Tag: Gratitude

practicing gratitude |

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Sunday: Norman’s birthday. Now, he’s a young 87 years old! We had a quiet celebration with his son … I managed to capture the Oct/Nov full moon …

Monday: New carpet for basement & first floor steps… I love the look, the smell …

Tuesday/Today/Election Day: We voted by mail several weeks ago – the District mailed ballots to all registered voters. .. and here we are on election day! Finally! I guess … I hope.

About mid-day, I took a long walk through our neighborhood park – almost deserted. Probably because the weather’s turned a tad bit chilly. The sun on the changing, colorful leaves left my heart and me warm… and for that, I am always grateful.

Time to hit publish, watch the setting sun, prepare dinner … and wait.

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 10.19.20 …

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“Self-care is a deliberate choice to gift yourself with people, places, things, events, and opportunities that recharge our personal battery and promote whole health — body, mind, and spirit.” ~ Pass It On

Today, this morning, for a brief moment, I saw the birds flocking towards the sunrise …they fly so fast that I can’t train my camera eye to catch before they are out of its view…but, that’s OK, I tell myself : the image is indelibly imprinted in my mind. I watch for Canadian Geese – so far, I’ve seen none.

Life is slowly adjusting to the new normal – a term we hear and say too often. This morning, the temps dropped low enough to kick in both the furnace and the heat pump – both are working on all cylinders. Thankfully. Especially after replacing the A/C-HeatPump this summer at ruinous costs. We’re set for winter and it appears, based on the ten-day forecast that we may not have a brief reprise of summer weather/temps before November.

This week’s calendar is pretty clear – save for my Daily Pages 12 N Zoom session, still very much a delightful break in the day. More Zoom sessions scattered throughout the week. And as I look at the clock, I think I’d best get a move on for my quilting group’s meeting in just an hour – @ 10 am.

Have a great day and week!

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 12.2.19 …

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… are super quiet, primarily because it’s so durn cold out. Despite a 42° F temperature, clouds, 78% humidity and winds NW 10 mph make it feel more like 36° F… I’m glad I had no reason to go out… and I didn’t, not even to my regular Monday quilting meeting.*

I have used most of this cold and quiet day purging paper: old receipts; statements; notes written on any available piece of paper (that was before I began to make a conscious effort to eliminate that bad habit ), etc. And taking time out to reflect on some of the things on this day for which I am grateful:

  • tea this morning in my Scotty dog Christmas mug  – given to me by a friend of many decades, many decades ago;
  • the scent of my morning candle;
  • the luscious color of this week’s bouquet of alstroemeria: a deep red;
  • the warmth of the hearth and the fact that I didn’t need to go out;
  • tackling the looong overdue paper purge job.

This week is shaping up to be quite busy: two concerts, a house tour plus the added activity of preparing for Christmas…and, other than the Scotty dog mug, not a single bit of Christmas has been pulled out of storage.  So, to my list above, I add a big

  • gratitude to Mother Nature. Today’s weather gave me the space to take a deep breath and tackle a project that’s been on the agenda for way too long. I am energized.

Cheers~

 

* I fell asleep last night watching Hallmark Christmas movies and awoke about 1:20 am – then went to bed!

 

 

 

 

gratitude week …

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This week, Michelle GD is inviting us all to take a moment to pause and reflect on our day’s gratitude; you can learn more, here .  Thank you Michelle; I am always grateful for this inspiration and invitation to pause and give gratitude for the moments that make up our lives… Today, for me:

  • a crystal blue sky that provides a backdrop for (what’s left of) the autumn leaves;
  • a gathering with quilting friends and a safe journey home;
  • an update from a friend who had surgery and is recovering very well;
  • an afternoon nap – tho’ I’m not a napper I felt the need today – grateful that I not only could, I did!
  • a brisk walk to and through the park ~ love watching children play … and last but not least,
  • a quiet evening to read, relax …

It is now 6:40 pm EST! The sky is dark. I am delighted that we have turned the clock back to real time and yes, I realize that’s arguable since clocks are man made constructs…

What’s on your gratitude list for today?

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 10.28.19 …

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This photo, tho’ actually taken, Friday 25 October@ sunrise: 7:19 a.m. EST, was almost replicated this day, Monday 28 October, @ sunrise: 7:30 a.m. EST. This morning I did not take a sunrise photo because:

  • a) I knew I already had the above in my photos collection … or
  • b) I was too preoccupied with setting up for an 8:30 am online weekly planning session … or
  • c) ’cause just minutes before today’s sunrise I’d read these words in Ryan Holiday’s new book: Stillness is the Key , p 26:

“Even during a quiet evening at home, all we’re thinking about is the list of improvements that need to be made. There may be a beautiful sunset* but instead of taking it in, we’re taking a picture of it.” 

That passage stopped me, caused me to think: Can one take too many sunrise/sunset pictures? Am I indeed guilty?

And yes, I am! Why? Because

  • it’s not only what you do – take a picture in this always have a camera phone age but also…
  • perhaps it might be my last, ever…
  • because it is so glorious, so wondrous!

So, I concluded,  I would continue to take sunrise/sunset photos for as long as I can  because its a way of tangibly experiencing, appreciating and sharing the awe, promise of a new day, of giving gratitude …

Cheers~

*or sunrise

tgif | 9.27.19 …

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sunrise @ 6:46 am

thankful: relishing this morning’s sensational sunrise coupled with cool – 62° F- temperatures …

grateful: for an extended morning of solitude and quiet …

inspired: by today’s first Journal Club session of the Fall 2019 season. Each season, an animal spirit guide is selected by drawing a card from a pack. Dolphin is this season’s  guide; one wonders how dolphin will show up …

finding it hard to believe that September is nearly over…seems that Labor Day weekend was just yesterday. Time indeed does fly!

wishing you a wonderful, restful and peaceful weekend.

Cheers~

 

 

 

 

simply *a* moment | 9.15.19 …

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~sunday 15 September 2019 | 9:07 am | sunny/74°

  • listening to Sunday Baroque (www.wshu.org) …
  • feeling a gentle, cool breeze on my knees …
  • watching leaves from this tree gently swirl to the ground …
  • hearing sounds of traffic, punctuated by a noisy car or motorcycle, a dog’s bark …
  • drinking tea – my first cuppa…
  • feeling the cup’s warmth in my hands …
  • verifying the time with Norman who’s drinking water, swallowing a pill …
  • cataloging moments as they occur, transpire …
  • thinking the grass needs another cut; I can see the blades moving, caressed by the gentle breeze …
  • giving thanks for these moments – so simple and yet so filled with sustenance …
  • noting it’s been a while since I’ve captured and shared these moments on the 15th of each month …
  • wondering why I stopped after 4 or 5 years? thinking perhaps I needed a break …
  • deciding I’m glad today I resumed and rededicated this ever so special practice of
  • affirming, these small moments in my life, of my life .

Perhaps next month, October, you might like to join me … and share your moments. Watch this space for more details.

Cheers~

 

 

 

sometimes mondays| 8.12.19 …

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I took an earlier than usual walk this morning, at the tail end of morning rush hour. The sky was as clear as crystal and the temperature, in the cool 70s. As I wended my way, I saw a gift bag, sitting on the ground at a bus stop. Of course, I had to take a look-seek : the bag was empty, save for some sort of advertisement. Amusing… curious … why was the bag there? Oh well, tho’ I’ll never know, I thought: perhaps this day was the gift. Yeah! I think I like that thought, a lot!

What gift/s did this day bring you?

Cheers~

tgif | 8.2.19 …

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thinking: I can’t believe that August is here and this time next month will be Labor Day… already, leaves are falling from the trees…

gratitude: July, albeit beastly hot was pleasant and filled with the colors, sights and sounds of my days. I am so ever grateful that I was able to capture the month’s glory …

inspired : by the rhythm of my/ our days during this summer of 2019: slow, easy; a quiet staycation …

forward looking : continuing the slow, steady pace of summer, especially more flirtation with creative play and the completion – or near – of a quilt project, long overdue.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers~