It brings me into a moment that makes it a privilege to be here now in this appreciation. I would like to see it move me also in the direction of action. For example if I appreciate a basic like clean water then how can I help tip the scales for those who do not?
It opens the door to enter and be part of the flow of life and it feels that gratefulness is the guiding light. Thank you again for this question, dear Gratefulness-team.
It keeps me in the positive flow of life. It is easy to get sidetracked by all the bad news in the world today, but there is much to be grateful for here in my own little corner of the Pacific Northwest.
The lives of others who lived grateful lives moves me. An old friend passed away on Wednesday after being on life support after a fatal fall last week. He was a firefighter who served in 911. He was caught in in the tail end of the second building collapse. The ground was moved beneath him and through the smoke he saw the steal beams that could have torn him and his buddies apart. He was not able to save anyone and that grieved him. All he found was a teddy bear and a women’s shoe. As he was falling an oxygen tank hit him in the neck. Somehow he survived but lived in constant pain afterwards. Many of his buddies did not make it out alive. He never complained. He never stoped serving his community. A true hero and a very brave soul. He kept in touch will everyone from the old neighborhood and between his friends and all his firefighter buddies today will be a mixed bag ~ a celebration of a life well lived and a great loss to everyone who ever knew and loved him. He loved playing basketball and was at home on the court. On his FB page there was caricature of a basketball player making a hoop flying through the air The caption read “Heaven is a playground”. God rest the soul of Raymond Casey a man who lived hard and played hard. To God be the glory!
Toni, what a beautiful & moving story about your friend, Raymond Casey. Thank you for sharing his story. You were blessed to know him, the world was blessed by his generous spirit. RIP RC & thank you for your light. ✨🙏✨
In the context of yesterday’s question about nature and gratitude.
Here I am in Vermont, visiting my friend who lives in a clearing in the woods.
There are situations in my life that are frustrating and disheartening. I woke up to them on my mind.
And then there are the bird calls outside my open window. And now, sitting on the large wrap-around deck, I am surrounded by tall trees in different shades of light green. And the sunlight is spreading over different parts of the trees.
I will get a chance to walk, to jump into the cold refreshing brook; to eat a meal cooked by me and my friend; to sit down together to eat it.
And though I have to leave to return to the city and my busy life tonight, I get to drive across Route 2, the tree-lined green Mohawk Trail.
So I am lucky.
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Gratefulness moves me by pausing and reflecting on my life and the blessings I have. Many responses here have moved me.
It brings me into a moment that makes it a privilege to be here now in this appreciation. I would like to see it move me also in the direction of action. For example if I appreciate a basic like clean water then how can I help tip the scales for those who do not?
Practicing gratefulness moves me towards good things such as right relationships, contentment, being grounded in reality, delight and wonder.
It opens the door to enter and be part of the flow of life and it feels that gratefulness is the guiding light. Thank you again for this question, dear Gratefulness-team.
Gratefulness moves me to appreciate others, listen, observe, savor, play, relax, give, create, nurture, restore, sustain…
…it does not move me to take more than I give, shop, argue, feel sorry for myself, be wasteful, pollute, discriminate, be unfair, over-indulge…
Gives me hope that things can get better. Maybe i begin to realize that things are not as bad as they seem.
Contentment, joyfulness and happiness.
It keeps me in the positive flow of life. It is easy to get sidetracked by all the bad news in the world today, but there is much to be grateful for here in my own little corner of the Pacific Northwest.
It keeps me hopeful. It helps as it seems to strengthen my faith.
To be, appreciate, and share.
The lives of others who lived grateful lives moves me. An old friend passed away on Wednesday after being on life support after a fatal fall last week. He was a firefighter who served in 911. He was caught in in the tail end of the second building collapse. The ground was moved beneath him and through the smoke he saw the steal beams that could have torn him and his buddies apart. He was not able to save anyone and that grieved him. All he found was a teddy bear and a women’s shoe. As he was falling an oxygen tank hit him in the neck. Somehow he survived but lived in constant pain afterwards. Many of his buddies did not make it out alive. He never complained. He never stoped serving his community. A true hero and a very brave soul. He kept in touch will everyone from the old neighborhood and between his friends and all his firefighter buddies today will be a mixed bag ~ a celebration of a life well lived and a great loss to everyone who ever knew and loved him. He loved playing basketball and was at home on the court. On his FB page there was caricature of a basketball player making a hoop flying through the air The caption read “Heaven is a playground”. God rest the soul of Raymond Casey a man who lived hard and played hard. To God be the glory!
Condolences to you on the loss of your dear friend. You gave such a beautiful tribute to him.
What a wonderful and energetic portrait you have painted,
dear Toni . . .
a good man,
well loved,
and an example to follow
with love…
sparrow
Toni, what a beautiful & moving story about your friend, Raymond Casey. Thank you for sharing his story. You were blessed to know him, the world was blessed by his generous spirit. RIP RC & thank you for your light. ✨🙏✨
Agree
Living 0r trying to live in gratefulness lifts me out of myself to see, realize and honor the goodness and gifts of this life.
. . . to tears . . .
It shapes and forms my spirit into something more fully alive.
In the context of yesterday’s question about nature and gratitude.
Here I am in Vermont, visiting my friend who lives in a clearing in the woods.
There are situations in my life that are frustrating and disheartening. I woke up to them on my mind.
And then there are the bird calls outside my open window. And now, sitting on the large wrap-around deck, I am surrounded by tall trees in different shades of light green. And the sunlight is spreading over different parts of the trees.
I will get a chance to walk, to jump into the cold refreshing brook; to eat a meal cooked by me and my friend; to sit down together to eat it.
And though I have to leave to return to the city and my busy life tonight, I get to drive across Route 2, the tree-lined green Mohawk Trail.
So I am lucky.
I love that route 2 drive back to Boston. What part of Vermont are you visiting?