Reflections

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  1. Mary

    Moving through the Christmas Season is requiring courage from me this year.
    My younger sister died very unexpectedly last February and I am missing her.
    I will be inviting her sons for visits as I know how hard Christmas will be for them this year.
    I would like to be closer to them.
    My sister always loved Christmas. I will celebrate it for her this year.

    6 months ago
    1. Michele

      Thoughts and prayers to you and her sons. It’s good that you will all be together.

      6 months ago
      1. Mary

        Thank you Michelle.
        I want to be there for them.

        6 months ago
    2. Rabbit

      I am sorry for your loss Mary. You must miss her terribly. I hope you will feel her spirit around you.

      6 months ago
      1. Mary

        I do miss her. Thank you Rabbit. ♥️♥️♥️

        6 months ago
  2. Robin Ann

    Two weeks ago I spent 3 days trying to get my daughter to a detox/rehab 1200 miles away. This by far has been one of my worst nightmares but she is there. My faith helps me endure “carrying a heavy cross” like Jesus did. Trying to save her life literally but also holding on to prayers of hope that this time will be the time she is able to and/or want recovery.

    6 months ago
    1. Mary

      Wishing the very best for you and your daughter, Robin Ann. ♥️♥️♥️

      6 months ago
  3. Charlie T

    It depends on how I’m defining courage. I haven’t put myself in danger, defending someone in a long time. And I certainly haven’t put myself at risk defending my principles or country. I have been able to face my internal fears though. Turns out, that when I face these fears, they mostly melt away and I’m left wondering why I was so afraid for so long. Recently, I was able to speak in front of a group of people and remain calm and in control. Nothing big, just a heart felt thank you. It felt so good to be able to do this. While looking up the definition of courage, I came across this article.
    https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_to_find_your_courage_during_challenging_times

    6 months ago
  4. Butterfly

    Acknowledge that it was time to say goodbye to my dear little kitty. She was 18 years old and very poorly. It was not right to just keep her going by giving her steroids. She passed away very peacefully in my arms after a euthanising injection. At the time my heart felt broken into pieces but it is recovering.

    6 months ago
    1. Butterfly

      Thank you Michele, Mary, Rabbit and Charlie T for your love and kind words 💜

      6 months ago
    2. Michele

      My deepest condolences to you on the loss of your beloved cat. I’ve been there many times and know how heart breaking it is. Reading The Rainbow Bridge is comforting.

      6 months ago
    3. Mary

      Sending love to you, dear Butterfly!♥️

      6 months ago
    4. Rabbit

      So hard to say goodbye but you did it with love. I know you loved her well and she you too.

      6 months ago
    5. Charlie T

      I’m so sorry Butterfly. I also have been through this, about a year ago with my 18yr old cat Johnny. I’m glad you were able to be there and provide comfort.

      6 months ago
  5. John T

    I am currently exploring the relationship between courage and the heart and not sure if I fully understand the definition of courage. I have done or said things that needed to be done that were challenging on a relative scale from easy to hard but were these things just reactions and not courage, if the heart was closed?

    6 months ago
    1. Stephanie - Grateful Living Team

      John — your reflection reminded me of this short essay by David Whyte on courage. I figured I’d share it here if it interests you: https://grateful.org/resource/courage-david-whyte/

      6 months ago
  6. Carol

    I can’t think of any thing I’ve done recently that required courage but over the last 3 years, several things come to mind that required acceptance. Most of them related to my health.

    6 months ago
  7. Rabbit

    Agreeing to having this preemptive surgery. It is a big surgery to have with the concept of preventing problems for the future verses solving problems that you are already having and want to end. Interesting how it ties in with the word of the day. Thank you for listening to my fears.

    6 months ago
  8. Laura

    I’m not sure if it’s truly courageous but accepting unwanted aspects of my daily reality — my house still isn’t ready for habitation, clients I deal with at work frustrate me to no end, traffic sends my irritation levels soaring. Yet, I am called to include all of this and more, not to rail about or run from it or try to change it, but to surrender and see the good.
    Being away from my house has sparked a deeper dive into faith. Work sharpens my mental tools and provides plenty of opportunities to show compassion for others who face emotional and financial upheavals. And traffic reminds me again and again to let go of a deep-rooted need to win.
    As I typed this response, it reminded me of something I read in Richard Rohr’s daily email this morning: “… living God’s love looks like our daily experiences.” — Nontombi Naomi Tutu
    Have a blessed day, everybody.

    6 months ago
  9. Joseph McCann

    Beginning to investigate and examine inward to discover who I am. This has been helping me to appreciate and be grateful for everyone and everything when I look outward.

    6 months ago
    1. Carol

      Joseph, I consider our growth in self-awareness the greatest gift we can give the world. I find it evolutionary. As my 12 step sponsor use to say,”When we know better, we do better.”

      6 months ago
  10. EJP

    Letting go requires great strength and courage.

    6 months ago
  11. Avril

    I’ve missed being here. My plan is to return to my beautiful routine. I’m recovering nicely. I’m feeling pretty courageous this week. The courage has showed up as quiet patience while working on a large project at church with many personalities and moving parts. I believe I’ve stayed as grace. Additionally, my stepdaughter has presented the family with challenges. I had the courage to reprimand her behavior and defend her when others blamed her as the sole perpetrator.

    6 months ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      Nice to read your words Avril. Glad to hear you are healing from surgery.

      6 months ago
  12. Michele

    As a pet owner, it is hard to leave your pet. My son participated in his 2nd Marathon this past weekend. We both are each others pet sitters. I am comfortable leaving my cat for a day/day and a half on short trips. His marathon was on the other side of the state – we went sat to sun. She was fine but it still gives me anxiety. My son has a camera and he can go online and check on his two cats. (I think I may be getting the same one for xmas from him, lol). It took courage to leave. I feel bad for agoraphobics.

    6 months ago
    1. Rabbit

      I get that worry about leaving pets. We had dogs so harder to leave them for more than a few hours. I remember a couple times that things didn’t go the best even when we left them with what should have been trusted situations. But they were at least safe.

      Marathons I get too. My husband ran three marathons in Detroit, Michigan. He also ran Chicago and Boston. His son is trying to run a marathon in every state. I think he is on about 40. I was a good spectator. I remember driving the course in Boston thinking he would die because no one could run that far.

      6 months ago
      1. Michele

        Thanks Rabbit. Yes 26.2miles is a loooong way to run, pretty amazing:) I walk 5Ks (sometime mix a little light jog/walk) and would like to do more, I’ve slacked lately and need more exercise.

        6 months ago
  13. Kevin

    It’s a stretch, but two days ago, after coming to terms with increasing pain levels due to Spondyloarthritis, I told my rowing club that after 15-20 years, I needed to stop bailing out boats of water and snow after large storms. It may seem like a minor thing to most people, but not to me.

    6 months ago
    1. Mary

      That sounds hard to me too, Kevin.

      6 months ago
      1. Kevin

        Having just finished a large rain event in our area, I’m really happy that I made the decision that I did! Thanks Mary.

        6 months ago
    2. Carol

      Kevin, I hear you.

      6 months ago
      1. Kevin

        Thanks, Carol.

        6 months ago
    3. Rabbit

      Oh Kevin, I was worried that you would have to do that. It is a huge loss and I know very hard for you. Chronic pain is a big thief of joy. I am so sorry you have to deal with it.

      6 months ago
      1. Kevin

        Thanks for your caring words, Rabbit.

        6 months ago
    4. Yram

      Sometimes the the smallest thing takes the most strength and courage. Blue ribbon for good self care.

      6 months ago
      1. Kevin

        I’m hanging that blue ribbon up on my wall right now, Yram! Thank you my friend.

        6 months ago
    5. Laura

      It doesn’t seem like a minor thing at all, Kevin. Sounds like a huge decision on your part with all of the accompanying emotional upheaval. I hope you and your doctor can find a treatment plan that will provide relief.

      6 months ago
      1. Kevin

        Thanks, Laura. I actually start taking Humira, a biologic medication, beginning tomorrow. Time will tell!

        6 months ago
    6. Avril

      I have severe coccydynia, we are in a similar boat. No pun intended. Sending you healing light.

      6 months ago
      1. Kevin

        Thanks Avril, love the play on words regardless! Thank you!

        6 months ago
      2. Joseph McCann

        I know the feeling when age and miles on the body makes tasks more difficult to do and the inside still desires so.

        6 months ago
        1. Kevin

          So, so, very true, Joseph. Thank you!

          6 months ago
  14. sunnypatti

    I can’t think of anything, but there is something I’ve been trying to muster up the courage to do, so I’ll check back later and maybe all of your answers will help push me in the right direction!

    6 months ago
  15. Don Jones

    Slow down. I didn’t really fully get just how much I have been swept along with the hurriedness of life. I have put the phone down and even don’t bother to take it with me when I leave the house for a walk and turn it off at night. I don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know. I am conscious of the avalanche of information cascading over me and have decided to not play on the information owner’s terms anymore. I have unsubscribed from the myriad of emails bombarding my inbox every day. I care less about black Friday sales, cyber-Monday sales and any other sale urging me to buy stuff I don’t want or need. I have set aside a full day each week to catch my breath and reconnect. I have recently read a wise person say that the speed of Love is 3 mph. That is my new speed.

    6 months ago
    1. Mary

      Love this Don! Sometimes it’s just too much!
      I have cut way back on social media.
      I think it was making me numb. 🤔

      6 months ago
    2. Charlie T

      Yes Don, taking control of what we are exposing ourselves to, is so important. One of the biggest changes I’ve made, is turning of the “news” and being very selective about when and where I get information.

      6 months ago
      1. Mary

        Thanks for emphasizing this Charlie.
        What I expose myself to
        needs to needs to be a conscious
        and loving choice.

        6 months ago
    3. Rabbit

      This is a hard lesson to learn and one that my husband and I need to learn in different ways. Thank you for sharing you courage to learn and act on the learning. Love the wisdom.

      6 months ago
    4. Yram

      Thank you for sharing. I, too, just cleaned out 600 plus emails and Unsubscribed to many. It is freeing. I have added more exercise to my routine.

      6 months ago
      1. Mary

        That is so great, Yram!

        6 months ago
    5. Josie

      Thanks, Don. Your concrete words echo my experience & confirm the direction I am trying to move in my life, also.

      6 months ago
    6. Laura

      Amen, brother.

      6 months ago
    7. Iamme

      We really can be bombarded with information, I too have started unsubscribing from emails and only check into news online or on the radio every three or four days. I’m being more mindful of what I consume on line. It’s a process of elimination, it will take a while and will require monitoring occasionally to keep everything to an acceptable level in the inbox. It’s overwhelming, it clutters the mind and takes space away from us mentally and energetically. The news will keep on rolling, the awful, tragic, depressing stuff will keep on happening day after day and does not need my regular daily attention, of course I care deeply about human suffering but constant daily updates on the state of the world feed into my anxieties and depletes me, it’s better to focus energy on the contribution you can make within your own community to help improve people’s lives as well as nurturing your own. If we as individuals are not as mentally and emotionally healthy as we can be, we have less capacity for effecting and influencing change in the world. Purposefully slowing down is a gift to yourself.

      6 months ago
      1. Linda

        I am with you about unsubscribing/not taking/deleting calls and emails. It is a huge time sink and none of it is anything I need or care about. Thanks for the reminder to keep doing it!!

        6 months ago
      2. Charlie T

        I am right with you Iamme. Thanks for the succinct response. I always enjoy hearing from you.

        6 months ago
      3. Rabbit

        Excellent wisdom Iamme but for me so much easier said than done. Thanks for letting many for us with the same situation know we are not alone.

        6 months ago
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