One-Liner Wednesday: Has Gratitude Ever Kept You Awake at Night?

“Has gratitude ever kept you awake at night?”

Reverend Patti Mary asked this question in her sermon on Sunday. I thought she was quoting Curtis Almquist since she had referred to his book The Twelve Days of Christmas, Unwrapping the Gifts. The question, “Has gratitude ever kept you awake at night?” was not in his chapter on gratitude, so maybe it was from Almquist, or maybe it was from Patti Mary.

My answer is, gratitude has not kept me awake for long, so I need to count my blessings when worries and questions are doing summersaults in my heat at 2AM.

What I did find in the chapter on gratitude, was Almquist quoting Rilke:

“I would like to beg you to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to live the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms of books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live therm. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” (Rainer Maria Rilke)

Oh, I’ve noticed it living into the answer, I just need to remember to trust the timing.

Live the questions, but don’t let them keep you awake at night.

One Liner Wednesday is hosted by Linda Hill who is a blessing. For more one-liners visit Linda’s post here.

SoCS: Gratitude and Angel Art

Our Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “close eyes and point.” Grab the closest printed material to you when you sit down to write your post, open it up (if it’s a book, flyer, etc.), close your eyes, and point. Whatever your finger lands on, use that as your prompt. Have fun!

Thanks Linda!

It’s Friday morning, earlier than I usually write my post for SoCSaturday. I’ve got a busy day getting ready for tomorrow’s artisan fair at my church. It’s a big deal to me. The forecast is for a lot of rain, but it’s an indoor event, so I hope they don’t cancel it. This afternoon will be clear skies, or at least not much chance for rain, so that will be good for the set up. I’ll share some more later about that if the stream takes me there.

So, sitting at the table which doubles as my desk, there is a pile of papers to my left. The one on top is a green piece of scrap paper that I’ve written notes on from one of my organizations – Northside Food Co-op. I live near the northside of town which is part of a large food desert that includes my neighborhood. We’re starting with a Saturday farmers market and the plan is to have an affordable grocery store in the area. I signed up to be on the community engagement committee. (This was after telling myself not to sign up for anything new.) Anyway, there was a zoom meeting and a guest who is a former resident of the northside. The young African American woman talked to the committee about growing up without regular access to food, the poverty of not knowing, watching her mother struggle, and some personal trauma that she experienced. I asked her what helped her get through these things, and she said she just did – she got through it. She shared a spiritual awakening as an adult that has given her enthusiasm to go back and help those in the old neighborhood.

I didn’t point with my eyes closed, because when I looked at the green piece of scrap paper trying to decipher my notes, I was pulled to the word, “gratitude” in the middle of the paper. The young woman who grew up on the northside said,

“I have a purpose. Gratitude is a big fire inside.”

That would make a nice one-liner for Wednesday. But here it is in the stream. A big fire inside makes me think of heartburn, so I don’t normally think that way. But for some people, a fire inside is a motivator for enthusiasm, a warm glow that gets things going. I could use some of that. I’m pretty busy right now, but I need more exercise as I get older. There is a tendency to want to be a couch potato which is okay sometimes. Good thing I have all these ideas that get me off the couch and nice weather of the autumnal kind to get me walking outside.

This morning David texted me that he has known me for 50 years. The party where we met in 1971 was on November 6th. That was so cool that he remembered, even if he remembered it a day early. He is the farthest thing from a couch potato. It’s interesting how partners compliment each other. I’m a night owl and he’s a morning person…….

I am filled with gratitude that God brought David back to me when the time was perfect. I’m also grateful that I have the flexibility in retirement to be busy, when ignited by the fire inside, or to sit on the couch and watch the Lord of the Rings or whatever I want to watch.

Here’s my favorite recent piece I’m taking to the artisan fair Saturday. I believe I already have a buyer!

“Blessing the Whales” ~ Acrylic on Wood Panel

Here are some other projects I’ve been working on for the artisan fair. David drilled holes in the mimosa cookies so they can be ornaments. We had to cut the mimosa way back when we had the roof redone. It grew back well.

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  Angel on Mimosa Cookie

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  Angel with Golden Dog – acrylic on canvas

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  Fun with shells – a work in progress

Maybe this is my way of thanking the angels for all these years of protection and nudges.

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For more streams of consciousness, rules, etc. visit our host Linda Hill by clicking here.

SoCS: Thanking All Body Parts

Here’s our most excellent prompt from our most excellent SoCS host, Linda Hill:

….“body parts.” Pick a body part and talk about it. 

I can tell you right now, I can’t pick just one. But I can say thank you to all my body parts:

Thank you to my gut for telling me when I’m stressed and need to run away or play, or just rest.

Thank you to my heart for being strong and steady.

Thank you to my feet. I know now you have bone spurs in the heels. I am trying to take good care of you. I hope you like the TLC cushiony shoes. I will not walk long distances on pavement or go barefoot any more. I’m grateful the plantar fascitis is finally getting better.

Thank you to my legs for letting me know I need more magnesium and not aching so much at night since. And water probably helps.

Water. Thank you water. I know my body needs more water, more often. Thank you, body for letting me know by getting tired.

Thank you to my hips, flat and wide as you are, you have made room for babies and make my waist look smaller, even though it seems to be getting bigger. Oh well.

Thank you to my back. I know I complain about you, but you’ve had a lot of work to do over these 60 something years, and you let me know when you really need to stretch out and decompress.

Thank you for my neck and shoulders, what a work out you’ve had. Holding up so much weight. I hope you like the stretches, too.

I can’t forget the breasts. Such a mixed relationship we have. Yes, gravity has taken its toll on you ladies, but you have served me well and fed two babies. Thank you.

Thank you for my lips. I know you seem to be disappearing, but we have had many nice kisses over the years and you still know how to sing and speak well when the brain cooperates. Thank you to my throat and vocal chords and the fun with songs.

Thank you to my cheekbones, known as one of my best features.

Thank you to my freckles. I know I didn’t like you when I was young, but now I know they are angel kisses.

Thank you to my skin. I’m sorry I have abused you in the sun for so long. Thank you for teaching me acceptance with all these lines and wrinkles.

Thank you to my soft, hazel eyes that came from my mother. You’ve taught me acceptance, too. Aren’t you glad I don’t use mascara any more? Thank you for teaching me to see the beauty all around us.

Thank you to my nose and ears giving me delightful smells and sounds to enjoy, or warnings when needed.

Thank you to my hair which still has some red in it. Thinner, but still long and wavy.

Thank you to my old bones, thinner too, but still strong. I’m doing better at taking care of you. Thank you for supporting me still.

Thank you to all my body parts I haven’t mentioned, like the private ones. You ….. What can I say…. Thank you for warning me, or trying to, during the stressful relationships of the past that were not right for me. You knew all along. Thank you for letting my babies out and for holding things together all these years.

Thank you to my lungs. I’m sorry for what I did to you in my twenties. Thank you for still helping me breathe well. You like the yoga right? I know, deep breaths beyond yoga.

Thank you to my brain. I know I need to work to keep you in shape, but you still got it when it matters most. Thank you for being flexible and open minded, but helping me along the way.

Oh, how could I forget! Thank you to my hands and arms. You have worked so hard and rebelled during the hardest years, but you healed enough to be able to keep on expressing my thoughts here on this computer. I know you have hated it at times, but it’s better now. Thank you! I’ll try to take it easy on the yard work, pace myself, and wear gloves! What’s that? Okay, I’ll give you more lotion.

Freckles, wrinkles, and all.

Resting body parts

The pokeweed rash is get better thanks to an updated prednisone Rx. Since my plantar fascitis is finally almost gone, I’ve been able to walk more. Here are some places we’ve walked lately:

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For more streams of consciousness, rules, etc. visit our host, Linda Hill here.

Good News Tuesday: Gratitude, Himalayan View, Privacy for Pandas, Compassionate Landlords, and a Grateful Recovery from COVID 19

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Thank You to Neighbors Around the World

China is donating 1000 ventilators to New York.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo shared (earlier this month) that China is facilitating the shipment of 1,000 ventilators to his state, as he continues to shop for more of the lifesaving devices ahead of a growing number of coronavirus patients who will need them.  (PBS)

Here’ the China story from PBS

(Thank you also to the US state of Oregon for donating 140 ventilators to New York.)

Vietnam is shipping 450,000 protective suits to the US for health care workers and has donated 550,000 masks to five European countries.

Bill Gates, Tyler Perry, and so many others are donating money to help fight COVID-19. George Clooney and his wife are donating $1 million. Hilton and American Express are donating up to on million rooms to front line medical professionals.

The list goes on and on. THANK YOU!

…

 

Image of Himalayan Mountains from Pixabay

Himalayan Mountains Visible for the First Time in 30 Years

From as far away as 200 kilometers (124 miles) photographers are taking beautiful pictures of the Himalayas. All over the world pollution is decreasing dramatically. The earth can breathe easier. Are we learning yet? I say, “we,” because I’ve contributed to air pollution. At the very least, I can still make fewer trips to the store when restrictions are eased. You can read more about how the air is getting cleaner in the following article from The Good News Network.

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Giant Pandas Appreciate Privacy

In another story from the Good News Network: After 13 years, Giant Pandas in the Hong Kong Zoo, have finally mated during the zoo closing.

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Landlords of Compassion

The following article reports on landlords who have cancelled rent. David Placek of New Jersey cancelled rent on his 12 properties for the months of April, May, and June. A landlord in Brooklyn, New York cancelled April rent across his 18 residential buildings, and a landlord in Maine said he’d cancel rent for April. I bet there are more. Feel free to give a shout out if you know a landlord or other business owner cancelling rent or fees. Click here for details. 

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A Message of Gratitude and Hope

Christina Paz is a mother of five. After 15 days in a New York hospital she recovered from COVID 19 to be reunited with her husband and children. The viral video of her leaving the hospital is at the end of this post. Please listen to her message of gratitude and hope which you can find in first video in this story from Good Morning America:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/woman-viral-hospital-video-doctors-nurses-shares-important-70080822

 

 

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Got good news?

Please share!

Expectations and Gratitude

Today’s prompt is xp. We’re to use it as a word. ???? Wait. I don’t know what xp means as a word. I asked my hubby and he doesn’t know either, so I’m going to use it in a word or two since that is also an option.

I’ve been SOOOO busy moving back in to the renovated house. The bathroom door is still not here. We could put up the old bathroom door, but it wouldn’t look right. And I EXPECTED they would’ve had it – the new door – put in a long time ago. The excuse was something about it being a special door to match the other doors in the hallway.  This project was started back in SEPTEMBER! Anyway, not having a bathroom door has been interesting. When they were still working on the house, my friend had to stand guard. Crazy stuff. And when it’s just me and my hubby… I don’t know if I like the word hubby. When it’s just the two of us (and the dogs) there is a new level of intimacy with not having a bathroom door.  Not with the dogs. They don’t care.

Tomorrow, which is Saturday, since I’m typing this Friday night, I’ll be priming the walls in the spare bedroom. Then Sunday, I hope to add color – elfin sage – like the bathroom. Poor door-less bathroom. The door is finally in (somewhere in this city), but the guy who puts in these special doors isn’t going to do it until Monday or Tuesday.  Well, we’ve been this long…. Oh the things we take for granted. I won’t take this new bathroom door for granted for a long time.

Experience tells me things will eventually get back to something like normal. A lot of our stuff is still at my parents’ house. Why do I have so many books?! Books, books, and more books. I’ve gotten rid of some – donated mostly – but there are still so many. I love them. But where will they go? I will figure it out.  Maybe by the end of the year, things will be organized, and I will have sold my parents’ house. That is what I expect.

Expect a miracle. That’s on a T shirt I inherited from my mom. I’m expecting a miracle in a nice way. Not in a “You better give me a miracle, God,” way.  Gratitude. That will help. Gratitude always helps. I bet there are  a lot of people in the world who don’t even have a bathroom.  Probably more than we might think. So I will not complain that I only have one bathroom. That has been the case for most of my 63 years. I am thankful for my one elfin sage bathroom (with its earthy tiles) which will soon have a door.  I’m also thankful for toilet paper.

An earlier stage, before the shower curtain, etc.

PS. I regret being absent for Thursday Tree Love and WATWB, and being slow to read and respond. But I’ve had to put some things on hold or just skip a few things to work on the house. I do appreciate your patience and friendship here in Bloglandia. I expect to be back more regularly in the future.  May your Saturday be full of peace, joy, and wonderful things!

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To learn more about SoCS, visit Linda Hill’s blog:

https://lindaghill.com/2019/04/26/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-27-19/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

One-Liner Wednesday: Gratitude Makes Sense of Our Past

 

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

― Melody Beattie

…

I thought I knew all the stages of grief.

But there’s always more to learn.

 I never understood the role of  bargaining in my divorce.

I don’t remember begging, though I did ask “Why?”

wandering around in shock.

The counselor said the marriage could be saved

unless there were other lovers –

then it wouldn’t work.

The other woman had been my friend

before the bottom fell out.

There was no checking in.

No sisterhood.

.

I used to think  guilt was a stage of grief,

guilt the companion of bargaining,

guilt who knows where I live.

Maybe if I’d been more attentive,

 more docile, more playful…

I thought I was doing a good job

for the two decades tossed away.

Why? Why? Why? ad infinitum….,

(until now.)

.

Anger got lost in depression,

the depression I tried to swallow,

but it kept coming back up.

Or I’d stuff it in a drawer and forget about it

until I went looking for that purple scarf

and it grabbed me around the throat

and threw me on the bed.

 I couldn’t get up

but I could roll over and slide down

to put my knees on the floor.

.

All the while I wrestled with depression,

anger lurked nearby growing into a boulder of resentment

blocking my path to happiness.

.

But where was this acceptance I kept hearing about?

I had no idea.

.

It wasn’t until forgiveness

finally got a foot in the door

and started chipping away at resentment,

that acceptance had a chance to work.

It was forgiveness that opened a path for love.

Love of self. Love of family. Love of life.

And finally when the time was right,

Love from another.

.

Now, after all these years, I’ve awakened

to another stage:

Gratitude.

Eighteen years ago I would have never believed it possible

to be grateful for my divorce.

But if the first marriage had not died,

if the other woman had not been there,

I would not have been set free.

Free to fall.

Free to flounder.

Free to fly.

Free to find myself again.

Free to be found.

…

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

One-Liner Wednesday is brought to you by Linda G. Hill

at

https://lindaghill.com/2018/11/21/one-liner-wednesday-its-time/

 

Here are the rules that we sometimes follow:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Update: Gratitude, Books, and Bees

First, I want to let you know how much I appreciate you, my followers and readers. Sometime in May, I passed 2000 followers! What a surprise! It seems these things happen when I’m not watching the numbers. I wish I could read every post of every follower, and while that might be possible, life calls me to a variety of responsibilities and adventures. I do enjoy learning about people from all over the world as we share our ideas, hopes and dreams. Thank you for your patience and your support!

♥ ♥ ♥

Next up, my story, “I Almost Gave Up on Romance,” is now available in

The Miracle of Love. 

I’d submitted stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul twice before, but they weren’t accepted. Another reminder to persevere!  As I begin reading The Miracle of Love, I’m finding the stories rejuvenating and easy-to-read.

If you’d like the juicy (and mostly clean) details of my story, just click on my book, Trust the Timing, up on the right side bar for more information.

 

And now to the BEES!

A little while ago I mentioned about the bees in the wall at my church and our plan to bring them to our backyard. It took a couple of weeks to get everything ready including putting up a fence around the bee area to keep Doodle out. Then we had to wait for the rain to stop. During that waiting, David noticed fewer bees coming out of holes in the brick and wondered if they’d “swarmed” to a new location.

On Monday, he opened up the wall while I handed him stuff and took pictures.

Once David opened up another section of wall, he discovered there were only a only few hundred bees and no brood. Most hives have several thousand bees. The original hive had swarmed. The bees present were likely “robber” bees from another hive attracted to the remaining honey. I prefer to think of them as scavenger bees doing a job.

David vacuumed the bees out of the wall with a very gentle vacuum he built himself.  The inside of the hose was smooth which is extremely important for bee survival. I’d been worried about this common procedure, but it worked.

Since this collection of bees was not really a hive (there was no queen), David decided to let them go. When he opened the box outside, hundreds of bees immediately flew away – hopefully to their own hive. A small group hung around getting their bearings, but went home before dark.

Being an aspiring vegan, I’m not 100% comfortable with this whole process, though it is interesting. David, who jokes about being allergic to fun, greatly enjoys working with bees. He had fun even though he didn’t get to bring home a hive. So I’m supporting him in this interest and learning a lot about bees myself. Besides, the  bees could not stay in our church wall, especially since our music director is allergic to them. The more I learn about bees, the more I appreciate them. As pollinators, they are part of a wonderful system and responsible for most of the food we eat.

Here’s a moving video about compassion for one special bee.

All About Gratitude: A Review of DigiThanks

When I get caught up in the mundane and crazy stuff of every day life, we might forget to be thankful. When I do stop and think about what I’m thankful for, or better yet, make a gratitude list, life is better. I am better.

DigiThanks helps me remember to be grateful for the people and blessings in my my life. When Sedi asked me to review the Instagram page, I was a little hesitant only because I’m not active on Instagram. But when I visited the page,  I enjoyed the smiles and reading the thank you notes from all over the world. DigiThanks is all about gratitude, something the whole world needs more of. Filled with simple wisdom, inspiring quotes, and a diversity of thank you stories from the heart,  DigiThanks lifts my spirits. I hope it will lift yours, too. It’s definitely worth checking out this joyful instagram page and blog.

https://www.instagram.com/digithanks/?hl=en

Never underestimate the power of gratitude!

How Gratitude Healed My Loneliness

(From my November newsletter)

They say laughter is the best medicine. But the medicine of gratitude reaches deeper into our hearts. Giving thanks for what we have creates positive energy all around us. Gratitude brings more blessings, maybe not right away, but soon.

In my lonely years, I wanted a partner who would be a good fit: respectful, dog-loving, spiritual… My longing softened toward acceptance and even joy when I started to give thanks for what I already had – friends, family, job, home, and that God had a plan for my life. Even though it took a while for my partner to find me, being thankful made me feel better, especially when I made a written list or gave thanks out loud. It helped me realize that my life was good, even without a partner. One of the messages in Trust the Timing, is that we need to be mostly okay as individuals before we can have a healthy relationship. When my partner found me, he shared his own habit of giving thanks at the end of every day. I wonder if gratitude helped lead us back to each other when the time was right.

Every challenge holds an opportunity for thankfulness. I can get overwhelmed by the tasks related to my father’s death in January. Sorting through the things that once belonged to my parents is still hard. But I am thankful for the timing. Dad died right after I retired from my stressful job, so I have time to deal with the physical tasks and the emotional grief. When I miss my parents, I can be thankful that they are together now and don’t miss each other anymore.

Not only can gratitude help us feel better emotionally, it’s good for us physically. Many studies have discovered a connection between gratitude and wellness. This article shows that being thankful is good for our hearts.

I am thankful for you, my readers, for your support and encouragement.
May you have an abundance of blessings to be thankful for now and in the days ahead.

 

 Trust the Timing,
A Memoir of Finding Love Again

makes a great gift for
lonely hearts,
soulmate searchers,
dog lovers,
children of the 70s,
and anyone who likes a happy ending.

To order a copy or write a review,
Please click here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just Another Wave of Grief

 

I used to be good at math.

Now, the numbers get tangled up

With tax brackets and grief

Falling from my family tree

To cover the ground

Like dried up stars.

I have so much to be thankful for.

So much to be thankful for.

So much to be thankful for:

A good man who loves me

Who came before my father died,

That retirement gives me time

To deal with all this….

Is this just another wave of grief?

Holidays on the horizon?

Feeling my feelings more easily?

Now that I don’t have to be strong

All the time?

Is it just grief and the new role

as the senior family member

Against the backdrop of

All I have to be thankful for.

All I have to be thankful for.

All I have to be thankful for.

It must be time for a gratitude list.

…

(I started writing this Monday night and feel better now with some perspective.)