Daily Question, July 16 Who has rekindled my inner light during dark days? How might I express my gratitude? 51 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. Don Jones2 months agoDon JonesLike Charlie, it is an inward exploration as that is where the answers are. There were one or two people who pointed the direction on inner enquiry, but I had to do the work. 3 Reply Anonymous2 months agoAnonymousforever grateful 2 Reply TofuLove2 months agoTofuLoveJesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Throughout my time following Christ, despite a lot of wayward moments, He has always brought me back to Him. His chastening is kindness and happens innumerable ways throughout the day. He keeps me close to Him and never lets me wander away. He's the shepherd that has come to bring life in full, here and the afterlife. I have no doubts I will see my loved ones again and they are as alive as I am. There's just been so much, yes, anecdotal evidence, in my life of H...Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Throughout my time following Christ, despite a lot of wayward moments, He has always brought me back to Him. His chastening is kindness and happens innumerable ways throughout the day. He keeps me close to Him and never lets me wander away. He’s the shepherd that has come to bring life in full, here and the afterlife. I have no doubts I will see my loved ones again and they are as alive as I am. There’s just been so much, yes, anecdotal evidence, in my life of His being real. This morning out for my early morning, once again my impatience and arrogance with others getting the better of me, thoughts swirling of holding onto grievances, lists of ways others should be and aren’t, when BAM suddenly I just felt the sickest and most horrible. I stopped as the physical pain was so severe and asked Jesus for forgiveness for my arrogance, listened to some hymns and like moments I felt the sickness disappear and I kept running another 2-3 miles. He has a way of humbling me, of continually reminding me of my place and softening my heart to patience and humility, forgiveness. It really does feel like at times He just picks me up like a misbehaving puppy and totally shakes me, like this is not the way you should be. I couldn’t even explain how much guidance there has been from God in my Christian journey and how much He has driven me close to Him, shaking out, sculpting, trying to grow me as a person to be more like Jesus Christ, He does feel in every way the good shepherd. I express my gratitude by sharing the good news and by letting others know that Jesus is a friend of sinners. By expressing to others the grace and mercy of Jesus and accepting the chastisement and corrections haha. Read More1 Reply GR8FULL2 months agoGR8FULLMy best friend passed 2 years ago. He was 51 and was a beacon of hope and light during the darkest days of the past 10 years in my life. Now that he is gone, I recall his wisdom to shine light on my darkest days and to express my gratitude, I pay it forward to his children and any other person that needs the curtains pulled back, and always give credit to the co-author of my awakening. I am grateful to have known him. 4 Reply Elaine2 months agoElaineIndigenous leaders in politics and culture are teaching me that the colonialist capitalist settler perspective, my own included, needs a huge shaking up. Such teachers rekindle my hope that rebalancing, restoring, and gradually healing our suffering planet is possible. 3 Reply Barb C2 months agoBarb CI have two close friends and a sister I can be very honest with about things that are happening in my life and a husband who is always there for a hug when that’s what I need more than anything. I think I’ll write a thank-you card that’s a “just because” and send it to those people I love who are there when I need them. 5 Reply Carol2 months agoCarolWonderful idea, Barb….we never know when we will no longer be able to tell them and there is something about snail mail, the written word on paper, that is so endearing. 1 Reply Makayla2 months agoMakaylaRight now it has been the most darkest week of my life, to where I didn't feel safe to sleep at my own house without feeling fear. I realized the light that lead me to safety was my aunt and grandparents, they, had trust in me and loved me for who I am becoming, they gave me a place to stay where I feel safe, and made me feel so appreciated and loved. They fought for me, justice for me, because to see me get manipulated, lied and gas lighted to by my own mother, they have been in the same cycle...Right now it has been the most darkest week of my life, to where I didn’t feel safe to sleep at my own house without feeling fear. I realized the light that lead me to safety was my aunt and grandparents, they, had trust in me and loved me for who I am becoming, they gave me a place to stay where I feel safe, and made me feel so appreciated and loved. They fought for me, justice for me, because to see me get manipulated, lied and gas lighted to by my own mother, they have been in the same cycle, so expressing how proud of me for realizing this cycle and that I have the power to break it for how young I am. And lastly I rekindled my inner light on my darkest days, I kept pushing, when times were hard ,I went to family , not strangers, friends, boys, I choose my family. Read More12 Reply Barb C2 months agoBarb CMakayla, I’m so sorry this is your situation right now. I hope you find what you need to get to a better place where you can feel safer and I’m glad you have family to turn to. 5 Reply Charlie T2 months agoCharlie TOn my darkest days there is only me, and I climb inside my head and build a wall around myself that no light can penetrate. What I am learning, is that even in that darkness, there is a pinhole of light. Through gratitude and self awareness, that pinhole of light gets bigger and brighter. Until eventually it shines on me like the sun. Some of this I have learned through my amazing therapist and through reading from wise and thoughtful authors. And I am learning so much from you all. Thank you...On my darkest days there is only me, and I climb inside my head and build a wall around myself that no light can penetrate. What I am learning, is that even in that darkness, there is a pinhole of light. Through gratitude and self awareness, that pinhole of light gets bigger and brighter. Until eventually it shines on me like the sun. Some of this I have learned through my amazing therapist and through reading from wise and thoughtful authors. And I am learning so much from you all. Thank you for sharing your journey. Read More12 Reply Nath2 months agoNathI liked your post.Please share the names of wise authors and their book which you have read. Thanks 3 Reply Carol2 months agoCarolMy mentor (RIP) of 27 years. He was my Moses for he found me in a desert of dark days. I honor and give thanks for him by doing my best to share his wisdom in hopes it will help others. I share a journal entry from 2016 that reminds me of him: Sep 6 2016 Ethical Alchemy (That seemingly miraculous change of a thing into something better) "Religion isn’t about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sac...My mentor (RIP) of 27 years. He was my Moses for he found me in a desert of dark days. I honor and give thanks for him by doing my best to share his wisdom in hopes it will help others. I share a journal entry from 2016 that reminds me of him: Sep 6 2016 Ethical Alchemy (That seemingly miraculous change of a thing into something better) “Religion isn’t about believing things. It’s ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.” Karen Armstrong Faith is currently defined as a string of beliefs which I see as a confining man-made Dogma in most cases. To explain my way of thinking, I often quote priest, psychologist and author Alan Watts who says “Belief clings, Faith lets go.” I had recently recorded a movie about Mother Teresa and sat down to watch it last night and evidently the movie was longer than the cable guide indicated and the recording ended just as she was establishing her first home for the dying. It was such a let down. Hope I can find it on the schedule again and attempt to record it. She had such a deep and simple faith. She is known to have said that when she saw a need, she would proceed but would not organize too much. My faith is truly being tested these days and many of my old life-limiting beliefs are stirring up fearful thought patterns. I think there’s a filibuster going on in my head. I’m also aware of a sense of boredom which is usually a red-flag for egoic-brain activity in my experience. My job, my faith, is to trust. My intention must be bold. I must be WILLING TO BE CHANGED. I find my job is always willingness. It’s the paradox that losing control willingly is for me always a sign of deeper truth. It is always a sign that a greater awareness is on the horizon. It is seldom a comfortable place to be. But as my mentor used to say, “Your job is to wait, watch and see what life is offering you this day and this day.” I know that I can’t change anything but I can be willing to be changed. Blessings, Carol Read More7 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaThank you, Carol – Karen Armstrong is a name I haven’t heard in a long while, and it gives me happy feelings. I’m looking again now at her books. Warm wishes to you 🙂 1 Reply Carol2 months agoCarolMica, I found a lot of her talks and interviews on youtube….might want to check it out. 🙂 2 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaThanks, Carol – I’ll check them out 🙂 I found her Spiral Staircase book in my bookshelf and am starting to read it again. 1 Reply Barb C2 months agoBarb C“Willingness to be changed”–such a powerful and open space in which to exist. Thank you for this. 2 Reply Carol2 months agoCarolYou are most welcome. Sometimes, I hesitate to share journal entries but have found that many times they resonate with others on this site. Thanks for your note. 2 Reply Charlie T2 months agoCharlie TCarol, thank you so much for this. All of what you wrote is relevant to me. 🙏 2 Reply Carol2 months agoCarolGlad to know that…thanks for your note. 2 Reply Laura2 months agoLauraThank you, Carol. I find myself nodding in agreement when I read your posts not only for the truth that you articulate but the clarity with which you express it. 2 Reply Carol2 months agoCarolLaura, I have the same reaction when I read your posts.:) 2 Reply Laura2 months agoLauraMy inner light is restored when I rise above my own piles of stuff — old feelings, unworthiness, baseless fears — that block access to the Light. I show gratitude by sharing kindness, respect and patience to others. 7 Reply Rabbit2 months agoRabbitFlowers or pictures of flowers help me remember there is beauty in the world even when I am in a dark place. My soul has also been touched by music recently. Specifically two pieces of music from the Stop, Look, Go class from gratefulness.org. I can show gratefulness by taking care of the flowers. I can also make donations to organizations that promote the beauty of flowers and to gratefulness.org to support their teaching. 3 Reply pkr2 months agopkrRabbit, I too look at paintings of flowers for comfort & renewal. It heals my soul. Hope you find flowers today.🙂 1 Reply Rabbit2 months agoRabbitThank you pkr. I did take time to notice the flowers. Did you find any in your day? Tried to include a picture for you but I don’t see a way to do it. 💕🌸💜 2 Reply pkr2 months agopkrYes Rabbit, I did see some beautiful flowers today. I also saw lots of hummingbirds & butterflies too. I will look for your photo. Thank you. 1 Reply Michele2 months agoMichelepeople post pictures in the Gratitude Lounge under the Connect menu at top of screen:) 0 Reply Rabbit2 months agoRabbitThank you Michele. Watch for a day lily picture. 1 Reply sunnypatti2 months agosunnypattiMostly myself and my spiritual practice/faith. In my darkest days, I was too fearful and ashamed to talk about what was happening in my life, so no one knew the truth until I escaped those days. These days, I do have my husband, some of my family and a few close friends that I would trust to help me if needed. I’m grateful my days are a lot brighter than they used to be, even if they still get dark every now and then. Lessons every day! 5 Reply devy2 months agodevyI am learning to rekindle my own inner light by my faith and meditations. Being grateful and self loving is the way. 6 Reply Michele2 months agoMicheleI have to say this website and Kristi Nelson’s book, which I’m almost finished reading. I am very grateful for finding this site and have it become my daily routine. Mica – today is NATIONAL GUINEA PIG APPRECIATE DAY! I totally thought of you when I saw that and was excited to share with you:) 4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaThank you, Michele! My calendar has some lesser day 😐 . I’m glad to be reading this only 4 hrs after you posted, so indeed guinea pig day is today 🙂 . I’ve given her a fancy little plate of healthy treats. 1 Reply EJP2 months agoEJPMy grandchildren always bring inner light on dark days. Enjoying every moment is my way of expressing sincere gratitude for these joyful souls. 4 Reply Carla2 months agoCarlaI draw hope from my ancestors who help rekindle my inner Light. I also have a few trusted friends who are a balm when it’s dark. I express my thanks to the current generation of family via cards, texts, sending little tokens. I celebrate gratitude with close friends by sharing a meal. 3 Reply Antoinette2 months agoAntoinetteRight now I’m having complex ptsd coming up strongly . It feels like an overwhelming amount of emotions that are uncomfortable- to say the least. I know these pictures are not real and come from the past. The pictures are what need to be let go of. 7 Reply Hermann-Josef2 months agoHermann-JosefDear Antoinette. I know we should embrace our traumas and fears and stay with them and welcoming them before we can let them go. But sometimes it is better to call a good friend . I don’t know you, but I hope you react the best way if it is getting too hard. It wouldn’t be a sin to take some medicine for some time also. Take care. big hug.. 5 Reply Antoinette2 months agoAntoinetteHermann -Joseph, thank you so much for your kind guidance. I appreciate that you took the time to respond. I don’t like to be anyones burden, so usually don’t tell many if anyone when this comes up. I feel shame and anger when it does. I’m getting better at telling my friends. Or at least one friend. Thank you for the 🤗 hug . 4 Reply Carla2 months agoCarlaAntoinette, Sending you prayers of Light and Support as you walk through this current challenging time. 🙏🏼💕☮️ 6 Reply Antoinette2 months agoAntoinetteThank you so much Carla . I appreciate your prayers. I’m so blessed to have you all here and how much we care for each other . Again, thank you . 2 Reply Hermann-Josef2 months agoHermann-JosefOnly thinking of my daughter gives me strength and courage. By her handicap she learnt to look forward in a positive way and got a lot of inner strength. By paying respect, listening to her and by trying to stay positiv myself I show my gratitude to her. But also my own daily discipline and spiritual routines let the light of the soul shine through my foolish mind. I show my gratitude by trying to see god in everything or everyone and trying serve our patients not forgetting that he is the one w...Only thinking of my daughter gives me strength and courage. By her handicap she learnt to look forward in a positive way and got a lot of inner strength. By paying respect, listening to her and by trying to stay positiv myself I show my gratitude to her. But also my own daily discipline and spiritual routines let the light of the soul shine through my foolish mind. I show my gratitude by trying to see god in everything or everyone and trying serve our patients not forgetting that he is the one who is doing the job.. Read More7 Reply Kevin2 months agoKevinPrayer, and people I love help to rekindle my inner light during dark days. Expressing my gratitude for it takes care of itself. BTW: Todays Word of the Day, by Isabel Allende “We are all born happy. Life gets us dirty along the way, but we can clean it up,” is unsettling to me. It strikes me as namby-pamby and naive. Try holding this quote up before children born with crippling and disfiguring birth defects and diseases, or their parents, or try sticking this quote under the noses of the...Prayer, and people I love help to rekindle my inner light during dark days. Expressing my gratitude for it takes care of itself. BTW: Todays Word of the Day, by Isabel Allende “We are all born happy. Life gets us dirty along the way, but we can clean it up,” is unsettling to me. It strikes me as namby-pamby and naive. Try holding this quote up before children born with crippling and disfiguring birth defects and diseases, or their parents, or try sticking this quote under the noses of the people of Ukraine as they’re dodging bombs and rocket fire falling on their homes and villages. Try telling these poor folks that they can just, “clean it up.” Seriously? Today’s Daily Question also seems to be linked to the Word of the Day, (something I have railed about previously in this space), and if so, it turns the Today’s Daily Question into a commentary, an opinion and immediate reinterpretation of Allende’s quote, an occasional practice that I wish the folks at Gratefulness wouldn’t do. (My apologies for sounding like such a Debbie-downer so early in the morning!) Read More4 Reply Mica2 months agoMicaMe too Kevin – normally I would have expected to save an Isabel Allende quote to my gratefulness doc, but that one didn’t make it. 1 Reply Elaine2 months agoElaineKevin, It must be quite the challenge for the gratefulness team to keep the quotes and the questions fresh and meaningful every single day. There are bound to be some that won’t resonate. I wonder about inviting participants like yourself to make suggestions. What do you think? 3 Reply Barb C2 months agoBarb CI appreciate your previous comments on this point that have made me look at the quote and question to see if I'm being pointed in a particular direction by their juxtaposition. I've been known to push back on an occasional question when I'm in Grumpy Cat mode. Offering an additional perspective because of the examples you chose: I don't have a disability that affects my life on a daily basis. I do read a fair amount of commentary by leaders in the disability justice movement (Alice Wong, Vili...I appreciate your previous comments on this point that have made me look at the quote and question to see if I’m being pointed in a particular direction by their juxtaposition. I’ve been known to push back on an occasional question when I’m in Grumpy Cat mode. Offering an additional perspective because of the examples you chose: I don’t have a disability that affects my life on a daily basis. I do read a fair amount of commentary by leaders in the disability justice movement (Alice Wong, Vilissa Thompson, Anna Zivarts and others). There’s an inherent “less than” in your comment about children born with various conditions that I think some may take exception to. Having a disability isn’t synonymous with unhappiness. It’s the world around us that is “crippling” for some, that erects barriers and creates dark days by building impassable roads or failing to fully fund health care services for all. Not to dismiss very real pain either, which would be another way of “speaking for” people who can state their own beliefs, opinions, and feelings.I just snagged on the characterization because of the work I do in transportation, in which I see references to people with disabilities used to make a point when it’s really something the person needs to own as their personal opinion. (Example: “you can’t put in a bike lane because disabled people need parking” when actually you just don’t like bike lanes and you don’t recognize that some people with disabilities bike for transportation because they can’t drive.) You definitely own your own opinions here and I’m very grateful for that and the perspectives you share. Read More3 Reply Charlie T2 months agoCharlie TKevin, thank you for your perspective on the quote. It struck me as a bit shallow, but “namby-Pamby”? Such strong words! 😁 I always appreciate those that push back and can express there thoughts so we’ll. I enjoy reading what you have to say, so please continue to be a strong voice here. 🙏 2 Reply Yram2 months agoYramPoint well taken! Thank you for this perspective. 2 Reply Michele2 months agoMicheleI can see your point Kevin but when I read Todays Word of the Day I took it as taking a negative (life gets us dirty along the way) to a positive (we clean it up). It also is thought provoking, are babies born happy? Isn’t happiness learned? Babies are born for survival and dependency – they need food and shelter. That first smile when they look at you is incredible, but they ‘learned’ hey, that is my mama/daddy. very interesting to ponder. I like seeing different perspectives so thank you. 2 Reply Kevin2 months agoKevinAnd I especially appreciate your perspective, Michele, even as I remain satisfied, perhaps unfortunately, with my own. And still, my personal two word life motto remains, “ Live Love!” 1 Reply Pilgrim2 months agoPilgrimAgreed, all the way around, Kevin. Thanks. 1 Reply Antoinette2 months agoAntoinetteI was actually thinking the same – I don’t if we can say that . 1 Reply lotus blossom2 months agolotus blossommy husband. he knows how to just sit with me in pain and not try to fix me. one of the ways i express my gratitude is by praying for him daily. 7 Reply 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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