This weekend, when a dear friend whom I called for help in an emergency situation was willing to even leave someone dear visiting, only for to help me. Without, it most probably would have ended in a very difficult situation for all concerned. I am deeply grateful for the unquestionable commitment of this friend.
The most recent was on Friday. I was running behind schedule. Not only was the student willing to get my client while I was finishing up a client, she helped that client return more comfortably. I caught up on my schedule because of her, instead of running in a continuous deficit.
It’s a simple one. Yesterday, early in the morning, I came down with an unfortunate gastrointestinal bug! It knocked me out, and kept me from going to the fun event that I had planned with my friend. Undeterred, she still went, but she picked up a Covid rapid- test on her way home, and left it on my doorstep. These days, even the slightest illness can raise the question “Is it Covid?!” The test was negative – thank goodness! But I am so grateful to my sweet friend for thinking of me, and covering all the bases! (She would have picked up chicken soup, too, had I asked.) Great friends are such a blessing.
All my early educators, the teacher who said I was intelligent gently urging me to speak, my choir teacher who told me to open up my pipes releasing unfound joy, my English teacher who taught me to to explore my feelings with creative writing or reading poetry, giving me wonder with the world. Teachers were first responders for children like me, planted the seed.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Throughout my life this is how it has been as long as I keep open. Everyone has something to offer in some way, even if it is not what to do. I know the mistakes I have made, someone else has already experienced it. Pay it forward, you may never know the difference you make, but we pass it on.
My best friend will say exactly what I need to hear whether I realize it or not. She knows me so well and can always read my mind & tell what I’m thinking. My grandmother gives me the right kind of help, too — she is my comfort blanket and is always there when I need it. Also, my dad is the most generous person I know and he always wants the best for me. He will do anything for me if it would make me happy, I just know it. All these people help me in different ways but that’s exactly how I need and want it to be.
This year, I lost hours, then days, then weeks of work to a personal crisis. My employer never pushed back, but just waited until I could pull myself together and make up the time.
I had some tension in my back and neck a few weeks ago, so decided a remedial style massage might help. The masseuse found all the right spots and dispatched the tension expertly.
I was having a bad day and reached out to my sister by phone. I was able to talk about everything I was feeling, and some that I wasn’t very proud of. She listened and did not react to the ugly parts of what I was feeling. She just let me talk, and the feelings all passed. I am forever grateful for having her as my sister.
A couple of months ago, a young woman friend of mine from Florida became Director of the Western Carolina Restoration House charity sponsored by our church. Kerry needed a place to stay until she could find a new home locally so I offered her my spare bedroom and the use of my home until she could get her feet on the ground and find her own home. Affordable housing in Western NC is scarce at best, and with the demand from outsiders escaping Covid in the mountains, almost nonexistent, so she is still living here.
Last Wednesday I underwent a heart ablation procedure to correct my A-fib. Because Kerry is living here in my home and has offered to help me to recover, I am able to return to my own home for recovery instead of having to be admitted to a nursing home for several weeks, a win-win situation for us both! God certainly knows how to work things out for the best!
As I was answering that question in my “gratefulness notebook”, four past examples came up. As I finished writing about them, about the four different people who helped me through four different situations, I realised that they all helped in the same way: they gave me the space, the time and an ear to express myself. They were ready to listen to the unspoken words that were blocked inside. . And just by doing so, nothing else, I instantly felt relieved and much better. They didn’t give me any pieces of advice, they didn’t agree with me nor did they argue with me. They gave me the space to speak. How powerful that is! I did express my gratitude at the time but I still hold it as a bunch of flowers whose flagrance I appreciate in my daily life. And I make sure that whenever someone needs the space, the time and an ear to speak that I can provide it without having to respond…
My sister moved out to help me when I had my son. As a single mom of a child with special needs, I can’t tell you how much I needed that help. She is still here, five years later, and I am grateful every day.
My 14-yr-old granddaughter! I was tearing out my hair, trying to set up yet another new printer [they seem to be needed every few yrs] and it was seeking and seeking for Bluetooth, something I’m not particularly familiar with. My granddaughter mentioned that I needed to connect to Bluetooth on my computer – duh! – and the new printer is finally working. In the process of suffering over-much about what should have been a manageable problem, I started focusing my awareness at my eyes, from where my tears had come, and am now focusing between them, at my 3rd eye. My belly had so often claimed my awareness with its distress about my problems, and I’m delighted to have moved up from there 🧿
I was going through a lawsuit. Though I was really young and it was overwhelming, I thought I was handling things well. My family and I were in my house discussing what to do. They left my house, and after I closed the door, I turned around to saw my partner standing in the middle of the living room. I broke and started profusely crying. I admitted I was scared and had no idea what I was doing. All he did was hold me what felt like an eternity. Didn’t say anything. I was at my lowest and he was right there to hold me up. That’s just what I needed right then and there. I was safe.
Hi, this is my first time here, perhaps I’ll figure out how to post a photo….first, the daily question. A few years ago, my daughter had a mental health episode in another city and a stranger grabbed her phone and called “mom” in her contact list. I had just enough time to let him know her diagnosis before she was arrested; instead she was taken to a hospital. When I called him the next day to thank him again, his phone number didn’t work….I looked for him on Facebook, etc. and finally determined he didn’t exist (in this realm, anyway). An angel appeared at just the right time, to give just the right kind of help when my daughter and I needed it most. I am forever grateful for him !
Thank you, Carol, for your wonderful daughter story, and welcome to this wonderful website 🤗. Daughter mental health episodes are something I’ve also experienced a few times 😘
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This weekend, when a dear friend whom I called for help in an emergency situation was willing to even leave someone dear visiting, only for to help me. Without, it most probably would have ended in a very difficult situation for all concerned. I am deeply grateful for the unquestionable commitment of this friend.
The most recent was on Friday. I was running behind schedule. Not only was the student willing to get my client while I was finishing up a client, she helped that client return more comfortably. I caught up on my schedule because of her, instead of running in a continuous deficit.
It’s a simple one. Yesterday, early in the morning, I came down with an unfortunate gastrointestinal bug! It knocked me out, and kept me from going to the fun event that I had planned with my friend. Undeterred, she still went, but she picked up a Covid rapid- test on her way home, and left it on my doorstep. These days, even the slightest illness can raise the question “Is it Covid?!” The test was negative – thank goodness! But I am so grateful to my sweet friend for thinking of me, and covering all the bases! (She would have picked up chicken soup, too, had I asked.) Great friends are such a blessing.
All my early educators, the teacher who said I was intelligent gently urging me to speak, my choir teacher who told me to open up my pipes releasing unfound joy, my English teacher who taught me to to explore my feelings with creative writing or reading poetry, giving me wonder with the world. Teachers were first responders for children like me, planted the seed.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Throughout my life this is how it has been as long as I keep open. Everyone has something to offer in some way, even if it is not what to do. I know the mistakes I have made, someone else has already experienced it. Pay it forward, you may never know the difference you make, but we pass it on.
My best friend will say exactly what I need to hear whether I realize it or not. She knows me so well and can always read my mind & tell what I’m thinking. My grandmother gives me the right kind of help, too — she is my comfort blanket and is always there when I need it. Also, my dad is the most generous person I know and he always wants the best for me. He will do anything for me if it would make me happy, I just know it. All these people help me in different ways but that’s exactly how I need and want it to be.
This year, I lost hours, then days, then weeks of work to a personal crisis. My employer never pushed back, but just waited until I could pull myself together and make up the time.
My friend paul who provided me with economic, emotional assistance and friendship. In conjunction with a neighbor i happened to have at the time.
I had some tension in my back and neck a few weeks ago, so decided a remedial style massage might help. The masseuse found all the right spots and dispatched the tension expertly.
I was having a bad day and reached out to my sister by phone. I was able to talk about everything I was feeling, and some that I wasn’t very proud of. She listened and did not react to the ugly parts of what I was feeling. She just let me talk, and the feelings all passed. I am forever grateful for having her as my sister.
A couple of months ago, a young woman friend of mine from Florida became Director of the Western Carolina Restoration House charity sponsored by our church. Kerry needed a place to stay until she could find a new home locally so I offered her my spare bedroom and the use of my home until she could get her feet on the ground and find her own home. Affordable housing in Western NC is scarce at best, and with the demand from outsiders escaping Covid in the mountains, almost nonexistent, so she is still living here.
Last Wednesday I underwent a heart ablation procedure to correct my A-fib. Because Kerry is living here in my home and has offered to help me to recover, I am able to return to my own home for recovery instead of having to be admitted to a nursing home for several weeks, a win-win situation for us both! God certainly knows how to work things out for the best!
Wishing you a speedy recovery Samuel and one of my daughter’s name is Kerry:) great name!
Thank you, Michele…
Kerry IS a good name indeed!
As I was answering that question in my “gratefulness notebook”, four past examples came up. As I finished writing about them, about the four different people who helped me through four different situations, I realised that they all helped in the same way: they gave me the space, the time and an ear to express myself. They were ready to listen to the unspoken words that were blocked inside. . And just by doing so, nothing else, I instantly felt relieved and much better. They didn’t give me any pieces of advice, they didn’t agree with me nor did they argue with me. They gave me the space to speak. How powerful that is! I did express my gratitude at the time but I still hold it as a bunch of flowers whose flagrance I appreciate in my daily life. And I make sure that whenever someone needs the space, the time and an ear to speak that I can provide it without having to respond…
My sister moved out to help me when I had my son. As a single mom of a child with special needs, I can’t tell you how much I needed that help. She is still here, five years later, and I am grateful every day.
My 14-yr-old granddaughter! I was tearing out my hair, trying to set up yet another new printer [they seem to be needed every few yrs] and it was seeking and seeking for Bluetooth, something I’m not particularly familiar with. My granddaughter mentioned that I needed to connect to Bluetooth on my computer – duh! – and the new printer is finally working. In the process of suffering over-much about what should have been a manageable problem, I started focusing my awareness at my eyes, from where my tears had come, and am now focusing between them, at my 3rd eye. My belly had so often claimed my awareness with its distress about my problems, and I’m delighted to have moved up from there 🧿
I was going through a lawsuit. Though I was really young and it was overwhelming, I thought I was handling things well. My family and I were in my house discussing what to do. They left my house, and after I closed the door, I turned around to saw my partner standing in the middle of the living room. I broke and started profusely crying. I admitted I was scared and had no idea what I was doing. All he did was hold me what felt like an eternity. Didn’t say anything. I was at my lowest and he was right there to hold me up. That’s just what I needed right then and there. I was safe.
Hi, this is my first time here, perhaps I’ll figure out how to post a photo….first, the daily question. A few years ago, my daughter had a mental health episode in another city and a stranger grabbed her phone and called “mom” in her contact list. I had just enough time to let him know her diagnosis before she was arrested; instead she was taken to a hospital. When I called him the next day to thank him again, his phone number didn’t work….I looked for him on Facebook, etc. and finally determined he didn’t exist (in this realm, anyway). An angel appeared at just the right time, to give just the right kind of help when my daughter and I needed it most. I am forever grateful for him !
Welcome Carol:)
Welcome, Carol! Grateful you’re here, and grateful to read about your angel!
Thank you, Carol, for your wonderful daughter story, and welcome to this wonderful website 🤗. Daughter mental health episodes are something I’ve also experienced a few times 😘