Reflections

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  1. pkr29022
    pkr
    3 weeks ago

    For me, having an attitude of gratitude makes everything go better. Life seems to flow easier.
    I find I can handle all the ups & downs better when I am in a “gratefulness state of mind”. It’s easier to find joy & joyful moments. I have come to know that joy is everywhere. I just have to be open to it.
    🕊️🩷

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    3 weeks ago

    One of my biggest joys in life is nature so for me I am enjoying a deeper dive of learning,, reading and observing and now it is spring there will be more to see in person.

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 weeks ago

      Robin, it’s also nice having warmer weather and longer days too.

      1. Joseph
        Joseph McCann
        3 weeks ago

        Lets give thanks to the bi-annual tilting of the earth.

  3. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    3 weeks ago

    How did we get here?
    How did I get here?
    I wonder about things like that.
    Who am I
    that I was given this body
    and this heart and soul . . .
    this mind
    that thinks and wonders?
    And lives,
    while others don’t,
    or are never given a body at all?

    I think about what I’ve done with my life,
    and at one time
    I thought it was all good.
    Then came a time
    when I thought it was all bad.
    And then came Gratitude,
    which has given me purpose
    and quieted down my need to know . . .
    with that quieting down
    has opened the door
    for more purposeful things
    to come in . . .
    like joy,
    like contentment,
    like feeling like I have enough . . .
    am enough.

    How it happened
    was sheer desperation.
    I’ve told the story many times,
    of how the suggestion came to me
    to write down five things every day
    that I am grateful for.
    I reluctantly did it,
    but over time
    I felt a shift . . .
    not like an epiphany or an earthquake,
    but more like a smoothness
    settling over me,
    and I am now becoming a grateful person.
    When I don’t recognize the old me anymore
    I’ll know I’m really on my way.
    Until then,
    I do the work.

    Does that answer the Question? ♥

    1. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      Yes, you answered the question beautifully, Sparrow.
      I love the way you process these questions.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        3 weeks ago

        Thank you,
        dear Mary . . .
        you are always there. ♥

  4. Ose
    Ose
    3 weeks ago

    Not sure if the sense of joy is deeper along with practicing gratitude, but definitely there are more moments of joy about many things, and so -called small and big reasons do not make such a difference any more concerning experiencing joy spontaneously. It arises more often, is refreshing and shines inside and out to other kindred hearts also, and this is just beautiful. Wishing all happy and joyful moments these days in flowering Spring. 🌸🌲🍀❤️🙏

    1. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      3 weeks ago

      Thank you Ose . I hope you are feeling well . Hugs and well wishes to you . I’m so very happy you’re here .

    2. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      “It arises more often, is refreshing and shines inside and out to other kindred hearts.”
      Gratefulness and joy do shine outward from one and on to others. Thank you, Ose, for this helpful and beautiful picture!

  5. Mary
    Mary
    3 weeks ago

    Practicing gratitude has helped me to experience a greater sense of joy. Practicing gratitude has helped me to slow down, to get out of my head, and experience being alive and the miracles all around me.

    1. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      3 weeks ago

      Thank you like get out of my head and experience being alive in the miracles all around me thank you! ☺️

      1. Mary
        Mary
        3 weeks ago

        🥰

  6. Sharon
    Sharon Bergmann
    3 weeks ago

    Gratitude has give me a better perspective about Joy in my life.

  7. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    3 weeks ago

    I love today’s question. After I read it, my mind filled in the blank with “ease the boundaries.” On my journey of becoming a human services professional, practicing gratitude means that I’m grateful for my clients as they open up to reach out for help. I’m joyful with them, for they find our support helpful. Here today, there’s just an “ease in boundaries,” too. No language boundaries. There’s someone like me, who tries to respond to the reflection in my second language, and there’s someone like Tomchi, who answers the question poetically and beautifully in their native language. Whether or not the languages, all are welcome here.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      “We are all more alike my friend,
      than we are unalike.”
      ~ Maya Angelou

      This quote
      made me think of you,
      dear Ngoc . . . ♥

    2. L
      Loc Tran
      3 weeks ago

      My Ngoc, the feeling of being able to open up feels refreshing.

  8. Kathy29496
    Katrina
    3 weeks ago

    Practicing gratitude has helped me practice kindness more easily. And practicing kindness has brought me a greater and deeper sense of joy.

  9. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    3 weeks ago

    I’m not sure about a deeper sense of joy, but I think it’s made me more aware of the joy that’s around me. and it’s helped me to stop and appreciate joy.

    1. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      3 weeks ago

      Thanks Charlie T stop and appreciate joy and everything else .

  10. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    3 weeks ago

    I don’t know if it is my old computer
    or not,
    but I’ve been unable to respond to Tomchi’s post,
    so I post it below . . .

    Thank you,
    dear Tomchi,
    for your beautiful and thoughtful reflection . . .
    I,
    like Michele,
    googled for a translation.
    Yes,
    we are blessed. ♥

    1. Michele
      Michele
      3 weeks ago

      I’ve come to find out you cannot use the ‘g’ word – this site will block and it won’t post anything, hence why I only said ‘search’…

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        3 weeks ago

        What’s the ‘g’ word,
        dear Michele?
        (use stars
        in between first and last letters . . .
        I can be slow. 🙂

        1. Michele
          Michele
          3 weeks ago

          g*****e rymes with frugal

          1. sparrow51014
            sparrow
            3 weeks ago

            I should have guessed,
            dear Michele . . . 🙂

  11. Yram
    Yram
    3 weeks ago

    The rituals and traditions of this season are so rich. Tonight the highlight is the gifts of creation especially water and light. I will again renew my pledge to be grateful for them and use them In a responsible way.

  12. Michele
    Michele
    3 weeks ago

    Not so sure about ‘deeper’ sense of joy, but profound thankfulness comes to mind.

    We had sad news at work yesterday morning, as one of my closest coworker and friend, tragically lost her step son in a fire. He was 29 and both he and his gf died. My thoughts have been with her and her family all day/night and I continue to think of them.
    When I spoke with her she said that he had a van and used solar panels – they were in a hotel room and were charging the batteries for them and I guess it exploded… terrible. News report said both were dead at the scene.

    Another reason to be grateful for life, you really never know when your time is up.

    1. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      No words. ♥️

    2. Robin Ann
      Robin Ann
      3 weeks ago

      Oh my gosh that is so scary and sad! 🙏

    3. Michele
      Michele
      3 weeks ago

      thank you everyone – I will pass along your prayers to my coworker, Erika.

    4. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      3 weeks ago

      🙏

    5. Patti
      sunnypatti
      3 weeks ago

      God bless that young man and his girlfriend. Sending love and comfort to all who loved them. What a terrible tragedy.

    6. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      3 weeks ago

      So sorry for your loss Michele this is tragic and yes it is true we don’t know when it’s over .

    7. Ose
      Ose
      3 weeks ago

      Oh my God, this is terrible, and my thoughts and heart will be with the couple and their families. My prayers are with all of them. May they all be held and consoled in His Love.

    8. pkr29022
      pkr
      3 weeks ago

      Dear Michele, so sorry to hear your sad news. How tragic…I will pray for all involved. Bless you & your co-worker.🙏🏻🙏🏻🩷

    9. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      I am sorry,
      dear Michele,
      for this terrible loss
      and will hold the couple
      as well as their families
      in my heart
      with love and compassion . . . ♥

    10. Yram
      Yram
      3 weeks ago

      Oh how sad. I will hold all in healing and compassionate prayer and thoughts.

  13. Patti
    sunnypatti
    3 weeks ago

    I think the practice has allowed the joy that was already there become more visible, so I guess that’s a yes! Gratitude has opened my perspective, and I see with a much wider lens now.

    1. Yram
      Yram
      3 weeks ago

      A great reflection.

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      3 weeks ago

      So true…gratitude disciplines the mind.

  14. L
    Loc Tran
    3 weeks ago

    The 40-day bible challenge on “Being With Him” and “Being Like Him” was transformative. There were sessions on the difference between happiness and joy. The former is pleasurable while the ladder is peaceful. This builds from what Joseph always says about true happiness being the absence of striving for happiness. With that being said, practicing grattitude brings me more joy by reminding me that all my deficient needs have been met. The rest are extras.

  15. Thomas Bont
    Tomchi
    3 weeks ago

    Bin dankbar für das was war
    Bin dankbar für das was ist
    Bin dankbar für das was kommt,

    Fühle Freude, wenn ich wahrnehme
    wie gut das Leben es mit mir meint,
    Es kommt immer das Richtige
    auch wenn der Verstand vielleicht
    etwas anderes möchte.
    Vertrauen, dass wenn eine Türe zugeht
    sich eine andere Türe öffnet,
    Das zu erkennen erfüllt mich mit
    Grosser Freude und Demut,
    Gesegnet durch das Leben zu gehen.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      Thank you,
      dear Tomchi,
      for your beautiful and thoughtful reflection . . .
      I,
      like Michele,
      googled for a translation.
      Yes,
      we are blessed. ♥

      1. Thomas Bont
        Tomchi
        3 weeks ago

        Good morning little or big sparrow, thank you! i wish you a wonderful day, Tomchi

        1. sparrow51014
          sparrow
          3 weeks ago

          Thank you,
          dear Tomchi . . .
          wishing the same for you. ♥

    2. Ose
      Ose
      3 weeks ago

      Danke, liebe(r) Tomchi.

    3. Mary
      Mary
      3 weeks ago

      Thank you, Tomchi! ♥️♥️♥️

    4. Michele
      Michele
      3 weeks ago

      English translation per search:

      “I am grateful for what was, I am grateful for what is, I am grateful for what is to come. I feel joy when I perceive how good life is to me. The right thing always comes, even if the mind might want something else. Trust that when one door closes, another door opens. Recognizing this fills me with great joy and humility. Walking through life blessed.”

      1. Mary
        Mary
        3 weeks ago

        Thank you, Michele!

      2. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol Ann Conner
        3 weeks ago

        Thanks, Michele

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