So grateful for Jennifer Henderson for always checking on me and for Donna and her friendship and trip to the hospital. We share dinner and dessert today! Love company for dinner!
For my sister who is looking so attentive and caring to help our father in his currently more often helpless state to possibly find back to some equilibrium and some possible amelioration of his health. To call her and to say thank you from my heart is what i can do at least, and listening to her needs also, while looking forward to be with him then latest at Christmas.
A couple in our community held a gathering of homemade soup and bread in their home last night. It was a heartfelt effort to raise money for children impacted by the war in Israel/ Palestine. Their generosity enabled those gathered to offer a small gesture of support for a situation which has left so many feeling helpless and concerned. The gathering was warm, friendly and welcoming – a perfect way to spend a dark, cool November evening. Just sent a thank you email. Thank you for the prompt, and thoughtful reflections!
I am grateful to my boyfriend, who has always been right with me through my journey, he’s my biggest supporter in everything I do. I have struggled with finding discipline and balance in my life after all im still just a teenager, but its really crucial that I help myself immediately in order to stop this unhealthy habit, and he’s right there next to me helping me. I will show my gratitude by being aware of my tone and be more positive because thats what he wants from me. Next I am grateful for my life, I always told myself that my life does not hold any value and at many moments I’ve felt that I dont belong or that my existence doesn”t bring anyone any joy, but to me my existence brings me joy.
Thank you for sharing so honestly. I didn’t always know what my daughters were dealing with when they were teenagers and I know now that everyone has dark days (sometimes weeks, months). I can tell you that their existence definitely brings me joy.
I’ve been sharing a quotation in several spaces recently because I feel like it’s so applicable to many circumstances and people.
“But here’s the point about failing: it doesn’t mean failure. Failing is merely another step in a trajectory of becoming. We fail. We dream again. We try again. We fail again. Or not.”
— Annabel Abbs, Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women
I am grateful for this online sanctuary & to all of You who participate here. I have learned so much & my spiritual practice has evolved & grown in ways I could have never imagined. Thank you to you all here & behind the scenes.
I am grateful for the Divine in my life. I would be lost without my connection to a higher power; in fact there have been many times in my life that I have been lost & then I found the Divine.
I am grateful for my faith in the Divine.✨🙏🏻✨
My family; mother, sisters, father and brother in law. They all support me in various ways and my life would be completely different without them. I am grateful and I should think of a special way to tell them so.
i am grateful for my dad. He is the most amazing human being in the world. he really is just an amazing person. he just is everything that i would look for in a friend. he’s funny caring loyal kind free and so much more and thats just off the top of my mind. he really is just a god person. he makes me laugh, and i know i can cry with him. i feel comfortable with him. OH he’s also comforting. yeah super comforting. we almost never fight and its amazing. hes my safe person and i just love him so much. i think i will let him now how much he means to me and ill read this to him, thats how ill share my gratitude today<3
I’m grateful for my friends that
continue to keep me in their lives.
The ones that get back to me.
The ones that are happy to see my
name pop up in their text messages.
I’m the one that reaches out. The
one that try’s to stay connected.
I guess I need to make sure they know
how important they are to me.
I’m not feeling super grateful
in this moment.
I had to come back to share this poem. I’m grateful for those who made it possible for me to drink my morning coffee and eat good food, and I don’t have a way to know who grew these plants.
“The Long Continuous Line” by Michael van Walleghen
When eating fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.
—Vietnamese Proverb
When I was nine my grandpa gave me an apple tree
in his orchard This one is yours he said
It breathes the same air as you and me Every time
you touch a tree you become part of the story of the earth
I didn’t know what it meant to own a tree
There was something overwhelming about a gift
that belonged to the earth but I loved that tree
and the past into which it has gone The nurturing
fragrance of apple blossoms bees wild with delight
my touch-and-know of branches blessed by wind
and rain moon and sun My tree My very own tree
giving its fruit without me even asking Grandpa
and me sitting in the grass leaning against my tree
listening to the rustling murmur of leaves watching
a flock of geese measuring the sky distant sounds
that could be words I loved the quiet unfolding
between us each of us taking a bite into the sweet
sacrament of an apple its tight red skin
hugging a generous white heart and tucked inside
a little star-house of seeds The only smell better than
those first white blossoms was the autumn tumble
of windfalls the warm smell of pie baking
in grandma’s oven and applesauce spiced with cinnamon
I knew that tree the whole taste of it and all of its
luminous gifts like seeds in my pocket So much gets
lost in the echoes and loneliness of memory
our hunger for roots our need for steadiness the promise
of tomorrow Even now when I hold the round red
universe of an apple in the palm of my hand I can still
lean against that apple tree and the man who planted it
Last night I spent some time thinking about friendship thanks to the article I shared here in response to yesterday’s question about cultivating belonging (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-friendship-dip). I’m so grateful for good friends I’ve had over the years. Today I’ll send a text to the ones who live farther away and tell them I’m thinking of them and I’m glad we’re friends.
I’m also going to send an email to my sister and my sister-in-law so we can start planning our next Sisters’ Weekend getaway. It’s been over a year and that’s too long. I’m so lucky to genuinely be friends with these two members of my large family.
Thank you for your thoughtful and generous reflection. I also spent time yesterday reflecting on the question of cultivating belonging. The ‘Friendship Dip’ article you shared is so helpful and affirming, to understand the challenges and complexity of carving out time and space for friendship in our lives. She names the challenges for the different age groups in North America in such a helpful way. I appreciate how she says that, at some point, we either value and make time and space for friendship, relationships and community in our lives, or we don’t. For the younger generations, however, it does seem complicated and challenging though.
Now, I must get off the computer and reach out to a friend – new or longer term. Will reach out to those long time girlfriends for sure. I so appreciate your naming and modelling of just how important it is to take the time and make the effort!
I am grateful for being alive, my family, and this great website where I am getting to know and learn from awesome people. Sharing my thoughts on here and reading y’all’s is something I look forward to every day.
Author Byron Katie says, “Everything in the world is for our self realization.” She wrote the book “Loving What Is.”
When I read today’s question: “Who am I grateful for?” I thought everyone because everyone, every situation, is my teacher. Katie says, “Until you can see everything in the world as a friend, your Work is not done.”
In today’s quote Mohammad Ali puts it this way, “As long as I’m alive, I will continue to try to understand more because the work of the heart is never done.”
How can I share my gratitude today? Eckhart Tolle in his book “The Power of Now” tells me “In loving what is, you [I] have the key. Now use it.”
I do my best to greet everyday with an open mind and an open heart–with an attitude of gratitude. Pain can make that hard. Loneliness can make that hard. Loss can make that hard. But simply put, All is Grace and my own daily question is “What can I learn from this?”
I am grateful for another day on this earth. God knows that I am not perfect- and I continue to make mistakes…but thankfully, he is a loving and forgiving God…and I have another day. I sat on my deck this very warm morning with my tea and I looked at the vastness and I thanked God for my life- and another day. I also am very thankful for this wonderful site…and all the people that make it so. I have gained much since coming here…we are all folks who do not “know” one another…but sure make a difference in each other’s lives on a daily basis. Thank you !!
Ngoc Trong Tim founder, staff, and donors are those I am grateful for. The opportunities that they have provided to me and other disabled musicians in Vietnam made a huge change in our lives. Thanks to Ngoc Trong Tim sponsorship, we have opportunities to highlight our talents and introduce our Vietnamese culture to everyone here through music. Helping other people with disabilities is one way I could share my gratitude not only today but every day in my life.
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So grateful for Jennifer Henderson for always checking on me and for Donna and her friendship and trip to the hospital. We share dinner and dessert today! Love company for dinner!
Today I am just grateful for this website and thank you for all that reflect on here.
For my sister who is looking so attentive and caring to help our father in his currently more often helpless state to possibly find back to some equilibrium and some possible amelioration of his health. To call her and to say thank you from my heart is what i can do at least, and listening to her needs also, while looking forward to be with him then latest at Christmas.
A couple in our community held a gathering of homemade soup and bread in their home last night. It was a heartfelt effort to raise money for children impacted by the war in Israel/ Palestine. Their generosity enabled those gathered to offer a small gesture of support for a situation which has left so many feeling helpless and concerned. The gathering was warm, friendly and welcoming – a perfect way to spend a dark, cool November evening. Just sent a thank you email. Thank you for the prompt, and thoughtful reflections!
I am grateful to my boyfriend, who has always been right with me through my journey, he’s my biggest supporter in everything I do. I have struggled with finding discipline and balance in my life after all im still just a teenager, but its really crucial that I help myself immediately in order to stop this unhealthy habit, and he’s right there next to me helping me. I will show my gratitude by being aware of my tone and be more positive because thats what he wants from me. Next I am grateful for my life, I always told myself that my life does not hold any value and at many moments I’ve felt that I dont belong or that my existence doesn”t bring anyone any joy, but to me my existence brings me joy.
My heart goes out to all young folks. I am glad you have the support you do. I admire that you are on this site. We are pulling for you.
Thank you for sharing so honestly. I didn’t always know what my daughters were dealing with when they were teenagers and I know now that everyone has dark days (sometimes weeks, months). I can tell you that their existence definitely brings me joy.
I’ve been sharing a quotation in several spaces recently because I feel like it’s so applicable to many circumstances and people.
“But here’s the point about failing: it doesn’t mean failure. Failing is merely another step in a trajectory of becoming. We fail. We dream again. We try again. We fail again. Or not.”
— Annabel Abbs, Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women
I am grateful for this online sanctuary & to all of You who participate here. I have learned so much & my spiritual practice has evolved & grown in ways I could have never imagined. Thank you to you all here & behind the scenes.
I am grateful for the Divine in my life. I would be lost without my connection to a higher power; in fact there have been many times in my life that I have been lost & then I found the Divine.
I am grateful for my faith in the Divine.✨🙏🏻✨
My family; mother, sisters, father and brother in law. They all support me in various ways and my life would be completely different without them. I am grateful and I should think of a special way to tell them so.
i am grateful for my dad. He is the most amazing human being in the world. he really is just an amazing person. he just is everything that i would look for in a friend. he’s funny caring loyal kind free and so much more and thats just off the top of my mind. he really is just a god person. he makes me laugh, and i know i can cry with him. i feel comfortable with him. OH he’s also comforting. yeah super comforting. we almost never fight and its amazing. hes my safe person and i just love him so much. i think i will let him now how much he means to me and ill read this to him, thats how ill share my gratitude today<3
I’m grateful for my friends that
continue to keep me in their lives.
The ones that get back to me.
The ones that are happy to see my
name pop up in their text messages.
I’m the one that reaches out. The
one that try’s to stay connected.
I guess I need to make sure they know
how important they are to me.
I’m not feeling super grateful
in this moment.
I had to come back to share this poem. I’m grateful for those who made it possible for me to drink my morning coffee and eat good food, and I don’t have a way to know who grew these plants.
https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2013/11/michael-van-walleghen-long-continuous.html
“The Long Continuous Line” by Michael van Walleghen
When eating fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.
—Vietnamese Proverb
When I was nine my grandpa gave me an apple tree
in his orchard This one is yours he said
It breathes the same air as you and me Every time
you touch a tree you become part of the story of the earth
I didn’t know what it meant to own a tree
There was something overwhelming about a gift
that belonged to the earth but I loved that tree
and the past into which it has gone The nurturing
fragrance of apple blossoms bees wild with delight
my touch-and-know of branches blessed by wind
and rain moon and sun My tree My very own tree
giving its fruit without me even asking Grandpa
and me sitting in the grass leaning against my tree
listening to the rustling murmur of leaves watching
a flock of geese measuring the sky distant sounds
that could be words I loved the quiet unfolding
between us each of us taking a bite into the sweet
sacrament of an apple its tight red skin
hugging a generous white heart and tucked inside
a little star-house of seeds The only smell better than
those first white blossoms was the autumn tumble
of windfalls the warm smell of pie baking
in grandma’s oven and applesauce spiced with cinnamon
I knew that tree the whole taste of it and all of its
luminous gifts like seeds in my pocket So much gets
lost in the echoes and loneliness of memory
our hunger for roots our need for steadiness the promise
of tomorrow Even now when I hold the round red
universe of an apple in the palm of my hand I can still
lean against that apple tree and the man who planted it
I love this thank you for sharing!
loved this, thank you Barb.
Thank you for this Barb. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Beautiful!! Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Last night I spent some time thinking about friendship thanks to the article I shared here in response to yesterday’s question about cultivating belonging (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-friendship-dip). I’m so grateful for good friends I’ve had over the years. Today I’ll send a text to the ones who live farther away and tell them I’m thinking of them and I’m glad we’re friends.
I’m also going to send an email to my sister and my sister-in-law so we can start planning our next Sisters’ Weekend getaway. It’s been over a year and that’s too long. I’m so lucky to genuinely be friends with these two members of my large family.
Great article Barb, very insightful – I shared it with my kids.
Barb,
Thank you for your thoughtful and generous reflection. I also spent time yesterday reflecting on the question of cultivating belonging. The ‘Friendship Dip’ article you shared is so helpful and affirming, to understand the challenges and complexity of carving out time and space for friendship in our lives. She names the challenges for the different age groups in North America in such a helpful way. I appreciate how she says that, at some point, we either value and make time and space for friendship, relationships and community in our lives, or we don’t. For the younger generations, however, it does seem complicated and challenging though.
Now, I must get off the computer and reach out to a friend – new or longer term. Will reach out to those long time girlfriends for sure. I so appreciate your naming and modelling of just how important it is to take the time and make the effort!
Warmly,
KC
I am grateful for being alive, my family, and this great website where I am getting to know and learn from awesome people. Sharing my thoughts on here and reading y’all’s is something I look forward to every day.
Welcome to this great Community Joao. I look forward to coming here daily too. Where in Europe are you from? Brazil?
I am so glad you are here, sharing in this amazing community. I learn a lot from all of them. Blessings to you today and always.
Author Byron Katie says, “Everything in the world is for our self realization.” She wrote the book “Loving What Is.”
When I read today’s question: “Who am I grateful for?” I thought everyone because everyone, every situation, is my teacher. Katie says, “Until you can see everything in the world as a friend, your Work is not done.”
In today’s quote Mohammad Ali puts it this way, “As long as I’m alive, I will continue to try to understand more because the work of the heart is never done.”
How can I share my gratitude today? Eckhart Tolle in his book “The Power of Now” tells me “In loving what is, you [I] have the key. Now use it.”
I do my best to greet everyday with an open mind and an open heart–with an attitude of gratitude. Pain can make that hard. Loneliness can make that hard. Loss can make that hard. But simply put, All is Grace and my own daily question is “What can I learn from this?”
Bless you dear Carol.❤️🙏🏻
Lovely carol ! I agree 🥰
I am grateful for another day on this earth. God knows that I am not perfect- and I continue to make mistakes…but thankfully, he is a loving and forgiving God…and I have another day. I sat on my deck this very warm morning with my tea and I looked at the vastness and I thanked God for my life- and another day. I also am very thankful for this wonderful site…and all the people that make it so. I have gained much since coming here…we are all folks who do not “know” one another…but sure make a difference in each other’s lives on a daily basis. Thank you !!
We’re like long distance pen pals with free postage, lol.
Nannette, This I do know. You are my teacher and I am grateful for you.
Ngoc Trong Tim founder, staff, and donors are those I am grateful for. The opportunities that they have provided to me and other disabled musicians in Vietnam made a huge change in our lives. Thanks to Ngoc Trong Tim sponsorship, we have opportunities to highlight our talents and introduce our Vietnamese culture to everyone here through music. Helping other people with disabilities is one way I could share my gratitude not only today but every day in my life.