I have too many to count!

Well, the Bible for one. Once it clicked that the only possible way to understand it is to look at it from the context of love, it took on new and personally loving meaning for me.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson is another. Such beautiful writing and real characters. It left me pondering the incandescence of life.

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Well, just about any book by Henri Nouwen, really.

The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment by Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman and Robert Pressman because it helped me make sense of my childhood. It opened a door to a life where everything was not actually my fault.

And humorous writers like James Thurber and PG Wodehouse for the marvelouslly gentle and therapeautic power of laughter!

Dear grateful, Seeking healing from depression is a big reason I found this sacred space. I was in a very hard place, not sure I could fight through one more time. My pastoral counselor had been suggesting gratitude to me, so I did something brilliant like googling How To Be Grateful. Up popped this site. It has been so important in my healing. Such lovely open hearts here!

In the midst of the dark, I was also challenged to develop self-compassion. This, too, has been very helpful in healing. The compassion we share with each other reaffirms and mirrors that we are worthy of compassion, of understanding, of love, hope, and healing. That helps us rebuild.

Isn’t it amazing? Such a huge number of people struggle with depression, but it is so often hidden as if it were a shameful weakness. It is NOT. One of the kindest quotes I ran across on depression was “Depression does not mean you are weak — it means you have been strong for too long.”

Hugs to you. You are not alone!

Me, too, Palm. It makes us Wounded Healers, in the words of Henri Nouwen. Have you ever read the book that came from his private journal written during a time of soul crushing depression? It is so gentle, so caring. That is one of the gifts in a struggle with depression — we know what it feels like to need compassion, so we are often much more likely to offer it to another soul in pain, too.

I was surprised to find when I was reading in the New Testament one day that the Apostle Paul also suffered from depression. I cannot recall what the verse was, but it struck me with, “Hey! That sounds like depression! Paul was depressed, too!” Somehow it made him feel more human and accessible to me.

You are very much not alone, dear Palm.

Oh, how lovely, Cintia! Thank you for sharing! My husband and I once “rescued” a bunch of orchids from a home improvement store where they had discounted them right before they threw them out. Unfortunately, they had not been cared for well, and our rescue mission proved fruitless. One day, we will try again with healthier plants!

I do have a Nun’s Cap Orchid, though. A friend gave it to me when she was moving and could not take it. That kind is more forgiving of newbies like me. What do you feed your orchids?

I love the mental picture of you approaching the St. Anthony candle from afar, watching the light draw you closer. So beautiful.

I have been forming a special relationship with St. Joseph. (I hope I did not share this before!) It started with my discussing the upcoming move with him. I explained how I just couldn’t bring myself to bury him upside down in the yard, but that I knew he would understand better than most about wanting to move quietly and without those who might cause trouble finding out. I asked him to help us. I really felt heard, like how I think it would feel if I had been speaking to a loving father or grandfather figure who wanted what was best for me.

Now I have a little ritual. I placed a statue of him with Mary and Jesus as they were fleeing to Egypt in the top of a window facing the direction of the area we are to move to. I have a tiny lamp in the bottom of the window that I turn on so that it will shine warmly to welcome my husband home as he comes from that area. As I turn on the lamp, I pause and thank him for being at work on my need. I think of the light as a beacon that will soon light my way to my new home.

In the end though, I think perhaps feeling heard and cared for is probably of far more importance than how the details of our request get handled.

Blessings to you and your Sunny!

Oh so many songs! Cat-song and dog-song, the serenade of the rooster who gets chosen to get my attention from the south deck so I will come give them food. The gentle clucking-song of happy chickens pecking up goodies. The crashing cymbal song of icicles breaking free of the roof. And the happy bubbling song of the water, ready in the pot for me to make tea.

So many songs!

Thank you for the reminder, grateful. There is a magic in listening to such songs with the ears of our hearts.

Much delight to you this day!

Thank you, sweet Manda. I am trying to take a leaf from your book on this. I will admit I find the self gratitude easier on things other than physical pain, but I am learning. My herbalist and pastoral counselor have suggested I thank the pain, gently say, “oh, there you are again.” My herbalist suggested adding, “I would really like to be done with this. What still needs to resolve? What do you need?”

The Headspace meditation pack on Pain is pretty phenomenal. I have thought of you several times while doing that pack as he has said things that echo what you have said. ????

Ooooh, more on massage! I hope this means the door will open for me in that regard soon. Right now, I have no access to a vehicle, so it will have to wait. My plan is to start going after we move, whenever that happens.

I love your description! I hope it melted any pain in you as well!

Through the meditation and hypnotherapy I am learning what a blessing and how deeply needed deep relaxation is to and for the body. I had never realized this feeling before, only as an aberration, not a daily thing. I never knew I had spent my whole life in a tight knot! When the body gets that break of deep relaxation, healing can happen more effectively. Wowzers!

Do you find that it augments your acupuncture, or don’t you know yet? ????

Is Jack on any supplements? There is a company whose stuff we have been using for about twenty years. Springtime, Inc. Their flagship product is Fresh Factors, but with Jack’s age and limp he might want Advanced Hip and Joint included, or maybe Longevity. We just got some of the latter to try on our guys as one of the pups is quite itchy. We think she developed a food allergy, and this is supposed to help detoxification pathways, too.

Wishing you and Jack a special time today!