Reflections

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  1. barba
    barba
    3 months ago

    This morning I sat at the window and drank some tea. It was quiet and there was no wind. There was a young, tender birch tree in front of the window. The leaves were trembling gently in the gentle wind and I could even see it swaying slightly. So tender and without having to, should or could. The birch tree was just there. Just for me, because only I saw it.

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    3 months ago

    I love nature & always have! I am sure i drove my parents crazy when I was a child, bringing home turtles and birds that fell out of nests.
    Always wanted to be outdoors also and still do!

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 months ago

      Robin, there are countless childhood stories about people: jumping in the leaves their parents raked, having snowball fights, dancing in the rain, and splashing in the pool. Children are very close to nature so much so that it can drive adults crazy. I may have been one of the most well-behaved children, but if I said that I never drove my parents crazy over that, I’d be telling you a lie right now.

      1. Robin Ann
        Robin Ann
        3 months ago

        When I was about 5 yrs old I snuck out of the house (very early morning) and had to be rescued by a neighbor because I fell in deep snow on the side of the house. My Dad still love to tell that story!

  3. Ose
    Ose
    3 months ago

    When, deeply grateful, perceiving what my father perceives when luckily and gratefully looking outside the windows of his new homeplace, trees, sunshine, space; a beautiful room with bright warm-yellow paint at the walls as if the sun just visits him also. His first day there today, embracing the beauty of this well-organized and warmhearted elderly home he has the good fortune to live in now, not being lonely any more as there are many elderly to get int contact with. So good to know he is happy there and well and looked after by the sisteandrhood of the Red Cross. My deep thanks to my beloved sister who all made it possible through her loving care for him. It is all nature, the nature of people, of the beauty outside echoing the beauty inside.
    Recently having perceived breathtaking widespread mystical beams of Gods Rays shining through dramatically coloured and specially shaped dark and light clouds, shining up brightly as if through His eye, a long moment of deep gratefuness and in awe 🙏✨🙇‍♀️

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 months ago

      O.Christina, I’m very happy for your father. Your sister sounds like a strong kindhearted person. In an ever growing materialistic society, it’s easy to leave human nature on the back burner. Human nature and real world nature go hand and hand.

    2. Yram
      Yram
      3 months ago

      I am so glad to hear a happy placement!

    3. Anna
      Anna
      3 months ago

      Dear O Christine, I love what you say, “the nature of people” .
      Lately, realizing that there are always good people is encouraging.

      1. L
        Loc Tran
        3 months ago

        Anna, I’m with you. I’m a protective person. It’s easy to forget about the good people out there, and 9 out of every 10 times, there’s more good people out there than we see in the moment.

  4. Linda72766
    Linda
    3 months ago

    Every time I walk out the door!

  5. A
    Amara Kersten
    3 months ago

    I went on a hike with my dad a couple of weeks ago. I saw many pretty flowers, cactuses, plants. We stopped at a certain area in the trail and the sun was beaming through the trees. It was a beautiful experience and I will continue to go on that trail.

  6. Mary
    Mary
    3 months ago

    Last night, after art class, I noticed beautiful pinkish clouds
    behind some large pine trees, branches overlapping.
    I just stood there for several minutes feeling the beauty
    In the warm evening air.

    Picking up on the outcome of last nights art class,
    (which I wrote about in yesterday’s question of the day.)
    I chose to draw in a free, relaxed way.
    I let go of my perfectionism, and the results surprised me.
    My drawing came out really well!
    Baby steps, letting go of perfectionism.
    Letting go of expectation
    leaving my inner critic behind.
    Last night I did it!
    Getting free! I’m so excited!!

    1. Anna
      Anna
      3 months ago

      So happy for you dear Mary!

      1. Mary
        Mary
        3 months ago

        I surprised myself!
        Thank you dear Anna!
        ♥️♥️♥️

  7. Barb C
    Barb C
    3 months ago

    I experience gratefulness in nature daily, often multiple times a day. It comes when I’m enjoying the bounty in my yard, picking raspberries and tayberries (the strawberries are slowing down) and cutting salad greens. It comes walking around our little neighborhood loop road and looking at the beautiful things my neighbors plant and the tall trees everywhere; our area backs up to a large forested park. It comes when I walk to that park and enter into the tall sentinels. It comes when I bike or walk along the inlet, look at the sun sparkling on the waves like diamonds, watch the birds, and hope to spot a seal.

    I’m reading this inside with my warm cat on my lap–another element of nature. And in fact *I* am an element of nature. Humans often write about nature as if we’re apart and separate from it but we’re in and of it ourselves. I’m grateful for all of it.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      3 months ago

      Yes Barb, the collective wisdom of nature pulses through all human beings. Sad so many feel apart, separate and a step above nature.

  8. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    3 months ago

    Gratefulness comes easy to me when
    I’m in nature. And luckily, I get to
    experience nature regularly. Whether it’s
    In my little back yard, or on my Sunday
    Mt bike rides, or on a camping trip, I can
    easily appreciate the experience.
    It seems I was born this way. I’ve always had
    a strong desire to be in nature. In fact, it’s
    one of the things that re charges me. Literally
    filling me with energy and giving me fresh
    perspectives. It usually involves some form
    of strenuous physical effort, but not always.
    I am grateful to live where I do. I can easily
    be in both the urban and wild places.
    This makes for a nice balance. And it does
    not escape me that this is no accident.
    For the last sixty years, many people have
    spent their lives and fought hard, making
    sure that there was still open and public
    spaces for people and nature to exist.
    Including agricultural trusts, to insure
    that farmers have an option other than
    selling their property to developers.

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 months ago

      The work others have done to protect open space and green space is so essential, Charlie. I appreciate you pointing that out. I live near multiple parks and can walk to a downtown waterfront that’s available to the public with a boardwalk, public art, and park space, not dominated by high-rise condos, thanks to decisions made long ago.

  9. L
    Lauryn
    3 months ago

    Every morning when I go for a walk around my neighborhood- I admire the massive oak trees with Spanish moss hanging off them, the tropical foliage around me…I make note of the different birds that cross my path…I eventually come upon a small pond with turtles, ducks, and the occasional heron…I am grateful for this time every morning that allows me to be at peace and set the tone for the rest of the day ahead.

    1. Michele
      Michele
      3 months ago

      sounds like FL, just missing a gator, lol.

      1. L
        Loc Tran
        3 months ago

        Michele, sounds like college sports all over again.

  10. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol
    3 months ago

    Each morning when I open the living room drapes and the sun shines in on my house plants. I now have not only my plants but also my d deceased sister’s house plants. Plants she asked about every day in the last couple of weeks of her life. “Is someone watering my plants?” Today, family and friends will gather at the funeral home as we send her body off to Washington State to be buried next to her deceased husband and baby daughter. I am so grateful to you all for your compassionate words, thoughts and prayers. I feel the love. Creation is One. Brother Sun…Sister Moon.

    1. Michele
      Michele
      3 months ago

      I will light a candle on this website today for your sister, you, and your family. 🕯

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol
        3 months ago

        That is deeply appreciated, Michele

    2. Yram
      Yram
      3 months ago

      I send you peace as you celthe life of your sister.

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol
        3 months ago

        Thank you, YRAM.

    3. Mary
      Mary
      3 months ago

      Many blessings to you and your family, Carol!

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol
        3 months ago

        Thank you, Mary.

    4. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      3 months ago

      Kindness and compassion to you, Dear Carol.

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol
        3 months ago

        Thank You Joseph

  11. Yram
    Yram
    3 months ago

    I often feel I am in a sense of gratitude when I am in nature. I am so awed by it that I usually say “thank you.”

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 months ago

      I thank trees every so often, especially the mother trees.

  12. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    3 months ago

    Every morning, the birds outside my window wake me up with their beautiful songs. They bring me a sense of peace and gratitude. This is just one example of how beautiful summer in Minnesota can be!

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 months ago

      My Ngoc, I’ve noticed them too. They always seem to wake up around sunrise.

  13. Avril
    Avril
    3 months ago

    I am on my way to a hike right now—I feel gratefulness in nature every day!

  14. Patti
    sunnypatti
    3 months ago

    Yesterday morning when I took the dogs to this park with a great trail that goes through some wooded area but also has a long boardwalk that crosses some marsh. There’s a great view of a river. It was especially nice yesterday as it was cloudy and nowhere near as hot as it has been around here! The dogs and I enjoyed every step.

  15. L
    Loc Tran
    3 months ago

    I feel a sense of gratefulness in nature every time I go on these family walks with my parents and Ngoc which is every morning and evening.

    1. Ngoc Nguyen
      Ngoc Nguyen
      3 months ago

      Loc, honestly, I used to get frustrated when I had to turn off the TV and go out for our evening walks. However, considering the gratitude you just mentioned, I will do my best to find joy in our evening walk tomorrow. Since we have a party at your aunt’s tonight, I appreciate you overlooking my frustration during our last walk. Although I didn’t fully enjoy walking at that time, it still provided some health benefits.

      1. L
        Loc Tran
        3 months ago

        Ngoc, since you brought up the party, this reminds me of my mom overlooking my frustration too. Our situations are different, but there’s the same base making it easy for me to empathize with you. I decide to go, because most importantly, I don’t want you to be alone in a crowd. Without you, I see the health benefits from getting outside the house or out in nature. Combining my base and what I learned from my mom and Paw Mu, my line is “Be gentle, but don’t give them everything they want no matter how much you love them.” In fact, getting 50% of what we want is already quite a lot. Most of us aren’t able to reach that number.

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