As my gratitude, for being given this gift of life, has grown: I think it has shifted how I look at experiences and other folks.
I experience more love for others, have more patience and less hurt and frustration, and am able to forgive a bit more easily, and have an anchor of deep, silent joy.
Withdrawal and being less defensive because of fear has become much less, i guess; usually responding instead of reacting as well in tempting situations; Just being grateful for the beauty of life quite often, being with loved ones and my fellow people in heart with presence and with more awareness of the presence of everlasting unconditional Love. Deep gratefulness arises much more often, where silent joy is present and space for creativity in mind and arts seem to widen. Thank you all dearly from my heart for sharing here.
How has living gratefully changed the way I show up in the world?
. . . in every way.
In my poetic, romantic heart
I would like to describe my life
now that I am living gratefully . . .
from Carole King’s words:
“My life has been a tapestry
Of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision
Of the ever-changing view
A wond’rous woven magic
In bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see
Impossible to hold”
But there is so much more to it than that now . . .
there are the dirty hands from planting,
tired feet from climbing,
the sorrow from losing my brother,
the pain of my abductor muscle being pulled and torn.
There is grief for the world that rises up within me,
blood on my hands
from tending to a doe
as the light leaves her eyes.
It’s all there,
mixed up and sewn into that tapestry,
making it richer and darker and deeper
than it ever would have been without it . . .
I am grateful for all of my life,
that bad,
the good,
and the ugly,
and that is how I show up in the world.
I’m more relaxed and open to different options. I used to be attached to things going a certain way, and would be upset when they didn’t. With gratefulness, I can go with the flow more, adapt to changing circumstances, and not get upset when things don’t go the way I thought they would. I also feel humble more often.
Living with gratefulness in mind helps me in encounters that I might anticipate as having some negative interactions or outcomes. I try to set myself up with an attitude of genuine curiosity going in, and to be grateful for what I learn that I didn’t know, even and especially when it’s a perspective I might want to disagree with. Their truth is their truth, just as mine is mine, and I need to respect that. I hope this means I’m showing up as open and genuinely listening to understand.
I’ve always been aware of my general good fortune, thanks to my mom giving me that grounding early in my childhood. Coming to this site every morning (well, most mornings) keeps that awareness alive as I move through the world. Gratefulness brings compassion. Young, thoughtless teenager me might have viewed certain people with fear or distaste despite Mom’s role modeling. Wiser, older, gentler me thinks that they must have had some challenges in their lives that led them to where they are now, so much less fortunate than I have been. I feel sadness and compassion, not fear.
On a different topic, I wanted to share Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s beautiful poem of the day with all of you gardeners and tenders-of-nature out there (I especially think of Sparrow and Joseph, but I am sure there are many others as well who spend much time and effort nourishing your gardens). This is from her blog, https://ahundredfallingveils.com/
Just When I Ache with How Much Humans Can Hate
June 28, 2025 by Rosemerry
Nina takes me by the hand
and runs with me through the garden,
earthen angel in a pale green skirt,
her long silver hair flies behind her,
and I laugh as she tugs me
past snap peas, arugula, broccoli,
and red lettuce leaves. We duck
beneath the rose-covered bower and
emerge into the open lawn, pass deep,
deep purple clematis, to enter another
garden where the evening primrose
flowers that bloom for only one night
are blooming, eight bright
yellow blooms! For each of them,
this is the night. Itās so fleeting,
this beauty. So fleeting, this life.
Long after I leave the garden, I think
of Nina tending these primrosesā
so much work for such brief joy.
Or is the secret to know the work
itself the is the lasting sparkāputting
ourselves in service to something
that blooms in the dark.
Oh my goodness, I came across, last year, a flower that only blooms only one night a year: The Queen of the Night (Peniocereus greggii).
What a gift to behold growing wild up a tree, and so fragrant, but so fleeting. It was such I gift I will always remember, and yes- in that moment of awe, all ugliness and hatred evaporates.
Thank you Elizabeth for sharing. I will follow your link to this poetš
This poem is so beautiful,
dear Elizabeth,
and I am grateful you posted it here,
and have now introduced me
to yet another sacred soul.
I hadn’t heard of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer,
but will be using your link
to read more about her.
Thank you . . . thank you
Namaste
I am more likely to pause in the middle of my day and notice what is around me with gratitude. This in turn nourishes my daily activities so that I am a little more present and joyful. Lately, I have also been taking an idea from the recent Stop Look Go pathway and āsavoring waitingā and using it as an āopportunity for heightened awarenessā. So I am a little more present and patient than what I had been.
Expanding upon my reply to Antoinette’s answer, I feel lighter and closer to my root people with integrity. As I’ve said before, all matters relating to strategy is high risk high reward and can get exhausting.
I have not been answering the daily question in recent days and will refrain from answering it today but I have been visiting the site daily and drawing strength from the answers shared by others. Thank you all for being here and sharing your wisdom. I am extremely grateful for each and everyone of you.
Living gratefully has helped open my heart to all of life. It’s a deeper appreciation for being able to live this life and for all of the world around me. It helps me show up knowing that what I do effects everything around me and in me, so I show up with love, grace, and compassion.
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As my gratitude, for being given this gift of life, has grown: I think it has shifted how I look at experiences and other folks.
I experience more love for others, have more patience and less hurt and frustration, and am able to forgive a bit more easily, and have an anchor of deep, silent joy.
“an anchor of deep, silent joy”– that is beautiful!
Withdrawal and being less defensive because of fear has become much less, i guess; usually responding instead of reacting as well in tempting situations; Just being grateful for the beauty of life quite often, being with loved ones and my fellow people in heart with presence and with more awareness of the presence of everlasting unconditional Love. Deep gratefulness arises much more often, where silent joy is present and space for creativity in mind and arts seem to widen. Thank you all dearly from my heart for sharing here.
Hi Ose Nice to see you here again. I feel like I havenāt seen you lately. Thank you too .
How has living gratefully changed the way I show up in the world?
. . . in every way.
In my poetic, romantic heart
I would like to describe my life
now that I am living gratefully . . .
from Carole King’s words:
“My life has been a tapestry
Of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision
Of the ever-changing view
A wond’rous woven magic
In bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see
Impossible to hold”
But there is so much more to it than that now . . .
there are the dirty hands from planting,
tired feet from climbing,
the sorrow from losing my brother,
the pain of my abductor muscle being pulled and torn.
There is grief for the world that rises up within me,
blood on my hands
from tending to a doe
as the light leaves her eyes.
It’s all there,
mixed up and sewn into that tapestry,
making it richer and darker and deeper
than it ever would have been without it . . .
I am grateful for all of my life,
that bad,
the good,
and the ugly,
and that is how I show up in the world.
Living gratefully
gave me that. ā„
I think I am less self conscious,
and more conscious of appreciating others, appreciating nature, and appreciating my life.
I’m more relaxed and open to different options. I used to be attached to things going a certain way, and would be upset when they didn’t. With gratefulness, I can go with the flow more, adapt to changing circumstances, and not get upset when things don’t go the way I thought they would. I also feel humble more often.
Grateful living has given me a greater appreciation for the world around me.
I appreciate so many more things, people, places, Mother Nature that I took for granted.
I see through eyes of love, joy, contentment.
Simple things that really are not that simple, cause me pause & awe.
I see more.
I feel more.
I value more.
My appreciation is unlimited. āØāØāØ
I am blessed.šļøš©·
Living with gratefulness in mind helps me in encounters that I might anticipate as having some negative interactions or outcomes. I try to set myself up with an attitude of genuine curiosity going in, and to be grateful for what I learn that I didn’t know, even and especially when it’s a perspective I might want to disagree with. Their truth is their truth, just as mine is mine, and I need to respect that. I hope this means I’m showing up as open and genuinely listening to understand.
I’ve always been aware of my general good fortune, thanks to my mom giving me that grounding early in my childhood. Coming to this site every morning (well, most mornings) keeps that awareness alive as I move through the world. Gratefulness brings compassion. Young, thoughtless teenager me might have viewed certain people with fear or distaste despite Mom’s role modeling. Wiser, older, gentler me thinks that they must have had some challenges in their lives that led them to where they are now, so much less fortunate than I have been. I feel sadness and compassion, not fear.
On a different topic, I wanted to share Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s beautiful poem of the day with all of you gardeners and tenders-of-nature out there (I especially think of Sparrow and Joseph, but I am sure there are many others as well who spend much time and effort nourishing your gardens). This is from her blog, https://ahundredfallingveils.com/
Just When I Ache with How Much Humans Can Hate
June 28, 2025 by Rosemerry
Nina takes me by the hand
and runs with me through the garden,
earthen angel in a pale green skirt,
her long silver hair flies behind her,
and I laugh as she tugs me
past snap peas, arugula, broccoli,
and red lettuce leaves. We duck
beneath the rose-covered bower and
emerge into the open lawn, pass deep,
deep purple clematis, to enter another
garden where the evening primrose
flowers that bloom for only one night
are blooming, eight bright
yellow blooms! For each of them,
this is the night. Itās so fleeting,
this beauty. So fleeting, this life.
Long after I leave the garden, I think
of Nina tending these primrosesā
so much work for such brief joy.
Or is the secret to know the work
itself the is the lasting sparkāputting
ourselves in service to something
that blooms in the dark.
You may also enjoy a book
The Tree In the Ancient Forest.
Oh my goodness, I came across, last year, a flower that only blooms only one night a year: The Queen of the Night (Peniocereus greggii).
What a gift to behold growing wild up a tree, and so fragrant, but so fleeting. It was such I gift I will always remember, and yes- in that moment of awe, all ugliness and hatred evaporates.
Thank you Elizabeth for sharing. I will follow your link to this poetš
š±š¦ Thank you Elizabeth. I had not read that work by Rosemary Wahtola Trommer.
This poem is so beautiful,
dear Elizabeth,
and I am grateful you posted it here,
and have now introduced me
to yet another sacred soul.
I hadn’t heard of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer,
but will be using your link
to read more about her.
Thank you . . . thank you
Namaste
I have been a fan of Rosemerryās for a long time. I love her poetry.
Thanks for sharing. š©·
I’m a Rosemerry fan (read that poem just minutes before coming here as part of my morning poetry routine) and a gardener. I’m glad you shared this.
Hopefully, I show up with a little more understanding and a little less judgment.
I am more likely to pause in the middle of my day and notice what is around me with gratitude. This in turn nourishes my daily activities so that I am a little more present and joyful. Lately, I have also been taking an idea from the recent Stop Look Go pathway and āsavoring waitingā and using it as an āopportunity for heightened awarenessā. So I am a little more present and patient than what I had been.
What a beautiful reminder ELIZABETH H thank you for this .
It has changed my perspective and has been grounding for me.
Wishing all a peaceful relaxing Sunday:)
Expanding upon my reply to Antoinette’s answer, I feel lighter and closer to my root people with integrity. As I’ve said before, all matters relating to strategy is high risk high reward and can get exhausting.
I have not been answering the daily question in recent days and will refrain from answering it today but I have been visiting the site daily and drawing strength from the answers shared by others. Thank you all for being here and sharing your wisdom. I am extremely grateful for each and everyone of you.
Thank you for letting us know.
Blessings on you.
Peace, love, kindness and compassion dear Carol.
Thank you Carol, I’m grateful for you too.
Love & hugs Carol. ā„ļøš¤
You are missed,
dear Carol,
but will return when you are ready . . .
in the meantime,
know that you are held
with love . . . ā„
sparrow
I am grateful for you, Carol, and offer you peace and hugs.
Carol, sending you loving kindness. š
Thank you CAROL š Iām grateful for you too.
Loving kindness to you Carol š¤
I feel calmer and enjoy things in a more appreciative way.
Same.
Living gratefully has helped open my heart to all of life. It’s a deeper appreciation for being able to live this life and for all of the world around me. It helps me show up knowing that what I do effects everything around me and in me, so I show up with love, grace, and compassion.
Ripple effects yes and we touch each other lives in every way ! Thank you SUNNYPATTI!