepared the path and invited us in. How blessed are we?! I see the green leaves of bulbs coming up all over my new back yard now. I can’t wait to see which flowers they belong to. It is a blessing to see these signs of spring … it was a long winter here! Blessings to you and your family. 1 Reply Mica4 months agoMicaThanks, Pilgrim – then there’s also “Things need Things,” which my husband was fond of quoting from his grandmother. 1 Reply Carol4 months agoCarolMusic, Music, Music…the universal language! 2 Reply EJP4 months agoEJPLive simply. Give more. Expect less and enjoy every moment. 4 Reply Christine4 months agoChristineThat life lessons are more valuable than gold. You reap what you sow. 4 Reply Carol4 months agoCarolChristine, Thanks! 2 Reply Carla4 months agoCarlaI’ve been taught “to listen more and talk less;” “God’s Grace and Love is always there;” and “the Wisdom of Sophia IS your intuition.” 3 Reply Kevin4 months agoKevin"Becoming a minister is both a blessing and a burden." Jim Toothaker, Friend and early mentor. From Penelope, a 93 year old Quaker elder many years ago: “You get to a certain point in life and it’s snip, stitch, patch, and go!” From a pastor and therapist who worked with addicts and former inmates: “It doesn’t matter what color you paint your God, just get one.” “Have thy tools ready. God will find thee work.” - Reverend Charles Kingsley, England, 1834. And speaking ...“Becoming a minister is both a blessing and a burden.” Jim Toothaker, Friend and early mentor. From Penelope, a 93 year old Quaker elder many years ago: “You get to a certain point in life and it’s snip, stitch, patch, and go!” From a pastor and therapist who worked with addicts and former inmates: “It doesn’t matter what color you paint your God, just get one.” “Have thy tools ready. God will find thee work.” – Reverend Charles Kingsley, England, 1834. And speaking of God, today’s Word For the Day by Avis Crow, is one of my favorite quotes of all time. However, while I understand why Gratefulness altered the quote for the purposes and mission of this site, they omitted the two most important words, “Dear God,” which in my view anchor the entire passage. The full quote is: “ Dear God, help me to be less fearful of the measure of time, and more fully alive in the time that simply is. Help me to live time, not just to simply use it; to breathe it in, and return it in acts of love and presence.” Read More11 Reply Mica4 months agoMicaThanks, Kevin, for giving the full quote for today. I appreciate gratefulness’s quote, which welcomes a larger audience. [What about Dear Goddess, for example? 🙂 ] 1 Reply Kevin4 months agoKevin“Dear Goddess” works too! I’ve always read that particular quote as a petition of sorts, which in my mind at least needed an anchor, so the reader would know to whom the request is being made. 2 Reply Mica4 months agoMicaThanks – I see your point – the quote was new to me, but indeed it is a petition and needs to be addressed to someone 🙂 1 Reply Pilgrim4 months agoPilgrimThank you, Kevin, for opening up the full quote by Avis Crow and offering the other words of wisdom. 2 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. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2022, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb