Thank you Palm and Grateful Sea for your beautiful pictures reminding today Word of the day. Thank you Diane and THenry for your wise and wholehearted reflections.
I am not in US, but like you, I believe that our world needs small acts of kindness everywhere. Maybe it is most necessay in those countries where everybody would think it is not. I live in a little country, you know it. It is part of the so called western society, and it is going through a great cultural challenge. So, here we are, each of us with a different background, but the same focus. I would like that, through this site, we could give a little contribution, walking together on the path of this universal desire.

Dear Ursula! So glad to read these words…I felt a pain after my reply, because I thought I had dared too much, trying to suggest you something from my point of view. In fact, I have not so many health issues, and I have been selfish with you. I posted my reply, then I would have liked to delete it but the e-mail would have been sent and you would have read it.
So, now I am taking a breathe…I am happy that you have such a friend, and I hope that a light is brightening at the end of this dark month. Forgive me dear friend. I join you every Tuesday.
With love, humbly bowing in front of your courage and sweet heart.

Oh Ursula, I am so sorry for these challenges you are passing through.
I often think of you, especially now, since you don’t write a lot in this Lounge.
I often wonder wheather you are resting, or you are not so well, as the last time.
I read the Quote of the Day during my lunch, so I did’t understand so much, because I was not in a good condition for reflecting.
Now, I have just read your post and other friends’ replies. I feel your exhaustion, dear Ursula…Like other people I would like to give you my hug, a hand on your shoulder, a smile. To tell the truth I feel a stressed self judgmental attitude in your words, which brings you to a dark valley. Ursula, you are catholic, like me, yet, sometimes I believe that our tradition has something wrong. Do you know the “Salve Regina” prayer? Do you think we are living in “hac lacrimarum valle” ? No Ursula, to the point someone can state I am a bit of heretic woman, this world is not a “tears valley” we are living in a beautiful world, but we can look at it in different ways, depending on our mood. You can’t control everything and this is what I often repeat to myself. I have noticed that a lot of women try to control everything, maybe because we are used to feel a sense of fault.
I have found that when I surrendered to my weakness, I overcame some hard problems.
Maybe because, as Saint Paul says, it is just when we are weak that we are strong, or maybe because it is the only way to go out of that weird vicious circle: when we think too much about being victims we are more inclined to think that others are wrong. I often fall in this vicious circle Ursula, but it is possible to go out.
Blessings to you Ursula.

Oh Aine, your words are like a balm. Yes Aine we need good words, like bread. Do you notice? This is the Gospel of the first Lent Sunday.
It is so appreciated….lately I am thinking a lot of these hard times…do you really think that every act of kindness towards ourselves is an act toward the world too?
Yes, yes you are right, with Diane, THenry, Pilgrim, because the peace we have in our heart can be brought outside. People need a meaning in their lives, they “see” when another is serene, patient, not in a continuous hurry…maybe a kind look, a kind smile, reveal the true soul. Humanity, wholeheartedness count more than what we can imagine.