I’d say that the daily practice of gratefulness helped me to have a better and calmer view of life. I used to complain a lot and only see the bad things and, consequently, I only had more and more bad things happening in my life. Now, I always try to find something to be grateful for in my daily life, even if it’s something that, for most people, would be so simple, but for me it’s means the world.
I would try to think of the positives and try not to dwell on the negatives as much. I would make sure I am taking care of myself and find supportive ways to deal with the challenging situation. Use the tools I have learned on this site ✨
There is so much wisdom here. I’m afraid I can’t add much.
MY whole life I thought that my talent is writing, and yet I freeze up. It’s a challenge.
I’m grateful that I have writing talent, that I have the opportunity to write (this is a big one.) If I can stay focused on the opportunity, perhaps the fear will abate.
Thanks to all. I learn here!
I too,
dear Christina,
fear my talents and skills,
but being grateful for them
at least helps me navigate the fear a little better.
Keep on keeping on . . .♥
Sometimes gratefulness might alter perspective, supporting hope that things might change to the better. In a currently difficult situation it opens to stay open, facing the difficulties which still reside inside myself in order to let go of them. Gratefulness also includes respect towards those friends who try to help in this. Thank you dearly for your support. 🙏❤️🙏
I am facing a challenging family situation now that hurts my heart each time I ponder it. Being grateful for even the situation has helped me have faith that it will change and hope for reconciliation and the charity not to judge or hold grudges💕
Gratefulness is keeping me on a path. Part of a routine. Putting one foot in front of the other.
It’s that little crack of sunlight. That invitation to slow down and notice. It’s my shield from despair.
Remembering how grateful I am for the people involved and the effort they are putting in would help me to feel more willingness and joy in diving into unpleasant tasks.
Right out of the gate it reminds me I have a bigger tool kit to use than just myself. As I left Racine, WI Sunday morn my tire light flashed on the car dash. I had purchased a mini air compressor and had it with me. I drove to a gas station to better access the situation. Tools I used: called a good road warrior friend, asked for help of a local guy who had just gotten gas & he gave me names of tire locations; used WiFi to search auto tire stores (none were open on Sunday); filled the tire and then checked it every hour. Given heat warning I cooled off regularly in reputable gas stations. Very grateful for air conditioned stores! Friends to brainstorm with and much more. My immediate idea was to not drive and stay over a night. Grateful I took it slow and steady for to get home. Air pressure stayed high enough to drive vs using spare.
I am all too familiar,
dear Carla,
with the disasters that can befall us on road trips,
having driven across the country quite a bit in my life.
I’m grateful you kept your head
and got home safely. ♥
It’s tempting to paint the challenging situation in grim colors. Gratefulness brings the dimension of light. I think of it as a collage with many colors and textures. I stumbled upon a really good hospice for my loved one: sunny yellow. She is sleeping most of the time: cool blue relief. I saw a Harris hawk perched on a TV antenna: pink joy, I love those hawks! They have a lot of character. So with gratefulness, I make space for the bright and colorful details.
Good for you, Drea, finding a really good hospice.
This is tough stuff, Drea, but hospice helps so much
Love the colors you used to paint this space into the light.
Sending love to you, dear Drea, and your loved one. 🌈
Thank you Mary. I am taken aback that hospice exists in our country and is funded publicly. It operates so very differently from anything else I’ve experienced in the medical system! It is a blessing. Much reverence to hospice. And thank you for the love.
Thank you Charlie. I appreciate the reminder that this is a privileged position. It really is, but one has to be in the right state of presence. It’s almost like being in a mild state of meditation all day long. A challenge.
Drea, I have been thinking of you and your loved one. I am so glad that you have been able to make it in time to spend time with her and find her a really good hospice. I love this idea of thinking of it in terms of a collage with many colors and textures– a lovely way to visually and tactilely picture the “great fullness” of life.
This is just lovely,
dear Drea . . .
along with Barb’s observation
of how an artist needs dark to bring out the light
and add dimension.
How visual and healing and purely said. ♥
What a beautiful way to think about things, Drea. Thank you for this! Harking back to the question from the other day, an artist has to use dark colors to set off the lighter, brighter ones or the whole picture would feel flat and without dimension. The challenges can be the shadows that help the brightness stand out.
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It would lighten the load
I’d say that the daily practice of gratefulness helped me to have a better and calmer view of life. I used to complain a lot and only see the bad things and, consequently, I only had more and more bad things happening in my life. Now, I always try to find something to be grateful for in my daily life, even if it’s something that, for most people, would be so simple, but for me it’s means the world.
I would try to think of the positives and try not to dwell on the negatives as much. I would make sure I am taking care of myself and find supportive ways to deal with the challenging situation. Use the tools I have learned on this site ✨
There is so much wisdom here. I’m afraid I can’t add much.
MY whole life I thought that my talent is writing, and yet I freeze up. It’s a challenge.
I’m grateful that I have writing talent, that I have the opportunity to write (this is a big one.) If I can stay focused on the opportunity, perhaps the fear will abate.
Thanks to all. I learn here!
I too,
dear Christina,
fear my talents and skills,
but being grateful for them
at least helps me navigate the fear a little better.
Keep on keeping on . . .♥
Sometimes gratefulness might alter perspective, supporting hope that things might change to the better. In a currently difficult situation it opens to stay open, facing the difficulties which still reside inside myself in order to let go of them. Gratefulness also includes respect towards those friends who try to help in this. Thank you dearly for your support. 🙏❤️🙏
I am facing a challenging family situation now that hurts my heart each time I ponder it. Being grateful for even the situation has helped me have faith that it will change and hope for reconciliation and the charity not to judge or hold grudges💕
Cathie, I hope you find reconciliation. And even if not, your willingness to not judge/grudge is healing you.
Grudges are like resentments . . . . taking poison and waiting for the other to die. May reconciliation reign.
Amen to reconciliation! Thank you💕
I am,
as I think we all are,
here for you,
dear Cathie,
as you face this challenge
with love . . . ♥
Thank you!💕
This is a really good question. I need some time to reflect, maybe journal, before I can find an answer. Thank you for the question.
Charlie’s answer says it all for me.
Gratefulness is keeping me on a path. Part of a routine. Putting one foot in front of the other.
It’s that little crack of sunlight. That invitation to slow down and notice. It’s my shield from despair.
This is so beautiful, Charlie, thank you. 🌷
Yes,
dear Charlie . . .
you have put your finger on it.
“There’s a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.”
Leonard Cohen
Gratitude is the Light,
the Shield
that protects us from despair.
Thank you, Charlie
Remembering how grateful I am for the people involved and the effort they are putting in would help me to feel more willingness and joy in diving into unpleasant tasks.
Right out of the gate it reminds me I have a bigger tool kit to use than just myself. As I left Racine, WI Sunday morn my tire light flashed on the car dash. I had purchased a mini air compressor and had it with me. I drove to a gas station to better access the situation. Tools I used: called a good road warrior friend, asked for help of a local guy who had just gotten gas & he gave me names of tire locations; used WiFi to search auto tire stores (none were open on Sunday); filled the tire and then checked it every hour. Given heat warning I cooled off regularly in reputable gas stations. Very grateful for air conditioned stores! Friends to brainstorm with and much more. My immediate idea was to not drive and stay over a night. Grateful I took it slow and steady for to get home. Air pressure stayed high enough to drive vs using spare.
Impressive, Carla!! 🥰
So well done!
Breakdowns are . . . . . well breakdowns. Good for you to keep your wits. Always a plus when facing the unknown.
Bravo, Carla for remembering the help of others! Others have helped me!
I am all too familiar,
dear Carla,
with the disasters that can befall us on road trips,
having driven across the country quite a bit in my life.
I’m grateful you kept your head
and got home safely. ♥
Glad you are home and safe.
Thank you Carol Ann, 🦋
Whew! Glad everything lined up to help you get home, Carla. What a great reminder that we don’t have to solve everything by ourselves.
Thank you Barb. Yes, I again experience “We” are in this together to help each other on the planet, 🌺
It’s tempting to paint the challenging situation in grim colors. Gratefulness brings the dimension of light. I think of it as a collage with many colors and textures. I stumbled upon a really good hospice for my loved one: sunny yellow. She is sleeping most of the time: cool blue relief. I saw a Harris hawk perched on a TV antenna: pink joy, I love those hawks! They have a lot of character. So with gratefulness, I make space for the bright and colorful details.
You are light to each other.
Thank you Yram. I look at her and think: “Where did she go?” But she is inwards, I can sense that. Presence is the language now, I think.
Good for you, Drea, finding a really good hospice.
This is tough stuff, Drea, but hospice helps so much
Love the colors you used to paint this space into the light.
Sending love to you, dear Drea, and your loved one. 🌈
Thank you Mary. I am taken aback that hospice exists in our country and is funded publicly. It operates so very differently from anything else I’ve experienced in the medical system! It is a blessing. Much reverence to hospice. And thank you for the love.
” . . . I love those hawks!” Always a respite to observe the winged beings, Drea.
Joseph, it is indeed. Especially in a place where there are hardly any trees and you can see the many types of birds clearly.
The ability to find joy in the midst of sorrow….you are a wise woman…when my sister was dying last year, I found music very helpful to her and to me.
Thank you Carol Ann, I will try different kinds of music today.
I know this must be hard, Drea.
But you are living close to the source and in, no doubt, a difficult but privileged position. 🙏
Thank you Charlie. I appreciate the reminder that this is a privileged position. It really is, but one has to be in the right state of presence. It’s almost like being in a mild state of meditation all day long. A challenge.
Drea, I have been thinking of you and your loved one. I am so glad that you have been able to make it in time to spend time with her and find her a really good hospice. I love this idea of thinking of it in terms of a collage with many colors and textures– a lovely way to visually and tactilely picture the “great fullness” of life.
Thank you Elizabeth. I’m glad I was able to make it in time and find a good hospice too.
This is just lovely,
dear Drea . . .
along with Barb’s observation
of how an artist needs dark to bring out the light
and add dimension.
How visual and healing and purely said. ♥
Thank you Sparrow.
What a beautiful way to think about things, Drea. Thank you for this! Harking back to the question from the other day, an artist has to use dark colors to set off the lighter, brighter ones or the whole picture would feel flat and without dimension. The challenges can be the shadows that help the brightness stand out.
Yes, contrast is essential! Thank you Barb.
It transforms my negative mindset into a positive one, so that I’m ready to take courage.
My Ngoc, a positive mindset will help us with productivity and resiliency.
I am counting on it to ground me.
Allow me to let go of control, allow me to change my perspective on things, allow me to take a pause and breathe.