today’s quiet happenings made a difference: my host who does not know me well made a salad dinner, and we ate together on her porch while the afternoon cooled off. We watched the hummingbirds chase each other off the feeder as they do and hesitantly shared stories of our lives; hesitantly since we are both introverts.
Olive the dog thrust her muzzle into my arm every once in a while, gazed into my eyes and licked my bare feet. I’d say that’s love.
Comforting in a gentle way ,especially today when I’m discouraged about my broken wrist.
Love that came through the dear ones touching in tenderly, through that energy of Love in all its thousandfold and still One eternal blissful song, like through my beloved sister since I was born, the love of my parents who did their best to offer what they could to us kids to make unfolding possible into a life of our wish; through my teacher in arts at school, inspiring unspoken beauty to appear through his broad teaching, through my friend who until today is offering her heart when we meet; through my dear friend who was there since the first day at university and still is, who knows and values aspects we deeply share while each is listening to and following the individual call; through the love of my partner who left and taught me so much about what had been covered up in both of us; through the deeply touching love between my godchild and me, as well as through so many dear kindred hearts and beloved friends and loved ones who let the Light of Love shine into my world as well as into the world of other kindred hearts when it becomes dark sometimes. Thank you most dearly to you all.
Everyone who has ever touched me
has made a difference in my life . . .
whether I was loved or not,
and I’ve been loved in so many ways
that I hardly know where to start.
In the past few years,
my husband’s love
has made an unfathomable difference,
and I don’t know if he knows just how much . . .
when I say something
he says, “I’m just being me,”
or makes a joke of it,
but I think I need to get the message across
in a much bigger way.
The real impact of it
started when I was having trouble with my hips and knees.
Until then
I rarely asked for help,
and could do many things that women often find beneath themselves to do,
calling it men’s work.
(no offense,
dear ladies,
but there are people in my area who think like that)
I could change out the back of a toilet,
build and repair shelves and cupboards,
do lots of things on ladders,
and the list goes on.
I was self-sufficient.
But when the trouble started
my husband willingly pitched in
and expressed his concern often . . .
he watched and made suggestions
and supported me through all of the injections
and then through the surgery to replace my hip.
At first,
I was embarrassed,
but he seamlessly stepped in
and did the shopping, the cooking, and the laundry . . .
he still does the vacuuming
because it’s really painful for my back.
I’ve taken my tasks back as I’ve been able
and I’m sure he feels some relief,
but he still pitches in much more than he used to.
He has also become more tender and kind with me,
makes me feel safe and comfortable . . .
and loved.
I didn’t have any of that for most of my life,
but he has given me space to heal from those years
and I am more than grateful for that,
as I never thought that would happen at all,
even during the first fifteen-twenty years or so
that had been together.
We’ve had the wake up call,
and are really settling down to the business of living
We are ripening now . . .
our priorities have shifted,
and I believe that adversity
and the realization that our time here is finite,
has made us pay more attention what is really important.
It’s not youth,
it’s not money,
it’s not ‘things’,
or accomplishments
it’s not even health . . .
it is the heart.
It is Love.
His love
has enabled me to reach out and love others. ♥
My sister Mary’s. She helps me financially so there’s that. She’s successful and a mover and shaker. She has a great zest for life, which I admire. We have spoken through the decades. We are lifelong friends. I’m lucky to have her!
All the love that’s ever been shared with me has made a difference. But of course, the love from my wife makes a difference every day. And her love helped me when I needed it most.
I am thankful for the love I received growing up from all my family, mom, dad, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.
I am thankful for the love of friends, some still here others departed.
My late husband.
I am thankful for the love of my beautiful daughter & her husband. My daughter is thee best gift I have ever received. 🙏🏻🩷
My cousin Lisa & her husband have showered me with so much love & kindness I am forever thankful.
The love of the Divine, the Universe, is my guide, my North Star. 🙏🏻
And the love I have for Myself……🩷
🕊️🩷
Every time someone shares their love it makes a difference in my life. So many of you shared kind words to me yesterday, and in the recent days. I am so deeply appreciative and I feel the love. Thank you everyone for being here and for being generous and loving.
I would say that love doesn’t make a difference to me, because I originally came into this world through love, just like a little fish in water, where water is the very source of its survival. No effect can be observed, as it is simply a part of life. 😍 I can’t imagine how my life would be if I lived without love.
If I can’t love myself, I can’t love anyone. Self-love is not selfish. It’s swagger. Outside of that, if I have to choose people, the easiest 2 choices are Ngoc and my mom. Ngoc is very playful making life more fun. Having someone who’s affectionate feels warm.
As far as my mom goes, she’s a direct communicator. I appreciate that. I used to be uncomfortable, but those days have passed. People with autism need more directive communication. I have traits of highly sensitive people, but there’s more evidence that supports me having autism from doctors and on documents. What matters is that I live my life well. Fortunately, my autism is minor enough that I understand the needs of the highly sensitive group and how my natural abilities align with them. That’s why I stick more with speaking about autism. I’m a blunt communicator like my mom except that she’s even more blunt than me. Bluntness helps me understand what I’m doing right and wrong.
Both Ngoc and my mom make me comfortable being myself in different ways. Ngoc’s sensitive and empathetic nature makes me feel like I have a longer leash. My mom’s directness helps me be more assertive, especially if Ngoc and I run into conflict which is quite rare these days.
My parents, siblings, and many other family members and friends. My husband has made a huge difference, loving me so deeply and the way I deserve to be loved. I didn’t have that in my first marriage (and that’s okay), so feeling safe with Konrad’s love and commitment to our relationship is really wonderful. But the real person whose love made a difference, who made it possible for me to receive true love from others, is my own. When I learned to love myself, my entire world changed. That was after I left my ex. I spent much needed time by myself, healing and growing, and then life just started to blossom in ways I never imagined. And now here I am today with my dog, Reese, staring at me from her bed. Windows open (in August!) listening to the rain come down. Sharing with this beautiful community whose love has also made quite the difference. Thank you 🙂
I echo a few others when I say, all the love I have received flows from one source. Antoinette called it the Universe and Jenifer named individuals and groups. Love is love is love and so many people have been the conduit for the greatest gift. I’ve been deeply blesses—even this morning to get an email from a participant in my wellness program who is welling over with gratitude for our classes. Sometimes the love is my daughter wanting to share something funny from school. Other times, it’s kitty bump. Love is love and every moment and every drop expands my heart.
Everyone’s, from my family and friends and partner to my AA groups and meditation group and y’all’s. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for love. And for that I am grateful. 🙏🏽🧡
I use the word “love” sparingly because it means different things to different people. I will say that the care and concern of many people has made a difference in my life. Mostly because they taught me to love and accept myself. I think that love is not just a feeling. We truly have to make a decision to love. I share two of my poems from 2009.
Love is a word in Hip Hop Oct 09
By Carol Ann Conner
Love is a word. We say it a lot.
misuse it, abuse it, forsake it for naught.
It’s sometimes a verb with feelings deferred.
We love this, love that, it’s frankly absurd.
It’s often a noun, subjective in sound
objective in speech, a wailing, a screech for attention.
It can be a farce, filled with remorse,
love-feast, love-sick, love affair, divorce.
But when cupid’s dart touches my heart,
it lovingly starts a revolution of sorts.
But, true love’s illusive, inclusive and rare,
deliberate, decisive, egoistically-bare to the bone
Yes, love is a word that we need make flesh
a vulnerable stance, a powerful chance to make a difference.
Love Verses I, also, wrote in 2009
You can’t fake love
You can’t break love
You can’t will love
You can’t kill love
You can only choose
To love.
In the Spring it is a decision
In the Summer it gets a revision
In the Fall it is a fruition
In the Winter it is a reflection
Of the ups and downs of daily life.
Love is like the summer sun
Frolicking and playing
Ripening and breaking
opening new horizons
Love is like the Fall winds
Blowing and gathering
Singing and salvaging
The Harvest
Love is like a rose in Winter
Neither fear
nor frozen ground
can kill its will to bloom
It rushes in like a Winter storm
then chooses to depart like
a gentle breeze
to nourish a needy world
Love is a decision
We all must make
We all must choose
If we want to break
the cycle of fear
that rules our lives
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today’s quiet happenings made a difference: my host who does not know me well made a salad dinner, and we ate together on her porch while the afternoon cooled off. We watched the hummingbirds chase each other off the feeder as they do and hesitantly shared stories of our lives; hesitantly since we are both introverts.
Olive the dog thrust her muzzle into my arm every once in a while, gazed into my eyes and licked my bare feet. I’d say that’s love.
Comforting in a gentle way ,especially today when I’m discouraged about my broken wrist.
What a lovely way to spend an afternoon,
dear Maeve . . .
the hummingbirds and Olive were a bonus.
I wish you speedy healing of your wrist
with love . . . ♥
wishing a speedy recovery and healing wishes to you Maeve.
Thanks, Michele.
Love that came through the dear ones touching in tenderly, through that energy of Love in all its thousandfold and still One eternal blissful song, like through my beloved sister since I was born, the love of my parents who did their best to offer what they could to us kids to make unfolding possible into a life of our wish; through my teacher in arts at school, inspiring unspoken beauty to appear through his broad teaching, through my friend who until today is offering her heart when we meet; through my dear friend who was there since the first day at university and still is, who knows and values aspects we deeply share while each is listening to and following the individual call; through the love of my partner who left and taught me so much about what had been covered up in both of us; through the deeply touching love between my godchild and me, as well as through so many dear kindred hearts and beloved friends and loved ones who let the Light of Love shine into my world as well as into the world of other kindred hearts when it becomes dark sometimes. Thank you most dearly to you all.
Oh,
dear Ose . . .
you have filled this moment
with Love and Light for me . . .
your beautiful response
has brightened my soul tonight . . . ♥
Everyone who has ever touched me
has made a difference in my life . . .
whether I was loved or not,
and I’ve been loved in so many ways
that I hardly know where to start.
In the past few years,
my husband’s love
has made an unfathomable difference,
and I don’t know if he knows just how much . . .
when I say something
he says, “I’m just being me,”
or makes a joke of it,
but I think I need to get the message across
in a much bigger way.
The real impact of it
started when I was having trouble with my hips and knees.
Until then
I rarely asked for help,
and could do many things that women often find beneath themselves to do,
calling it men’s work.
(no offense,
dear ladies,
but there are people in my area who think like that)
I could change out the back of a toilet,
build and repair shelves and cupboards,
do lots of things on ladders,
and the list goes on.
I was self-sufficient.
But when the trouble started
my husband willingly pitched in
and expressed his concern often . . .
he watched and made suggestions
and supported me through all of the injections
and then through the surgery to replace my hip.
At first,
I was embarrassed,
but he seamlessly stepped in
and did the shopping, the cooking, and the laundry . . .
he still does the vacuuming
because it’s really painful for my back.
I’ve taken my tasks back as I’ve been able
and I’m sure he feels some relief,
but he still pitches in much more than he used to.
He has also become more tender and kind with me,
makes me feel safe and comfortable . . .
and loved.
I didn’t have any of that for most of my life,
but he has given me space to heal from those years
and I am more than grateful for that,
as I never thought that would happen at all,
even during the first fifteen-twenty years or so
that had been together.
We’ve had the wake up call,
and are really settling down to the business of living
We are ripening now . . .
our priorities have shifted,
and I believe that adversity
and the realization that our time here is finite,
has made us pay more attention what is really important.
It’s not youth,
it’s not money,
it’s not ‘things’,
or accomplishments
it’s not even health . . .
it is the heart.
It is Love.
His love
has enabled me to reach out and love others. ♥
My love for my two children, now young adults, has challenged me for the better.
My sister Mary’s. She helps me financially so there’s that. She’s successful and a mover and shaker. She has a great zest for life, which I admire. We have spoken through the decades. We are lifelong friends. I’m lucky to have her!
My husband. He has been a steadfast and loving partner.
Linda, having a loving spouse goes a long ways. They go with us day and night. I know all too well with Ngoc. She and I are super close.
All the love that’s ever been shared with me has made a difference. But of course, the love from my wife makes a difference every day. And her love helped me when I needed it most.
The same is true for me too,
dear Charlie . . . ♥
I am thankful for the love I received growing up from all my family, mom, dad, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.
I am thankful for the love of friends, some still here others departed.
My late husband.
I am thankful for the love of my beautiful daughter & her husband. My daughter is thee best gift I have ever received. 🙏🏻🩷
My cousin Lisa & her husband have showered me with so much love & kindness I am forever thankful.
The love of the Divine, the Universe, is my guide, my North Star. 🙏🏻
And the love I have for Myself……🩷
🕊️🩷
Every time someone shares their love it makes a difference in my life. So many of you shared kind words to me yesterday, and in the recent days. I am so deeply appreciative and I feel the love. Thank you everyone for being here and for being generous and loving.
♥
I would say that love doesn’t make a difference to me, because I originally came into this world through love, just like a little fish in water, where water is the very source of its survival. No effect can be observed, as it is simply a part of life. 😍 I can’t imagine how my life would be if I lived without love.
My Ngoc, in terms of imagining what life is like without love, this reminds me of our early days when I told you about how my life felt more bland.
If I can’t love myself, I can’t love anyone. Self-love is not selfish. It’s swagger. Outside of that, if I have to choose people, the easiest 2 choices are Ngoc and my mom. Ngoc is very playful making life more fun. Having someone who’s affectionate feels warm.
As far as my mom goes, she’s a direct communicator. I appreciate that. I used to be uncomfortable, but those days have passed. People with autism need more directive communication. I have traits of highly sensitive people, but there’s more evidence that supports me having autism from doctors and on documents. What matters is that I live my life well. Fortunately, my autism is minor enough that I understand the needs of the highly sensitive group and how my natural abilities align with them. That’s why I stick more with speaking about autism. I’m a blunt communicator like my mom except that she’s even more blunt than me. Bluntness helps me understand what I’m doing right and wrong.
Both Ngoc and my mom make me comfortable being myself in different ways. Ngoc’s sensitive and empathetic nature makes me feel like I have a longer leash. My mom’s directness helps me be more assertive, especially if Ngoc and I run into conflict which is quite rare these days.
Love your post and your being, Loc 😘 We
re happy to be with you… 🍀
Thanks, my Ngoc. I’m happy to be with and love you too.
My parents, siblings, and many other family members and friends. My husband has made a huge difference, loving me so deeply and the way I deserve to be loved. I didn’t have that in my first marriage (and that’s okay), so feeling safe with Konrad’s love and commitment to our relationship is really wonderful. But the real person whose love made a difference, who made it possible for me to receive true love from others, is my own. When I learned to love myself, my entire world changed. That was after I left my ex. I spent much needed time by myself, healing and growing, and then life just started to blossom in ways I never imagined. And now here I am today with my dog, Reese, staring at me from her bed. Windows open (in August!) listening to the rain come down. Sharing with this beautiful community whose love has also made quite the difference. Thank you 🙂
Yes, love yourself Sunnypatti. 🩷
I echo a few others when I say, all the love I have received flows from one source. Antoinette called it the Universe and Jenifer named individuals and groups. Love is love is love and so many people have been the conduit for the greatest gift. I’ve been deeply blesses—even this morning to get an email from a participant in my wellness program who is welling over with gratitude for our classes. Sometimes the love is my daughter wanting to share something funny from school. Other times, it’s kitty bump. Love is love and every moment and every drop expands my heart.
Everyone’s, from my family and friends and partner to my AA groups and meditation group and y’all’s. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for love. And for that I am grateful. 🙏🏽🧡
I use the word “love” sparingly because it means different things to different people. I will say that the care and concern of many people has made a difference in my life. Mostly because they taught me to love and accept myself. I think that love is not just a feeling. We truly have to make a decision to love. I share two of my poems from 2009.
Love is a word in Hip Hop Oct 09
By Carol Ann Conner
Love is a word. We say it a lot.
misuse it, abuse it, forsake it for naught.
It’s sometimes a verb with feelings deferred.
We love this, love that, it’s frankly absurd.
It’s often a noun, subjective in sound
objective in speech, a wailing, a screech for attention.
It can be a farce, filled with remorse,
love-feast, love-sick, love affair, divorce.
But when cupid’s dart touches my heart,
it lovingly starts a revolution of sorts.
But, true love’s illusive, inclusive and rare,
deliberate, decisive, egoistically-bare to the bone
Yes, love is a word that we need make flesh
a vulnerable stance, a powerful chance to make a difference.
Love Verses I, also, wrote in 2009
You can’t fake love
You can’t break love
You can’t will love
You can’t kill love
You can only choose
To love.
In the Spring it is a decision
In the Summer it gets a revision
In the Fall it is a fruition
In the Winter it is a reflection
Of the ups and downs of daily life.
Love is like the summer sun
Frolicking and playing
Ripening and breaking
opening new horizons
Love is like the Fall winds
Blowing and gathering
Singing and salvaging
The Harvest
Love is like a rose in Winter
Neither fear
nor frozen ground
can kill its will to bloom
It rushes in like a Winter storm
then chooses to depart like
a gentle breeze
to nourish a needy world
Love is a decision
We all must make
We all must choose
If we want to break
the cycle of fear
that rules our lives
Lovely, thank you Carol Ann for the enjoyable poems.
You make beautiful poetry,
dear Carol Ann . . .
I hope you will post more of it
in the coming days. ♥
“Love is a decision
We all must make” … thank you Carol.