Reflections

Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment.

  1. Cathie
    Cathie
    3 days ago

    A tai chi teacher in Colorado with whom I studied was the most joyous person I have ever met. Although the practice was beautiful and meditative, it was her joy that opened my eyes. And I think unconsciously at the time, her joy planted seeds in me to seek joy beyond happiness. So she created an unexpected impact beyond the practice.

    1. Robin Ann
      Robin Ann
      2 days ago

      Love this and agree about seeking joy

    2. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      2 days ago

      Cathie, for many years, every summer I would teach for a week in Boulder, CO. I would start my day with a run on the Boulder Pathway. And each morning, I would pass a group of people in a green space practicing tai chi. Silently, gracefully. Wouldn’t it be something if you were one of them? Your description of your teacher and how she inspired you is joyful in and of itself. 🩷

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    3 days ago

    I met my friend Mike 11 years ago (after divorcing and dating a lot), one of our very first discoveries was that his Dad died on Father’s day and my Mother on Mother’s day! He was catholic, loved Celtic music, hiked, biked, cross country skiied and was very interested in learning how to sail. So he did learn to sail (took an extensive course and we ended up finding an older sailboat for sale 28 ft Pearson (I found the ad) practically in his back yard and he bought it. The boat is moored in Narragansett bay close to his house. He also loves to travel. In 2015 we travelled to Ireland, my first trip there (a dream come true for me) and his 2nd , we have been 2 more times to Ireland and also to Scotland. Incidentally my Mom told me to find someone that I had a lot in common with when I got older. We met on a catholic on-line dating site, was definitely unexpected!!

    1. Yram
      Yram
      2 days ago

      A very lovely story.

  3. Patti
    sunnypatti
    3 days ago

    This was too hard for me to answer this morning, so I’m back… and it’s still hard! So many people have impacted my life in unexpected ways and in ways many of them will never know about.

    My birth father not being a part of my life has had a major impact on me. A child should never feel abandoned by their parent, and although from age 7 thru now I have had the best dad (stepdad) God could give me, I still suffered a lot of trauma from Bob not wanting to be a part of my life. The year or so after my grandma, his mom passed, where we wrote letters to each other was such a blessing, but I wrote him again a few months ago after years of silence, and I have not heard back. I have no expectations at this point. I am still working on that trauma, but I am grateful for how it all worked out because I was given a dad who truly loved and still loves me.

    My ex-husband had a huge impact on my life, having spent 18 years with him. He was (and probably still is) a narcissist who had more trauma of his own than I knew early on. He did not know how to love and only took actions that served his wants. My own trauma is part of why I ended up with this person, but despite how long I suffered thru our “relationship,” it was that experience that helped me find my strength and love for myself. I learned all kinds of great lessons and might not be with my husband now if I didn’t learn what was needed.

    There are so so many who impacted me in positive ways, and I love and am grateful for each and every one of them.

  4. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    3 days ago

    As much as I want to write about someone who has impacted my life,
    I am compelled to choose a woman
    who was the bane of my existence for twenty years,
    and is apparently still doing it
    twelve years later . . .
    I dream of her frequently,
    and had a particularly disturbing dream of her
    last night.

    I managed apartments for twenty years
    in a local mansion . . .
    working with her husband was almost fun,
    as we had a good relationship.
    Unfortunately
    he died of ALS
    and she took over as my overseer.
    She could be almost pleasant,
    but for the most part
    was demanding and cruel,
    both to me
    and to some of the tenants.

    Finally,
    we were able to buy a house and move out,
    and she turned vicious,
    and made our departure very unpleasant.
    I was grateful
    as we pulled out of the driveway
    that last time.
    But then the dreams started . . .
    they were never pleasant dreams,
    but came in shades of nightmares.
    For twelve years
    I have been pondering why this is happening,
    and have no idea of how to stop them.

    She has had a great impact on my life,
    and I learned some good, hard lessons . . .
    perhaps the most important
    is equanimity,
    as I was constantly challenged
    to keep my temper
    and respond in as neutral a way as I could.
    This has served me very well,
    and is a lesson I might not have learned otherwise . . .
    for that I am grateful
    and thank her,
    but I would really like it if she moved out of my head
    at night.
    I was asked to join a political party’s local chapter,
    but when I discovered that she was the president
    I reluctantly declined.
    I never see her . . .
    we travel in different circles,
    but the trauma I felt working under her
    refuses to leave.

    1. Michele
      Michele
      2 days ago

      sounds like some kind of karmic bond perhaps … try those ‘Release/cut karmic ties/cord cutting meditations’
      Thank you for sharing Sparrow, loving kindness to you.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 days ago

        I will look into the meditations you mentioned,
        dear Michele . . .
        thank you so much
        for your care and concern. ♥

    2. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      2 days ago

      Such a strong impact this woman has had and is having on you, Sparrow. You are recognizing the potential positive she has had on you, and yet…Your dreams may be expressing post trauma stress. Don’t hesitate to seek help from someone who can help you work through this. Blessings on your days and nights, Robin.🩷

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 days ago

        Thank you,
        dear Mary,
        for your thoughtful kindness . . .
        just taking the time to write it all down
        has helped me,
        and your response
        has helped to validate my issues.
        Blessings . . . ♥

    3. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      3 days ago

      That trauma appears deeply embedded in the recesses of your being, dear Sparrow. Sending healing thoughts along with restfulness when you lay your head down for the night. Namaste.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        3 days ago

        Thank you so much for this,
        dear Joseph . . .
        it means the world to me .
        Thank you. ♥

  5. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    3 days ago

    Right now I’m volunteering to teach yoga on Fridays at the volunteer community center near me. I have meet a nice bunch of people! I wasn’t expecting that I would be included this much and they are very kind.
    Also this place where we meet each day is also a source of support- thank you for caring . I appreciate you all very much . 💓🙏

  6. Barb C
    Barb C
    3 days ago

    “Unexpected” is one of those words that can be read in multiple ways. I interacted with so many people who ended up as teachers along the way that I can’t name them all.

    When I married my first husband I didn’t expect to end up divorced. That definitely changed my life in unexpected ways. Utimately I was free to shape my own life and go in new directions. My two children shaped me into a better and more patient person. People I met through various parts of my life have become dear friends who shaped me. Bosses good and bad have helped me be a better manager and leader of others.

    As I re-read how many times I use the word “shaped” in my answer it makes me sound like formless clay. That really isn’t the case. I need to add that shaping and being shaped, impacting and being impacted, are an interactive experience. All of us shape each other every day.

    (Editorial aside: Personally I don’t like using the word “impact” as a metaphorical verb. In my line of work in transportation safety I reserve it for the actual physical event.)
    .

    1. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      2 days ago

      An “interactive experience” indeed, Barb.🩷

  7. Yram
    Yram
    3 days ago

    There is a wonderful poem about how people go in and out of our lives. Some are fleeting moments and others stay for long periods of time.
    My biological mother died when I was 21 months old. Many relatives helped my dad in raising my brother and I. My maternal grandmother was a huge influence in my life and my brothers. He tells the story of how she taught him to dance so he could feel more confident at a CYO dance. Her sweetness, gentleness, and household skills have influenced my life greatly.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 days ago

      What a beautiful story,
      dear Yram,
      of unconditional love. ♥

  8. D
    Drea
    3 days ago

    A client I worked with practiced philosophy. In order to make decisions, he asked himself questions like “how could I be wrong?” He taught me the importance of slowing down and reflecting using questions, and how that process can open up new insights.

  9. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    3 days ago

    I seek and I am open to connection.
    And if I can maintain a beginners mind (that’s right, Loc😁) I will be impacted by all encounters.
    Learning something from other people’s experiences. Letting their life seep into mine a little bit. I believe something we have lost as humans, is sitting around the fire, telling stories. Exchanging information face to face. It’s how we evolved.
    In the world that I live in, the best I can do, is to make these exchanges whenever they present themselves. At work, on the trail, at home, through the interwebs, and whenever I’m out in the world.
    Hoping for the unexpected impact.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      3 days ago

      Yes Charlie! Passing along oral traditions and tales around the fire.

    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 days ago

      “I believe something we have lost as humans, is sitting around the fire, telling stories. Exchanging information face to face.”
      I miss this too,
      dear Charlie.
      A lot was lost in that transition to technology. ♥

    3. D
      Drea
      3 days ago

      I love the way you put it, Charlie: “Letting their life seep into mine a little bit.” Reminds me of last year when I invited a stranger to pitch his tent on our site and join our campfire in a crowded campground. Turns out he was a retired prison warden, and the stories he had to tell just floored our group. I think we all came out of the exchange more open.

      1. Charlie T
        Charlie T
        3 days ago

        Exactly!

  10. Mary
    Mary Mantei
    3 days ago

    In my family of 10 children, I am one who has not been tribal. I love my family, all my siblings, and I am quite different than most. Certainly, I have shared values with some, with others less so. I don’t think this is unique in large families. I remember feeling at times, my parents weren’t quite sure what to do with me. I was not special, just different. And what I also remember is later in my life, when I left home, my parents support of their daughter who made them scratch their head at times, to put it mildly. I remember my Father sharing some wisdom that made a significant difference in my life when I had some opportunities and choices to make that I was uncertain about. I didn’t go to him for direction, rather he would ask about my life, and I would share honestly. And then he would sum up his thoughts in a wise pearl that would really get my attention because it was simple and gave me another perspective with no shoulds attached.
    So, to sum this up, my parents would be at the top of my list for people who supported me in unexpected ways. 🩷

    1. D
      Drea
      3 days ago

      Your parents sound like kind and understanding people. What a gift to have support from parents who acknowledge the differences between you while being open to understanding.

      1. Mary
        Mary Mantei
        2 days ago

        Thank you, Drea, your words are true. Yesterday was the 36th anniversary of my Dad’s passing. 🩷

  11. Michele
    Michele
    3 days ago

    Various people have impacted my life in unexpected ways such as past teachers, co-workers, friends …
    “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get” [Forrest Gump]

  12. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol
    3 days ago

    I guess I would have to say that I never expected the anger and immaturity I’m witnessing in my country these days. I don’t think there is a single person who crosses my path who doesn’t feel some impact from it. I know I do and I try my best to be kind to all.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      3 days ago

      I have been registered unaffiliated since I registered to vote 49 1/2 years ago. Like Bob Dylan sang in Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35,

      Well, they’ll stone you when you’re tryin’ to be so good
      They’ll stone you just like they said they would

      Agreed to the banality of the entire bizzarro world of a shit show that is politics in the USA, 2025.

      1. Michele
        Michele
        2 days ago

        great song and 100% agree

      2. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 days ago

        “Well, they’ll stone you when you’re tryin’ to be so good
        They’ll stone you just like they said they would””

        I remember this song so well,
        dear Joseph,
        and it’s true,
        so true.” )

    2. Robin Ann
      Robin Ann
      3 days ago

      For sure!

    3. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 days ago

      I am on the same, painful page,
      dear Carol. ♥

    4. Jimm Hooley47508
      Jim
      3 days ago

      Agree

    5. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 days ago

      Yes!

    6. Yram
      Yram
      3 days ago

      I agree.

  13. Carla
    Carla
    3 days ago

    I have a grade school friend who continues to touch my life. We sat alphabetically in those middle 1960’s classrooms. We were given the gift of friendship where we can pick up where we left off and banter easily. We lost track of each other for a few years, as he was busy raising children with his wife, and I entrenched in my career. We each encountered a similar health crisis. I survived mine first and could reach out to him when his time came. Fast forward, we text daily and talk every few weeks. He is a cherished gift.

    1. D
      Drea
      3 days ago

      I love having friends with whom to pick up where we left off … feeling like no time has passed. He sounds like a special person.

  14. D
    Dawn Elaine Bowie
    3 days ago

    I’m adopted. During my early years I assumed there would be some deeper connection with the people with whom I shared DNA than the folks who turned their lives inside out to choose me and raise me. My biological parents married years after I was born and had three more kids. I located and met them when I was in my twenties and, in my thirties moved near them, still chasing that deeper connection. It wasn’t there. I already had what I needed in my adopted parents. After Mama died and about the time Daddy was failing, I learned my biological dad had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, so I just started calling him and talking. He is in full remission now. At Christmas I went back just to visit. All the time I had was one day, but it was worth it. I discovered I’m a lot like him. Far more than I realized, right down to how I interact with people. How lucky am I? He’s 90 and the only one of four parents I have left, but he’s a treasure.

    1. Patti
      sunnypatti
      3 days ago

      I commend you for trying to form a connection after what happened, and am so happy that you have a relationship with your biological father now.

    2. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      3 days ago

      Dawn Elaine, your story is so tender, thank you for sharing with us. May your time with your biological father be precious.🩷

  15. Joseph
    Joseph McCann
    3 days ago

    There have been many in my so-called life that have impacted me in many ways. Some good and some not so good. But something can and has been gleaned from all. One in particular was Daniel Campos. A fellow from Michoacan state in Mexico. He went with me as camp tender when we trailed the sheep from Los Brazos of northern New Mexico to Blue Lake along the great divide in the San Juan’s of southern Colorado. I thought I knew how to pack a mule or a horse. Daniel showed me really how, and how to even pack our dry wood in bundles from one camp to the next. We lived together for the 6 weeks or so in the Blue Lake area. I saw him off and on the rest of the summer when we got back to Henry’s ranch in Los Brazos. Never saw him again after that summer some 43 or so years ago. I have never forgotten the time we lived together high up in the mountains. Peace and Love

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 days ago

      We never know,
      over time,
      what impact a person might have on us,
      dear Joseph,
      or what impact we might make on other people.

    2. D
      Drea
      3 days ago

      Sounds like a magical time, I feel like I’m there with you just by reading your words.

    3. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      3 days ago

      Such a beautiful story, Joseph. I believe I remember you writing once that everyone you meet has something to teach you. You have operated from that stance a very long time. Now you have me thinking about Daniel Campos and chance encounters in our lives. May you both be well.

Subscribe to Grateful Living

Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Customize your subscription