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Looking at my life, I find that each area has been touch by gratefulness and contribute to healing. For example, one does not appreciate what one has until one looses it. I love to read but with deteriorating eyesight, I started to fret about it that caused me to experience mental health problems but with gratitude for what I have and what I used to have I started being grateful for what I have now and started looking at other ways I can keep reading but also be grateful for not experiencing long term mental health issues. It is not the same, but I can still get information. Gratefulness does not cure my eyesight nor heal it but heal me from looking at the negative aspect of it instead of what I have and what I am gaining. I have gained my skills in my other senses. My hearing and smelling skills have improved to compensate for the loss of my seeing skills. Thanks, God, for technology and for good health. I have never experienced mental health issues before but experiencing one gave me more skills – be more compassionate more empathetic with myself and those who have been dealing with mental health issues all their lives. Each of us carries burden, I pray for lighter loads for all of us and for us to be aware and attentive to one another and share compassion to ourselves and to all beings.
There is a difference between healing and curing.
As Sophie is winding down slowly,
I don’t know if she is actively grateful,
but she takes each day as it comes,
each mouthful of food,
every time my arms wrap around her.
I know that,
at the very least,
she loves me,
and she knows I love her . . .
that is a kind of gratitude I can’t put into words,
but it’s there.
Neither gratitude nor love
will save her.
Both will heal her,
but nothing cures us from the dying,
which is just a change from one reality to another . . .
gratefulness contributes all good things to any given situation.
Nothing bad
can come from gratitude.
I believe she has an instinctual knowledge
of where she sits in her personal life cycle,
and is present to the moments she has,
and opens herself to what is offered
without fear.
I admire this immensely,
study it closely from behind my own eyes,
delving into her secret.
I watch her face,
her soft nose,
her tender ears and perfect whiskers,
and participate in her journey with my whole heart.
When she breathes her last breath,
I know that my heart will be broken,
but I also know that my gratefulness for having known her
and cared for her
will heal me.
Our heartbreaks
can’t be cured,
but they can be healed. ♥
Thank you for sharing, dear Sparrow.
Thank you,
dear Carol Ann,
with love . . . ♥
I took my cross country skis out today and went on a trail in our back yard. Not sure about healing but definitely helped with my stress level.
One co-worker’s brother died and another is out on leave. We are so behind so i worked today for 4 hours.
My daughter is doing way better, hopefully will be discharged from hospital soon and it was wonderful to see my 88 yr old Dad on Saturday! I love to ask him questions about his childhood and learn something new. It was great to catch up with family also. 💕
I didn’t know that your daughter was in the hospital. So glad to hear she is doing well!
Robin Ann, We old people like to be asked about our childhood.
I love listening to his stories, although I can tell some can be painful unfortunately
I am happy,
dear Robin Ann,
that your daughter is doing so well. ♥
she had a fever this morning but hoping she will be feeling back to normal soon. Thank you Sparrow
Baby steps,
dear Robin Ann,
baby steps. ♥
Yes. I am grateful for the way my body teaches me to pay attention. Pain has become a messenger rather than an enemy, allowing me to focus my intention where it is needed most. In doing this, I have been able to manage my stress better, and my body is slowly healing.
“Pain has become a messenger rather than an enemy…”
It is so much more helpful,
dear Jo,
to look at it this way . . .
may the healing continue. ♥
I am missing Elizabeth. It seems like it’s been quite a while since we last heard from her. 😕
Yes,
dear Mary . . .
it does seem like it’s been awhile. ♥
“The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Today’s question: Is there a place in my life where gratefulness might contribute to healing? If so, where? I’m struggling to keep my insides and my outsides congruent. My life with myself needs my attention and healing right now. I need a deeper willingness to not only accept ‘what is’ but also the gratefulness for the opportunity it offers to learn and grow. It’s a feeling of being tested but also reminded of my many blessings.
My thanks to all for their responses to my posts yesterday. They are deeply appreciated and helpful to me.
Well said,
dear Carol Ann . . .
I will keep this as a message to myself as well.
Namaste . . . ♥
“My life with myself needs attention and healing right now.” I deeply resonate with this, Carol Ann. Especially coming into a new year, I would like to find ways to live my life with gratefulness and put the brakes on regret. I think I need to do a lot of writing, and also go back and revisit a question from this site that seemed to get at the cause of much of my discomfort. I remember Sparrow responding that she seeks contentment, rather than happiness.
I am with you in looking for ways to heal and make the most of my life. Sending much love to you dear Carol Ann. Mary
Mary, Writing always helps me. It speaks to me through me. I was told by someone many years ago that we often write beyond our current self awareness and ability to act. I have found that to be true. My writings always seem to contribute to my ability to grow.
Thanks, Carol Ann. I believe that will be true for me. I have learned (relearned?) things from writing that I wasn’t aware of knowing.
I think this is true for me as well,
dear Carol Ann. ♥
The question that I was referring to above was from Dec 6. “When has being grateful made me happy?” I got so much out of the discussion that day. For me this very helpful discussion continued on the Dec. 7 question, “What opportunity is this moment offering?”
Ah,
yes,
dear Mary . . .
I remember the question.
There has been so much turmoil in my past
that contentment brings me peace
without the ‘jangle’. ♥
I agree. Peace is very good. No jangle needed! 😊
Focusing on what I can do, rather than on what I cannot do, allows me to feel my power. Gratefully focusing on what I can do helps me to see possibilities, yet it also helps me to appreciate my life just as it is. It lightens my heaviness and gives me the energy to try new things. I am capable of many things if I focus on my strength.
Thank you, Mary. Focus on the grace and strength that is always available in the present moment.
I can’t think of any area of life where gratefulness *doesn’t* contribute to healing.
♥
Truth
I think about my relationship with a certain family member. Although I have a lot of complex feelings towards them, I can see in ways I can be grateful for them and their presence in my life. But a big part of me also feels like expressing gratefulness to them erases all the negative they have done in my life. I know I can hold two contradictory feelings at once, but I still feel a sense of unease when I do.
Jenifer, I hear you, I have a similar challenge. I select carefully what I am grateful for, and work to forgive the abuse for which I cannot and am not grateful–but which also cannot be changed, it is in the past.
I started viewing Grateful Living many years ago for healing and continue on as I am a WIP and will always be in constant need of healing in some way.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Sunday. We have some fog, which I love, nice magical start to the day.
https://nationaltoday.com/national-call-a-friend-day/
We have dense fog where I am too, Michele. Sitting on my sofa, I can’t see past the kitchen window and the end of the eaves outside. I rather like the gentle blanket.
Barb, there’s a major snowstorm today and tonight for the Twin Cities. Often times, snowstorms and dense fogs go together.
What is a WIP,
dear Michele?
ps. I love fog too,
and having lived in Maine for some years,
I was able to enjoy a lot of it. 🙂
Work In Progress, dear Sparrow. As are we all!
Ah…………
thank you,
dear Barb.
I guess i’m not in tune with text language.
LOL and BTW
are about all I can handle. 🙂
Actually responding to Joseph below. His response made me think of one of the names I have for my cat Calliope.
Callio p qrst uv wxyz. She’s a good girl. 😺
And a XYZ for good measure!
This family, where I’m living with Loc and my parents-in-law. Here, there is none of the verbal or physical abuse that I witnessed in my previous place. Everyone is treated with respect, kindness, and love. Peace, joy, and love to you all! 💐
I am happy for you, Ngoc, to have found respect, kindness, and love with Loc and your parents-in-law.
Peace, joy, and love to you, Ngoc. 💕
Glad you’re in such a loving and respectful place now, Ngoc.
My Ngoc, we’re grateful to have you in our family as well.
I’m grateful for Ngoc being on her 3-week winter break. More quality time helps me with authenticity in traditional Vietnamese social settings where I can rely less on backstage political charms to protect myself and get my ways.
I am grateful to read your responses every day
♥️
Me too,
dear Heather. ♥
Gratefulness is one of the “cracks” of light in yesterday’s darkness question. Just wanted to thank everyone for their answers yesterday. I read through them and felt very connected. The questions, the quotes, Carole Ann’s poem, the references, feelings and Michelle’s smile were all gifts I was grateful to receive.
Yep – in recovery, I have met a bunch of really good and inspiring individuals. And in my life, I have people who, while they do not know it, have contributed to my improving life.
I am trying to remember to call or text every one of them before New Years day. Even though things are going well; because things are going well, because of them.
John, Your reply fills me with joy.
♥