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A day of making my sure my oldest is as settled and ready as she starts a summer internship tomorrow. Also being present for a stressed spouse who actually talked himself into dropping a summer class so he can some well deserved and long over due breathing room this summer. This is an answer to a prayer!
I was in the mood for a hike today with a change of scenery. Got in 8000 steps but not that exciting of a hike. Happy to get some exercise though!
The Universe is… I have had consistent signs sent to me the past couple of weeks, and an experience I had yesterday had a major effect on me. The signs are all positive, but there are some areas I’ve ignored or looked over that deserve my attention. It’s all part of the healing and growing journey, and I truly am grateful for it all.
Ughh. These questions can be so hard.
I don’t feel like putting effort into anything today.
What is asking for my wholehearted attention today?
My body and mind want just easiness today.
So I suppose I can give wholeheartedly attention to self kindness,
and today that feels like relaxing, eating, resting, and only very minor chores.
May all choose self kindness today🌷
Thank you for the reminder to kind to myself dear Mary.
You are welcome , Joseph!
Sometimes the Daily Questions look so hard to answer.
Once I got started, I was able to come to an answer
that worked quite well for me.
Self kindness, yes. 🌷
After reading the question I gave my wholehearted attention to the world around me. I’m sitting outside with the wind moving through the trees like the sound of the ocean. According to the Merlin app I’ve heard a song sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, purple martin, crow, and for some strange reason an owl hooting a couple of times in the nearby park even though it’s broad daylight. I notice that my human ears are still better than the phone’s, since I heard birds farther away the app couldn’t pick up. A black-capped chickadee hopped from branch to branch in the black currant bush. The sun is warm on my shoulders. Purple columbine sway in the breeze, as do the dangling branches of the Dr. Seuss tree. Clouds rush past high above, pushed by that wind across a blue sky. Human-made sounds occasionally present as another layer: a small plane overhead, a car farther away. The wind is rushing toward me again; I hear it coming in the trees before I feel its touch.
Later this morning my husband and I are walking into town, as we often do on a weekend. I’ll try to bring this same open awareness along with me and invite him to do the same.
Ah yes dear Barb, hearing the wind before it arrives.
Beautiful description… made me feel like I was there, too!
I need to finish Timothy Snyder’s book, “On Freedom.” This book is profound in my opinion and each page is a meditation that requires my total attention!
My attention needs to go of letting go of my mind- my thoughts.Letting go takes discipline and diligence that requires 24/7 to let go and not believe my falseness- thoughts are not truth. This week’s topic of the week is me who does not take responsibility. This is perfect because I can see how I always seem to be getting lazy and want to learn on my helper to make any challenging minds that come his responsibility. No one can be responsible for my thoughts or choosing to let go- only I can repent these minds and discard them . Battling thr false self takes courage and not falling back into the false human mind of pictures.
Antoinette, May you persist not resist. Letting go is never a fight/battle.
A dear dear friend of mine is battling a death sentence. I will reach out to her today with encouraging words, love, kindness & compassion. I will continue to pray in earnest for her healing. 🙏🏻✨🙏🏻🩷
So sorry to hear about your friend PKR
Dear pkr – a death sentence sounds extremely harsh and barbaric. I can’t believe they have systems like this in so called civilised society.
I’m sorry for your friend.
I think PKR means a disease diagnosis since they mention healing.
Today I want to give my whole hearted attention to living the suggestion of yesterday’s quote by W.E.B. Du Bois: “Let us seize the day and the opportunity and strive for that greatness of spirit that measures life not by its disappointments but by its possibilities, and let us ever remember that true gratitude and appreciation show itself neither in independence nor satisfaction but passes the gift joyfully on in larger and better form.”
Today may I give my whole hearted attention to seizing the day and striving for measuring life not by its disappointments, but by its possibilities. May I gratefully and joyfully pass on the gifts I have received in larger and better form.
Thank you for this. Measuring life by its possibilities–yes!
I didn’t visit the site yesterday and hadn’t seen the quote. Say, Gratefulness Team, I wish you had an archive where we could go back and read the quotations we missed, and also a “suggest quotation” function like the “suggest a question” form.
You can arrange to have the word for the day sent to you via email every day, and then link to the site from there. This helps when you miss a day or two…
I have my monthly “empathy talk” this afternoon with a friend of mine who I met years ago in a practice group for Nonviolent Communication. First one of us talks for about 30 minutes, then the other. When she is talking I practice listening with wholehearted attention, and then when she is ready for reflections, I practice asking her about feelings and values/needs involved in whatever situation she chooses to share. She can then elaborate/correct/explore more based on my guesses of feelings/needs. She also does the same for me. So, as always, I will strive to give wholehearted attention during our talk.
I need to begin just this sort of practice with my lovely wife Cheryl. Must explore a proper delivery of an “empathy talk” with her. Thank you Elizabeth.
Very interesting.
My front yard needs mowing and weeding… my son is coming over today to help and to help set up a Coleman spa he got me for Mother’s Day – cannot wait to get in it!!
Wishing everyone a peaceful relaxing Sunday:)
Enjoy!
A new medical problem emerged for my husband. That will require attention. Then I will center myself.
❤️ dear Yram.
I am sorry to hear of this,
dear Yram . . .
I hold you both in my heart,
through both the ups and the downs
of your journey together
with love . . .
sparrow
♥
Oh my. I’m so sorry.
How wise, that you have already planned
to take care of yourself as you deal with this problem.
Sending love to you, Yram.
Mary
YRAM Centering is so important. Thank you for the reminder.
My nutrition requires my full attention today. Over the last ten days, I was fortunate enough to enjoy several meals out with friends and family; however, eating out means I consumed more sodium and calories than I usually would ingest. Today is an opportunity to prioritize my health.
I don´t know right now more than being able to express my being on duty today, starting in 15 minutes and guess i will be back around midnight, So I will be present wholeheartedly for my fellow people today, with compassion, kindness and doing my best to be there for them. When being back home in the middle of the night, i hope to again be able to give some attention to this question. Thank you and may you have a lovely sunday all who come to share and to visit here.
OSE, Sounds like you answered the question to me!
What do you do Ose ?
Wishing you the best with your long workday, Ose! If you ever care to share more about what you do, I would be so interested to learn more ♥️
I have piano. The backstory traces weeks ago. A man name Chris Dunn from the Various Special Arts(VSA) program, a program for artists with disabilities, booked a performance for me on June 26th in the afternoon. He has now retired. The last time I heard from him was more than a decade ago. As I was getting the details straightened out, one thing I was missing was a bio.
One day, a week ago, my job coach, Dan, called me. I asked him for help with the bio. He wrote it exactly in a way that captures who I am and what I’m all about. Knowing that I only use piano, because it’s the best way for me to help others rather than for fame or the family name, my enthusiasm was reinvigorated.
The root cause isn’t about family or culture. Gifted children have always been pushed to maximize their talents rather than being allowed to live the lives they desire. I’m glad I believe in god. God is the one who gave me my piano abilities. How I use it is up to me. He encourages me to use it for the world, but if I don’t, he’ll forgive me. God is the most forgiving of all. Just like LeBron James for basketball, I was born to play piano, but my life goes beyond the keys just like him for the basketball court.
I still have it in me to do social activism even on a smaller scale. At this point in my life, I’ve transitioned into a veteran voice. Saving the next generation is my next project. Being the savior isn’t the goal. The goal is to make a difference around me. The generation to hoan in on is alpha and younger. We’re now in Gen Beta, but Alpha brains are still forming. My new activism project is called “Aid the Alpha.” Making my voice heard can be done even if I’m a little guy.
My approach is to use backchannel communication. Learning all the backstage politics sets me up for for “Aid the Alpha.” Those close to me have said that they see a lot of me in my niece, Waverly; sensitive, logical, and exhibit strong empathy. She’s only 8 years old.
Years ago, my mom wanted me to teach Waverly piano. It’s the old school base of if one can do something well that they should be able to make a great teacher. It was the right idea gone wrong. As time went on seeing that I have limitations on connecting to children and seeing Waverly whine and cry, my mom was able to come to the acceptance that it wouldn’t work out. She’s very open-minded but comes from the Vietnamese and old generation root. When that day comes, I will explain the truth to Waverly when the time is right.
Now, Waverly’s just an innocent 8-year old. Letting her live her life and just playing with her is the priority. On top of all, she’s my niece; not my daughter. Ngoc and I plan to live an enjoyable life together just between the 2 of us; no kids.
I’ve made it clear, especially now and moving forward, that I don’t like power despite a part of me will always have an appetite for that. With great power comes great responsibilities, as the old saying goes. Speaking of which, today’s my Menards piano day, and I look forward to pouring my heart out despite there’s an afternoon basketball game 7 between the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets. I don’t expect any compliments, but I can feel the peace when they come.
It’s clear to me, Loc, that you have such a good heart.
Thanks Mary.
Wishing you the best for your Menards piano day today, Loc Tran, and also for your June 26 performance!
Thanks Elizabeth. Piano is the best way for me to contribute, spread my word across, and set my mind on to whatever causes I choose to advocate.