Reflections

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  1. Carla
    Carla
    3 weeks ago
  2. Carla
    Carla
    3 weeks ago

    My morning meditation time nurtures my gratitude. When some frustrations befall me during the day, I pause when agitated and reconnect to the Divine Source of Light to reclaim my gratitude. Happy International Women’s Day Y’All! 🌸🌺💕☮️

  3. Barb C
    Barb C
    3 weeks ago

    Each morning when I set up my journal for the new day I mark off a space at the side and head it “Today’s delights–” with a bit of embellishment to set it off. I choose a different color of pen each day for the delights so what I write there will stand out. The Book of Delights by poet Ross Gay started me on this. In each day, I make sure I pay attention to something that gives me delight. It’s similar to making a list of things I’m grateful for because of course I’m grateful for delight. The delight itself in the moment is worth experiencing fully without making gratefulness a kind of chore to add on. I experience it again later, when I make a note about it, and yet again, if I leaf back through the pages and look at each day’s list.

    Some things show up again and again, like the softness of my cat’s fur or something cute about him, hugs from my sweetheart, the bitter warmth of the morning’s first cup of coffee, a delicious food, time with friends, whatever might be blooming or growing or flying or twittering in the world around me. Fresh delights served up every day!

    Coming to this site most mornings to read the word of the day and answer the question definitely reinforces a feeling of gratefulness, and I appreciate all that you share as we create this community together.

    1. Michele
      Michele
      3 weeks ago

      I’m sure you will be adding some ‘French’ delights too whilst on your trip.

      1. Barb C
        Barb C
        3 weeks ago

        Le fromage!

        1. sparrow51014
          sparrow
          2 weeks ago

          . . . my passion
          and my nemesis . . . 🙂

  4. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    3 weeks ago

    The daily Practice of living
    keeps me grateful most of the time . . .
    once in awhile though
    I make it the brink of the abyss,
    but always remember my heart
    and turn around
    before it gazes into me.
    I will not go there again,
    especially
    now that I am suitably armed
    but never off my guard.

    It is insidious
    and tempts me still sometimes
    I confess,
    but so far,
    I have not dallied at the edge
    for too long . . .
    not anymore.
    I am free from it’s dark, sweet stench,
    now that the Light has come into my heart again.
    I might be fearful . . .
    I might feel the anxiety of a trapped animal,
    but panic will never overtake me again,
    for I have found the fresh, green grass
    and the flowers and the birds,
    and nothing will tempt me away from their treasures
    ever again.

    I have been Practicing
    for some time now,
    first out of desperation,
    and more recently out of a place of peace.
    I have learned many things
    and have absorbed them into my blood and bones,
    memories of the primordial world
    long ago,
    before time,
    perhaps.
    And I will not forget easily . . .
    I feel weak,
    but am stronger than I know,
    and I am grateful for that. ♥

    1. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      Thank you, Sparrow, for being brave enough to share your pain and grit along with your gentleness and light. ✨💕

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        3 weeks ago

        Thank you,
        dear Mary . . .
        but it is not out of courage
        that I share,
        but out of necessity. ♥

  5. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    3 weeks ago

    Coming to our site almost daily. Also practicing a positive mindset as much as I can. My faith. Being out in nature and making selfcare a priority.

  6. Christina Rossi75270
    Christina
    3 weeks ago

    I wasn’t going to answer the question because I see my gratitude practice as lacking. Then I read the responses here and go, hey I do that too! Thanks for the affirmation!

    1. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      3 weeks ago

      😉

  7. Mary
    Mary
    3 weeks ago

    Answering the Daily Question is my gratefulness practice. It is especially helpful to me when I am reminded to focus on my breath and to stay in the moment. A question several weeks ago about nurturing my spiritual life was especially helpful to me. A few here responded that they considered their life and their spiritual life to be one and the same. I hadn’t thought of that before, so this answer was a revelation to me. It has changed the way I think about my spirituality. ☀️
    Thank you to those behind the scene and to all who respond to the Daily Question.

  8. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    3 weeks ago

    Coming to this site every morning and spending a few moments contemplating the daily question, and reading all of your responses, is my main practice for maintaining a grateful perspective.
    And I’ll tell you what isn’t good for my sense of gratefulness, too much social media. I have overdosed lately, trying to stay informed about our precarious political situation. Bombs fell in my dreams last night. I will get outside and in nature, in a few minutes, and try to wash this feeling of hopelessness and anger off of me.
    Thank you all for being here and sharing your wisdom. 🙏

    1. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      3 weeks ago

      I hear you, Charlie. Struggling to stay away from shows that call discussion “Breaking News.”

    2. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      I share in your feelings about the bombs, Charlie, and unfortunately the more I stay engaged in the news, the worse I feel. I want to keep up with the news, but it is like a nightmare. So I’m limiting the time I spend with it. Wishing you grace and peace as you welcome nature in to wash it all away. For the last few months I have been going to bed with a relaxing tape. It has helped me to let go when I want to go to sleep.

  9. D
    Drea
    3 weeks ago

    Coming here, contemplating the daily question, and reading all of your posts. You always help me broaden my perspective. Thank you.

  10. Yram
    Yram
    3 weeks ago

    My early morning practice is to have 2 cups of a hot beverage and then join this site for the wrd of the day, daily question and then enjoy the comments in the lounge. It gives me perspective to go into my day.

    1. C
      Claire757
      3 weeks ago

      Where onlie can i see the daily word?

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        3 weeks ago

        Go to
        https://grateful.org/
        and scroll down the page,
        dear Claire,
        and you will see it. ♥

        1. C
          Claire757
          3 weeks ago

          Thank you so much. I enjoy this daily question with my breakfast too but don’t usually post. Grateful for you all here

          1. Mary
            Mary
            3 weeks ago

            I am grateful to hear from you, Claire.

  11. Michele
    Michele
    3 weeks ago

    Coming onto this website and answering the Daily Question helps me maintain a grateful perspective.

    Wishing everyone a peaceful Sunday. I feel for all who have to deal with the adjustment of DST – fall is always better when we get that extra hr, spring loosing it is more of an adjustment.

    My son and his gf made it home💕

    1. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      3 weeks ago

      I can sense your gratefulness, Michelle. ♥️

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      3 weeks ago

      Glad to know your son and his girlfriend made it home.

    3. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      I know you felt excitement for your son and gf about their trip, but how very wonderful to welcome them home. ♥️

    4. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      I am grateful for this news,
      dear Michele. ♥

    5. Yram
      Yram
      3 weeks ago

      A blessing.

  12. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    3 weeks ago

    For me, one of the practices I have to maintain a grateful perspective is positive self-talk. It works as an alarm that wakes me up in foggy moments. Happy Sunday to our community of kindness and wisdom. ☀

    1. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      Positive self-talk helps me too, Ngoc. For myself I have found that the more gently and lovingly I speak to my Mom, and everyone else as well, the more naturally I speak to myself with the same love and gentleness. ☀️

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol Ann Conner
        3 weeks ago

        Your post is very helpful to me.

        1. Mary
          Mary
          3 weeks ago

          Thank you for letting me know, Carol. That means a lot to me. ♥️

    2. L
      Loc Tran
      3 weeks ago

      My Ngoc, that goes a long ways when the going gets tough.

  13. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol Ann Conner
    3 weeks ago

    Answering and reading others answers to the daily question. Also reading Richard Rohr’s meditation for the day. This morning’s reading was very helpful to me. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-illusion-of-separateness/

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      ”We cannot ever become perfect or “worthy,” but we can become reconnected to our Source.”

      If I knew this some thirty years ago
      when I was going through a great crisis of abandonment,
      dear Carol Ann,
      I would have been saved a lot of grief,
      sorrow,
      and self-harm.
      But I also realize
      that there is a purpose to everything,
      including when and how we learn our lessons.
      Thank you for posting today’s CAC meditation.
      It helps me
      to put one more piece of the puzzle
      in place. ♥

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol Ann Conner
        3 weeks ago

        Sparrow, I often remind myself of the difference between the words, “worthy” and “worth.” I was so blest when I understood that I am of “worth.” As a child my focus was always on being “worthy.” That’s what my church’s theology taught!

        1. sparrow51014
          sparrow
          3 weeks ago

          Namaste,
          dear Carol Ann . . . ♥

    2. D
      Drea
      3 weeks ago

      “It is not that if I am moral, then I will be loved by God; rather, I must first come to experience God’s love and then I will—almost naturally—be moral.” Can we put that on a giant billboard somewhere? I feel like everyone should read this.

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol Ann Conner
        3 weeks ago

        Drea, I agree!

    3. Kathy29496
      Katrina
      3 weeks ago

      My two favs as well…

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol Ann Conner
        3 weeks ago

        Katrina, They set the tone for the day!

  14. Ose
    Ose
    3 weeks ago

    Opening my window blinds in the morning and gratefully greeting another day; coming here, being present and replying to the daily question, so grateful for your presence here all together; morning meditation with kindred hearts (and evening as planned on my own). Gratefully perceiving the flowers unfolding all of their beauty in abundance of Spring sunshine right now and every day so many other beauties appearing, birds and bees and trees in their bright green new foliage included, warming heart and soul in their abundance of unfolding life again.

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 weeks ago

      Ose, it’s daylight savings time today. No wonder why it’s still dark where I am at 7am this morning.

  15. J
    Jill M
    3 weeks ago

    I do this first thing every morning and it has been instrumental in cultivating gratitude throughout my day!

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