My Mother’s friend Nan who became a very close friend after my Mom died when I was 40. She called herself a miracle lass because she survived major heart surgery when she was in her 20’s. She had a pacemaker for many many years. She was full of life and always grateful. She would always say life is a gift and always fully knowing how fortunate she was to live a long life. She was very independent and lived in a cute little condo on Cape Cod. She passed away in November after her son moved her closer to him to keep an eye on her. I miss her but also know I am so blessed to have such a friend who got to know my children and was a huge support to me for so many years.
My parents and maternal grandmother for sure, as mentioned in my answer to the question about ancestors the other day.
My brother Don, who died unexpectedly in his mid 60s of a drowning accident and who enriched the world with his art and music.
A friend who died earlier this year of the *third* type of cancer she fought. What a woman! Founded a fair trade coffee roasting company, delivered coffee by bike, was such a character who always made me smile with her ferocious energy. No matter how long it had been since we last saw each other it was as if no time at all had passed.
Some of the people who volunteered to help me early in my political career (which was decades ago).
I’ll share a thought prompted by mentioning people who helped me in politics: I’ve moved more than once since those days and had lost track of people. I didn’t even know one person had died until I happened to look him up online and his obituary was the first item in the results. This question is your reminder to reach out to people you’re grateful for knowing NOW and tell them that, rather than waiting to share those stories at a memorial service.
I did a bit of that in the earliest COVID years. I’ve been doing that again a bit at a time via Facebook as I also ask people for direct contact information and share my contact info to be able to stay in touch outside of the Meta world. It feels so good to tell them how they’ve made a difference in my life.
My youngest brother took his life the day before Thanksgiving last year and he was a wonderful person. I’m sorry that he chose to take his life, but he was clearly suffering deeply . I’m blessed to have known him. I feel sorry for his 3 young children ages 6, 12 and 14.
My teacher in arts at school for example, for whom i will be forever grateful, who loved to pass on as much of love and capabilites for what he himself loved and stood for as a teacher, which resulted in a broad variety of techniques conveyed, from oil painting, tempera, watercolor painting, working with clay, plaster, soapstone, drypoint etchings or printing techniques. It was and still is inspiring until today. And so are many for whom i will be forever grateful, who might have passed from my life as well as who is still present, for whom I am deeply grateful. ✨
My Dad passed from this earth in 2010. It took years for me to accept that he was really gone.
I am grateful for his love and encouragement.
I can see Dad in the driveway after I had visited, eyes tearing up, as he waved goodbye.
He could be hard, but in his heart, my Dad was so very, very sweet.
I am grateful to my Dad for loving me, and for having such a good heart.
Thank you for this question.
Too many.
I am going to a celebration of life today. Elaine and I shared the love of teaching both religious and secular situations. We also shared familvalues and tge most delicious homemade pizza possible.
Many but my mentor stands out. He was in my life for over 27 years and I quote him often here and in just about every community that is part of my life. And as all of you know, I’m very grateful for my elders and my ancestors, especially my Uncle Amos who died last Fall at the age of 101. I traveled extensively with him when he was in his 80’s. We shared so much American history together following the Appalachian trail on the east coast and the national parks in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. I was fortunate to be raised in the same town as most of my aunts and uncles and cousins. Our family was wounded as all families usually are and I hope I have been able to heal some of that wounding because I believe that my healing not only helps me but goes both ways. It helps those who have passed on and those who follow me.
As Michelle mentioned, so many. I will mention specifically my dear Friend, Marie. When I lived in the UP of Michigan, I traveled across the River to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, for Tai Chi classes. Marie was my first teacher. She was in her mid 70’s at the time. So skilled. Her clear blue eyes sharp and beautiful. We ended up becoming close friends. She never missed an opportunity to live large. She traveled the world on a shoestring and loved every minute of it. When I left the UP, we continued to travel to one another’s homes to spend time and create adventures together. Marie passed a few winters back at the age of 92.
I am so grateful for this question this morning, as I haven’t thought deeply about Marie in a bit. I am ré-inspired by doing so. Thank you Gratefulness Team.🩷
My dear friend Kirk Glass. He had idiopathic lung disease and I met him at the fitness center where I was an exercise physiologist. He was utterly living life to the fullest because he knew transplant survivors may not live long. He was taking classes, learning spiritual practices, and bringing his friends together. He got a fungal infection in 2019, thankfully before the pandemic and passed away within a few months. He had the most moving celebration of life with a natural burial. We all participated in putting his body into the ground. When he was alive, he was an AV engineer and he recorded my meditations for my classes. I feel a little bit of him when I hear those recordings. He truly embraced living in the now.
Avril, I have found out that in my community green burial is allowed at one cemetery. I was thrilled to know and have told my son that is my choice. I wish for my body to return to the earth”’earth that was formed by star dust!
And I am so happy for you that this wise man Kirk Glass crossed your path. I know you were a blessing to him as he was to you.
One of the gifts of loss is learning to treasure what was good without clinging to it. People pass in and out of our lives. That was a tough lesson for me when the love of my life died. I was bereft and very angry at God. Then my youngest brother was diagnosed with a cancer that was probably not going to go well. He had been absent from my life for years, then just when I needed him, before he left the earth, he showed up, like a n unexpected angel. We talked for an hour or more every day. One particularly bad day, I’d been standing on a street corner in the place where I’d spent so many happy times with the man I loved and burst into tears. Right in the middle of town. When I told my brother about it he explained how he’d felt the same way after losing his girlfriend and little boy in a car accident. He said he decided that every time he felt their loss so keenly, he’d consciously try to bring to mind how happy they’d been in the place where he felt their loss. It worked! Gradually the intensity passed and I started to heal. Thank you, D!
Dawn, thank you for sharing. What a gift to have your brother show up just when you needed him. Like the others, I honor and appreciate your tender share.
My youngest brother Michael who died September 18, 2002 at the age of 42, by suicide. He was one of the funniest people I have known, but that humor was overshadowed by a darkness I and many others did not know existed deep within. RIP Michael. May all encounter some peace on this gift of a new day.
Thank you,
dear Joseph,
for telling us this . . .
suicide
is a hard thing to reconcile with . . .
it’s a different kind of loss.
My aunt,
and my sister
both killed themselves
many years ago.
I think we all have a darkness inside of ourselves . . .
not all of us
learn how to deal with it
with love and compassion. ♥
Bruce Hinrichs is my favorite professor ever. He was the psychology professor when I went to McNally Smith College of Music. I studied both general and bio psychology under him. He was enthusiastic and had a great sense of humor. The way he encorporated a bunch of f bombs in his lectures drew laughter. He sounds a lot like myself all over again.
Drea, I got along well with my teachers since preschool. Teachers like him don’t grow on trees.
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My Mother’s friend Nan who became a very close friend after my Mom died when I was 40. She called herself a miracle lass because she survived major heart surgery when she was in her 20’s. She had a pacemaker for many many years. She was full of life and always grateful. She would always say life is a gift and always fully knowing how fortunate she was to live a long life. She was very independent and lived in a cute little condo on Cape Cod. She passed away in November after her son moved her closer to him to keep an eye on her. I miss her but also know I am so blessed to have such a friend who got to know my children and was a huge support to me for so many years.
Beautiful
My parents and maternal grandmother for sure, as mentioned in my answer to the question about ancestors the other day.
My brother Don, who died unexpectedly in his mid 60s of a drowning accident and who enriched the world with his art and music.
A friend who died earlier this year of the *third* type of cancer she fought. What a woman! Founded a fair trade coffee roasting company, delivered coffee by bike, was such a character who always made me smile with her ferocious energy. No matter how long it had been since we last saw each other it was as if no time at all had passed.
Some of the people who volunteered to help me early in my political career (which was decades ago).
I’ll share a thought prompted by mentioning people who helped me in politics: I’ve moved more than once since those days and had lost track of people. I didn’t even know one person had died until I happened to look him up online and his obituary was the first item in the results. This question is your reminder to reach out to people you’re grateful for knowing NOW and tell them that, rather than waiting to share those stories at a memorial service.
I did a bit of that in the earliest COVID years. I’ve been doing that again a bit at a time via Facebook as I also ask people for direct contact information and share my contact info to be able to stay in touch outside of the Meta world. It feels so good to tell them how they’ve made a difference in my life.
My dad. He was the kindest, most giving man I have ever known. I wish I had lived up to his wishes for me.
I believe you have dear Linda.
My youngest brother took his life the day before Thanksgiving last year and he was a wonderful person. I’m sorry that he chose to take his life, but he was clearly suffering deeply . I’m blessed to have known him. I feel sorry for his 3 young children ages 6, 12 and 14.
So terribly sad for you and his children. I am sorry this happened.
Far too many. All of my friends and family that have passed, have something to offer me and I am grateful for the time we had. They live on in me.
My teacher in arts at school for example, for whom i will be forever grateful, who loved to pass on as much of love and capabilites for what he himself loved and stood for as a teacher, which resulted in a broad variety of techniques conveyed, from oil painting, tempera, watercolor painting, working with clay, plaster, soapstone, drypoint etchings or printing techniques. It was and still is inspiring until today. And so are many for whom i will be forever grateful, who might have passed from my life as well as who is still present, for whom I am deeply grateful. ✨
Some people are born to teach, Ose. This person sounds like wonderful energy. 🩷
Ose, a healthy relationship with a teacher can make a huge difference, especially in the arts. It makes learning feel more comfortable.
There are many I could mention, but I will just say that I am grateful for each of them and the legacies they left behind.
I feel similarly. Every person I knew who has passed on left something for which I am grateful, even those I didn’t know well.
My Dad passed from this earth in 2010. It took years for me to accept that he was really gone.
I am grateful for his love and encouragement.
I can see Dad in the driveway after I had visited, eyes tearing up, as he waved goodbye.
He could be hard, but in his heart, my Dad was so very, very sweet.
I am grateful to my Dad for loving me, and for having such a good heart.
Thank you for this question.
Thank you Mary. It warms my heart to hear about your loving father.
Too many.
I am going to a celebration of life today. Elaine and I shared the love of teaching both religious and secular situations. We also shared familvalues and tge most delicious homemade pizza possible.
Many but my mentor stands out. He was in my life for over 27 years and I quote him often here and in just about every community that is part of my life. And as all of you know, I’m very grateful for my elders and my ancestors, especially my Uncle Amos who died last Fall at the age of 101. I traveled extensively with him when he was in his 80’s. We shared so much American history together following the Appalachian trail on the east coast and the national parks in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. I was fortunate to be raised in the same town as most of my aunts and uncles and cousins. Our family was wounded as all families usually are and I hope I have been able to heal some of that wounding because I believe that my healing not only helps me but goes both ways. It helps those who have passed on and those who follow me.
Carol, what a gift to have traveled extensively with your uncle when he was in his 80s! I bet you have some fantastic stories from that time.
and what a lucky Uncle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (said an Old Aunt here!)
As Michelle mentioned, so many. I will mention specifically my dear Friend, Marie. When I lived in the UP of Michigan, I traveled across the River to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, for Tai Chi classes. Marie was my first teacher. She was in her mid 70’s at the time. So skilled. Her clear blue eyes sharp and beautiful. We ended up becoming close friends. She never missed an opportunity to live large. She traveled the world on a shoestring and loved every minute of it. When I left the UP, we continued to travel to one another’s homes to spend time and create adventures together. Marie passed a few winters back at the age of 92.
I am so grateful for this question this morning, as I haven’t thought deeply about Marie in a bit. I am ré-inspired by doing so. Thank you Gratefulness Team.🩷
My dear friend Kirk Glass. He had idiopathic lung disease and I met him at the fitness center where I was an exercise physiologist. He was utterly living life to the fullest because he knew transplant survivors may not live long. He was taking classes, learning spiritual practices, and bringing his friends together. He got a fungal infection in 2019, thankfully before the pandemic and passed away within a few months. He had the most moving celebration of life with a natural burial. We all participated in putting his body into the ground. When he was alive, he was an AV engineer and he recorded my meditations for my classes. I feel a little bit of him when I hear those recordings. He truly embraced living in the now.
Avril, I have found out that in my community green burial is allowed at one cemetery. I was thrilled to know and have told my son that is my choice. I wish for my body to return to the earth”’earth that was formed by star dust!
And I am so happy for you that this wise man Kirk Glass crossed your path. I know you were a blessing to him as he was to you.
One of the gifts of loss is learning to treasure what was good without clinging to it. People pass in and out of our lives. That was a tough lesson for me when the love of my life died. I was bereft and very angry at God. Then my youngest brother was diagnosed with a cancer that was probably not going to go well. He had been absent from my life for years, then just when I needed him, before he left the earth, he showed up, like a n unexpected angel. We talked for an hour or more every day. One particularly bad day, I’d been standing on a street corner in the place where I’d spent so many happy times with the man I loved and burst into tears. Right in the middle of town. When I told my brother about it he explained how he’d felt the same way after losing his girlfriend and little boy in a car accident. He said he decided that every time he felt their loss so keenly, he’d consciously try to bring to mind how happy they’d been in the place where he felt their loss. It worked! Gradually the intensity passed and I started to heal. Thank you, D!
Thank you Dawn, I like that thought
Dawn, thank you for sharing.
What a beautiful memory,
dear Dawn Elaine . . .
may it comfort you to remember
with love . . .
sparrow
♥
What a beautiful way to embrace what was good. Thank you for sharing this.
Dawn, thank you for sharing. What a gift to have your brother show up just when you needed him. Like the others, I honor and appreciate your tender share.
Such a lovely, tender sharing, Dawn. Thank you.🩷
Thank you for being vulnerable Dawn
My youngest brother Michael who died September 18, 2002 at the age of 42, by suicide. He was one of the funniest people I have known, but that humor was overshadowed by a darkness I and many others did not know existed deep within. RIP Michael. May all encounter some peace on this gift of a new day.
Thank you,
dear Joseph,
for telling us this . . .
suicide
is a hard thing to reconcile with . . .
it’s a different kind of loss.
My aunt,
and my sister
both killed themselves
many years ago.
I think we all have a darkness inside of ourselves . . .
not all of us
learn how to deal with it
with love and compassion. ♥
Joseph, thank you for telling us about your brother. May you also encounter peace on this day.
Thank you for sharing Joseph
Bruce Hinrichs is my favorite professor ever. He was the psychology professor when I went to McNally Smith College of Music. I studied both general and bio psychology under him. He was enthusiastic and had a great sense of humor. The way he encorporated a bunch of f bombs in his lectures drew laughter. He sounds a lot like myself all over again.
A great teacher is a gift
Avril, it makes learning more fun. Learning feels more like playing rather than learning itself.
That’s a sign of a truly skilled teacher.
Drea, I got along well with my teachers since preschool. Teachers like him don’t grow on trees.