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Gratitude: Today, I'm grateful for...
Studies have found that expressing daily gratitude improves both physical and emotional well-being. It helps us focus on what is good in our lives, the world and others. It also helps us find the silver lining in our challenges. Gratitude turns what we already have into enough. Gratitude brings us joy. I’d love it if you can share something you’re grateful for today. I’ll start.
I’m grateful I have both the ability and luxury of taking long daily gratitude walks through the beautiful nature that surrounds my home.
I’ll take you through my typical walk:
When I open my front door to leave, I’m usually greeted by a few adorable squirrels, three crow friends, juncos and wrens who all hope for a walnut treat before I go. My walk along the creek down the street brings me peace with a variety of 100-foot trees, flowers of every shape and color, grass, fascinating wildlife, sounds of a babbling brook, birds calling, squirrels chasing, etc. Each day, I also see bunnies, ducks with ducklings, egrets, lizards, turtles, a variety of small birds, butterflies, and sometimes coyotes and hawks.
I meet new people along the way as we share our love of nature. I am also greeted by their happy, adorable dogs. Sometimes I learn something new. Sometimes I feel like I was able to bring joy to someone by letting them know they are worth a few minutes of my time. That brings me joy. Half the people in my large retirement community live alone as I do. Today, I met a lovely 96-year-old woman who walks a half mile with her cane and sweet rescue poodle every day. Impressive! She didn’t look a day over 80. I never miss an opportunity to smile and say hello to everyone who passes by. When I arrive home after an hour or so, some of my wildlife buddies are usually there to welcome me back with the enthusiasm of a dog.
When my last dog went to Heaven a few months ago, my camera became my new walking companion. Once I’m home, it’s time to upload my latest nature photos. I relive my walk all over again through the eyes of a zoom lens and a 32” monitor that together reveal extraordinary colors, patterns, textures and wildlife expressions the naked eye can’t see. I’m sharing a few pix from today. Can’t wait to go again tomorrow! 🙂
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Today I am grateful for today. We attended a potluck lunch with a group of like-minded community members, who strive to make a difference to the kids and adults in this little town. So often we only have the chance to work events together, and plan things out, so having a chance to simply relax, chat and get to know each other in a relaxed outdoor setting, was awesome. We are a small group, only 12 of us, and we head up multi-day 4th of July celebration, Halloween, Cookies and Santa, Easter Egg hunt, Mother's Day bake sale, plus the annual pie auction 2 days before Thanksgiving. This year we added a February Firefighter's Chili CookOff [we have a volunteer department], and Dads' Day car show in June.
Ginger
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6 ReactionsSounds like a wonderful group, Ginger! 😊
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1 ReactionI am grateful for my wonderful wife who has a brand new knee. TKR in August and healing fine. I am also grateful for the “ice machine” her doctor recommended, it was a game-changer. And I am eternally grateful for my LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!
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2 Reactions@frances007 Thank you, Frances for the timely message from Julian Oliviera:
https://freelancerwriter.medium.com/hidden-in-plain-sight-the-extraordinary-joy-of-the-ordinary-1475c5b323a3
Today I savored the presence of my two young grandsons, enjoying their chatter, their humor and vastly different personalities. And we were pleased when they cleaned up their toys without argument and willingly helped with such "unfun" chores as stowing the groceries.
Today I was awed by the gratitude of my daughter, who we gifted with 6 hours of child-free time to run her errands and savor a few moments of peace herself
Today I was impressed by the patience and kindness of most of the shoppers and employees my grandson and I encountered while shopping for our holiday food.
Sue
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5 ReactionsHi there Sue, I just want you to know how much I appreciated your evaluation of Holiday shopping. It can be a real challenge. Because I had a retail business in a resort community I am aware of the expectations of the public. I remember that even though we were closed on Thanksgiving, we had customers ask us if we would open just for them because that was the only time they would be there. We always did that until we just opened from 1:00 - 3:00 on Thanksgiving automatically. That was easier.
We also had a David Salk gallery next to us. (Yes that artist was a nephew of the Salk who saved us from Polio.) He would run out of gift wrap and send his customers over to us. We also had folks who would wrap gifts from another store that they wanted to return in our gallery paper and then bring them in to see if we would give them cash. Well, we didn't do that but we were easy with "try it and buy it." We had a better chance of selling a painting if it looked great in their bedroom.
Those were the days. For some reason, it seems a bit frenzied now. So wonderful to have your grandchildren with you. I wish you lots of laughs and good times.
Chris
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1 ReactionToday I am grateful for a visit from my middle son and his family. I am grateful for the stamina and courage my youngest son and his family are showing in rebuilding their house and opening a new business after Hurricane Ian. I am grateful for my oldest son graduating from radiology school and getting a job working with children. Oh, and so many family members, friends and neighbors who make life wonderful. And of course, I am thankful for all of you here who listen, read, and share your kind thoughts and wisdom. Happy Holidays to you all.
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7 ReactionsThanks, Chris.
Yes, for some of my on-line shopping I use three or four favorite locally owned stores. They are also awesome about shipping things to me in Texas, like my favorite Chinese green tea, so I really want them to succeed! Today I will go to a friend's shop that sells legacy and small brand sodas and old-fashioned candy to get stocking stuffers. We have watched their kids grow up, and two of them now run the shop. And we'll share a hug and a few memories - their Santa, another mutual friend, suddenly passed away 10 days ago.
We are really enjoying the boys this week!
Sue
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5 ReactionsRe-establishing contact with my son and his family.
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1 ReactionHi Sue, where do you get shower head with big holes on it. I used to take a bath but I like to go back taking showers. We needs big hole
I am grateful for my new found good health. I am grateful that I have a place to live. I am grateful that I have a friend who cares. I am grateful I have a compassionate parole officer. I am grateful to whichever doctor put me on disability so that I have this time to heal. I am grateful for my mother who tries her best to make my suffering a little more bearable. I am grateful that my ex-wife had the courage to protect our children from what my illness had turned me into. I am grateful that as far as I know my children are okay. I am grateful that I have this board to post on. I am grateful for the professionals who reached out to me this week to try to help. I am grateful for the love I hold in my heart.
Most of all I am grateful that, for the moment I am still alive with a chance to help my ex-wife and children heal.
I am a lucky man in many ways.
Now if I can just find a place for all the grief I am feeling, I suspect there is even more to be grateful for.
My gratitude to everyone on this board and to Mayo Clinic for sponsoring it. May you find peace.
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7 Reactions