It is Friday and I have the week-end to do whatever i want lol. I do not have any set in stone plans.
My town did give over 55 folks an option to see a free Xmas music show (classical x-mas music) at a little Theater in town on Sunday. I may do that.
My son had free tickets to an event (from his co-worker) last night but ended up too late to go. Once the show started they would not let you in so we went out for Chinese food instead and caught up on life!. One on one time & slowing down was way better anyway! ✨
As long as I am living and breathing
all feelings flourish within me . . .
at any moment
sorrow might come out of the shadows
and fill me up with grief and compassion,
when I see what our fellow human beings are doing to each other . . .
a man
kills and dismembers his wife.
Really?
I mean
Really?
One country bombs another,
destroying cities and towns,
along with their inhabitants.
Really?
Torturing people for the sheer joy of it?
Really?
Despoiling the earth with drills and chemicals?
Come on,
Really?
I stand alone and watch it all unfold,
untouched . . .
they haven’t found me yet.
Personally,
I am not a victim
yet.
But my heart is wounded.
It is only Grace that saves me . . .
she is always there,
waiting quietly
to move in when grief and pain have done their thing.
She brings the gift of joy into the ravaged places in my spirit,
and heals me with her wisdom.
I only have the smallest glimpse of it,
but she tells me that all is
and will be well.
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5, KJV).
Joy is alive
in this moment of realization. ♥
ps. Special thoughts
are going out to Barb C,
as she hasn’t been here for a few days
and there is terrible flooding going on
on the Northwest coast.
Sparrow, I too feel sorrow and disbelief at the terrible pain and violence in the world.
I guess what brings relief to me are the small joys and kindnesses I experience each day.
But how can such terror and such lightness be happening in two places at the same time?
I don’t know. I can only do what I can in my small way to bring some love and light. ♥️
Thank you so much for the kind concern, Sparrow! I’ve had a very full week with a staff retreat and many early morning meetings that kept me from the space other than putting hearts on some comments and a couple of replies.
I’m fortunate to be in a part of western Washington that isn’t directly affected by the flooding, although i’m watching out for members of my staff and family who live in other areas that are affected.
It seems that it is and is not, all at once in the very moment. To hold it both in heart. Left and right. Grateful for another day. May blessings of Grace be with you, and with Barb C also.
Joy (and some excitement that hopefully all will be well for the participants) in being allowed to accompany a group of meditators around new year´s time; in looking forward to soon visiting my father in his elderly home for several days, happy to see him and share precious time with him so that he might feel comforted, as me and my siblings live far away. It will be just beautiful to meet him, no matter the condition he might be in. Joy for having the chance to meet dear friends these days also. In my work there will be a major change which might offer some space for caring even more focused, which might as well open space for whatever shows up to be then. This is really an exciting possibility. And there is a plan to spend a prolonged weekend in snow, where I usually feel refreshed as if having had two weeks of holidays. May you all be blessed with joy in your heart, too.
Ose. That’s very nice of you. I can see your father appreciating it. Elderly people are lonely. My old school ways can relate to them. They value quality time.
What age are you, dear Loc Tran? My father is 96 and forgets that i have been there the moment i turn around to leave and he believes the next moment i haven´t been there for weeks. It is sad to see him sad, so when he might be able to see some light for a moment, it makes me happy, and sometimes, sad also to see him like this. Quality time is something different, but to offer some comfort to him makes him happy and so it does to me then.
Joy is felt within every fiber of my being right now, as I’ve survived this bout of flue. Thank you online buddies from Grateful Living who’ve sent thoughts, or words, or prayers. Blessings back to you! I do have a medical note book, not extensive, but it works. I found i had the flue back in 2016- I knew it was ages ago. And it’s funny I think, close to 10 years is ages. Course that’s a decade. I’ll return to the now. Wonderful neighbors have shoveled me out of 2 dumping’s of snow this week. I’ll head in to work for a half day, as I know my stamina isn’t fully up yet. Friday Blessings of having a restful weekend amidst the bustle of this Season. ❄️☮️🫶🏽
As I sit here in the early morning dark, Christmas tree lights illuminating the house, one cat getting pets, the other sleeping soundly, the rest of the house still in bed, the furnace doing its job to keep us warm. It should be easy to feel joy.
Yet, my mind goes to the suffering and the struggles of so many people. There is a guilt that comes with my experiencing joy. Not only for others, but for myself as well. Shouldn’t I be worrying about my finances? Worrying about work schedules? Worrying about the people I love and if they love me back? So much to worry about. The list goes on and on. Big and small things. It’s so easy to be consumed by all of this.
I’m grateful to have this gratitude practice to come back to. Grateful for this moment to pause and take stock of my good fortune. And with this comes some joy. Gratitude can definitely bring me to joy.
I’m grateful for all of you that share here. I hope you all can find joy on this December day. 🙏
I can find it hard to settle into joy and contentment, Charlie. This is especially noticeable to me during the holidays, with the beautiful lights and symbols of the season. (I remember feeling this way during the holidays going back to my early teens.)
I too feel guilty feeling joy when there is so much suffering in the world. But then I come back to my gratefulness practice and all feels new. Thank you for sharing here Charlie. I relate to so much of what you say.
“Doom loops” . . . Drea . . . . and knowing many troubles and very few of them occurred. The energy spent and anxiety endured, along with gratefulness, has helped me to not worry, future trip, catastrophize or doom loop nearly as much and currently those feelings of dread are moving like molasses in cold weather, Charlie. My noggin feels much lighter.
I can picture you sitting there,
dear Charlie,
with your cats and your Christmas lights,
thinking all these things
in the quiet of early morning.
Coming to this place
grounds and centers me as well,
and helps with the ”survivor’s guilt”
I sometimes feel too.
You have made my day
a little brighter
by your presence. ♥
Thank you, dear Charlie, for your reflection. So easy to get into worry, i know that, too. To decide for gratefulness in times of doubt or worry is really a way out of this “hell”. Thank you for the reminder..
Michele, we usually lose that as we grow up. In my case with a few part-time piano performing jobs and a stable love life, that Christmas spirit has made a return, especially in the way I’m playing those songs on the piano.
The same place as disappointment. The same place as stillness and cacophony. The same place as light and dark. As Loc Tran stated below: “Everywhere” Peace, Love & Enough.
Joseph, your response makes me feel flattered. On a serious note, I love how you talked about perceiving joy in disappointment. There are life lessons and all feelings come and go.
Joy is alive right here and now ! Where else could it be ? I think Thay would say- happiness is right here right now help yourself to it ! Thank you so much universe for cleaning 🧼 up my dirty mind filled with opinions, discernment, judgement- all the thought mass that overlaps Truth! I’m so grateful! ☺️
Have a lovely happy day!
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It is Friday and I have the week-end to do whatever i want lol. I do not have any set in stone plans.
My town did give over 55 folks an option to see a free Xmas music show (classical x-mas music) at a little Theater in town on Sunday. I may do that.
My son had free tickets to an event (from his co-worker) last night but ended up too late to go. Once the show started they would not let you in so we went out for Chinese food instead and caught up on life!. One on one time & slowing down was way better anyway! ✨
As long as I am living and breathing
all feelings flourish within me . . .
at any moment
sorrow might come out of the shadows
and fill me up with grief and compassion,
when I see what our fellow human beings are doing to each other . . .
a man
kills and dismembers his wife.
Really?
I mean
Really?
One country bombs another,
destroying cities and towns,
along with their inhabitants.
Really?
Torturing people for the sheer joy of it?
Really?
Despoiling the earth with drills and chemicals?
Come on,
Really?
I stand alone and watch it all unfold,
untouched . . .
they haven’t found me yet.
Personally,
I am not a victim
yet.
But my heart is wounded.
It is only Grace that saves me . . .
she is always there,
waiting quietly
to move in when grief and pain have done their thing.
She brings the gift of joy into the ravaged places in my spirit,
and heals me with her wisdom.
I only have the smallest glimpse of it,
but she tells me that all is
and will be well.
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5, KJV).
Joy is alive
in this moment of realization. ♥
ps. Special thoughts
are going out to Barb C,
as she hasn’t been here for a few days
and there is terrible flooding going on
on the Northwest coast.
Sparrow, I too feel sorrow and disbelief at the terrible pain and violence in the world.
I guess what brings relief to me are the small joys and kindnesses I experience each day.
But how can such terror and such lightness be happening in two places at the same time?
I don’t know. I can only do what I can in my small way to bring some love and light. ♥️
Thank you so much for the kind concern, Sparrow! I’ve had a very full week with a staff retreat and many early morning meetings that kept me from the space other than putting hearts on some comments and a couple of replies.
I’m fortunate to be in a part of western Washington that isn’t directly affected by the flooding, although i’m watching out for members of my staff and family who live in other areas that are affected.
I am happy to know that you are all right,
dear Barb,
and well. ♥
It seems that it is and is not, all at once in the very moment. To hold it both in heart. Left and right. Grateful for another day. May blessings of Grace be with you, and with Barb C also.
Joy (and some excitement that hopefully all will be well for the participants) in being allowed to accompany a group of meditators around new year´s time; in looking forward to soon visiting my father in his elderly home for several days, happy to see him and share precious time with him so that he might feel comforted, as me and my siblings live far away. It will be just beautiful to meet him, no matter the condition he might be in. Joy for having the chance to meet dear friends these days also. In my work there will be a major change which might offer some space for caring even more focused, which might as well open space for whatever shows up to be then. This is really an exciting possibility. And there is a plan to spend a prolonged weekend in snow, where I usually feel refreshed as if having had two weeks of holidays. May you all be blessed with joy in your heart, too.
I hope the visit with your father,
and your siblings,
dear Ose,
is one of joy and celebration
with love . . . ♥
Ose. That’s very nice of you. I can see your father appreciating it. Elderly people are lonely. My old school ways can relate to them. They value quality time.
What age are you, dear Loc Tran? My father is 96 and forgets that i have been there the moment i turn around to leave and he believes the next moment i haven´t been there for weeks. It is sad to see him sad, so when he might be able to see some light for a moment, it makes me happy, and sometimes, sad also to see him like this. Quality time is something different, but to offer some comfort to him makes him happy and so it does to me then.
Ose, I’ll be 34 next month but am more of an old soul. I’m quite old school for my age group in the way I behave and think.
Feeling joy is hard for me this morning but I do feel grateful for another day.
❤️
Maybe Joy will find you,
when you least expect it,
dear Carol Ann . . .
I have faith that it will. ♥
love this
Joy is felt within every fiber of my being right now, as I’ve survived this bout of flue. Thank you online buddies from Grateful Living who’ve sent thoughts, or words, or prayers. Blessings back to you! I do have a medical note book, not extensive, but it works. I found i had the flue back in 2016- I knew it was ages ago. And it’s funny I think, close to 10 years is ages. Course that’s a decade. I’ll return to the now. Wonderful neighbors have shoveled me out of 2 dumping’s of snow this week. I’ll head in to work for a half day, as I know my stamina isn’t fully up yet. Friday Blessings of having a restful weekend amidst the bustle of this Season. ❄️☮️🫶🏽
I am grateful
you are feeling better,
dear Carla. ♥
all good wishes to get completely well soon, dear Carla. May you have a cozy weekend and full recovery soon.
As I sit here in the early morning dark, Christmas tree lights illuminating the house, one cat getting pets, the other sleeping soundly, the rest of the house still in bed, the furnace doing its job to keep us warm. It should be easy to feel joy.
Yet, my mind goes to the suffering and the struggles of so many people. There is a guilt that comes with my experiencing joy. Not only for others, but for myself as well. Shouldn’t I be worrying about my finances? Worrying about work schedules? Worrying about the people I love and if they love me back? So much to worry about. The list goes on and on. Big and small things. It’s so easy to be consumed by all of this.
I’m grateful to have this gratitude practice to come back to. Grateful for this moment to pause and take stock of my good fortune. And with this comes some joy. Gratitude can definitely bring me to joy.
I’m grateful for all of you that share here. I hope you all can find joy on this December day. 🙏
I can find it hard to settle into joy and contentment, Charlie. This is especially noticeable to me during the holidays, with the beautiful lights and symbols of the season. (I remember feeling this way during the holidays going back to my early teens.)
I too feel guilty feeling joy when there is so much suffering in the world. But then I come back to my gratefulness practice and all feels new. Thank you for sharing here Charlie. I relate to so much of what you say.
“Doom loops” . . . Drea . . . . and knowing many troubles and very few of them occurred. The energy spent and anxiety endured, along with gratefulness, has helped me to not worry, future trip, catastrophize or doom loop nearly as much and currently those feelings of dread are moving like molasses in cold weather, Charlie. My noggin feels much lighter.
I can picture you sitting there,
dear Charlie,
with your cats and your Christmas lights,
thinking all these things
in the quiet of early morning.
Coming to this place
grounds and centers me as well,
and helps with the ”survivor’s guilt”
I sometimes feel too.
You have made my day
a little brighter
by your presence. ♥
Thank you, dear Charlie, for your reflection. So easy to get into worry, i know that, too. To decide for gratefulness in times of doubt or worry is really a way out of this “hell”. Thank you for the reminder..
♥️
In coffee and cool air.
I feel joy alive with the Christmas spirit – I love giving and am excited for Christmas time with family.
Michele, we usually lose that as we grow up. In my case with a few part-time piano performing jobs and a stable love life, that Christmas spirit has made a return, especially in the way I’m playing those songs on the piano.
I’m sure the guests love it and it is peaceful and calming ☮
In my mind, in my heart, and in my home. The dogs are snoozing on their beds, and our girl, Reese, is snoring… it is the cutest thing!
So cozy! wishing you a joyful weekend with your beloved pets and your Reese.
In my heart, whenever I want to perceive it. ♥
It is there,
in your heart,
dear Ngoc
waiting for
whenever you want to see it. ♥
My Ngoc, this reminds me of myself setting aside personal agendas. Pulling strings takes us away from perceiving joy.
Joy is alive in the sweet memories of recent time spent with my grandchildren.
The same place as disappointment. The same place as stillness and cacophony. The same place as light and dark. As Loc Tran stated below: “Everywhere” Peace, Love & Enough.
Joseph, your response makes me feel flattered. On a serious note, I love how you talked about perceiving joy in disappointment. There are life lessons and all feelings come and go.
There is joy that my nieces may be present at my birthday celebration on the 21st.
Everywhere
Spot on,
dear Loc . . . ♥
Joy is alive right here and now ! Where else could it be ? I think Thay would say- happiness is right here right now help yourself to it ! Thank you so much universe for cleaning 🧼 up my dirty mind filled with opinions, discernment, judgement- all the thought mass that overlaps Truth! I’m so grateful! ☺️
Have a lovely happy day!
This would be wonderful,, dear Sparrow.. Thank you for your kind reply., Love is it, isn.´t it?