How can I treasure the uniqueness of who I am and what I have to share with the world.
Great question.
I am very warm and caring. As a teacher and as a a person I make a difference by letting others know that I care and that I am there for them. I also take the time to listen.
I wish I was more efficient and I work on being more organized, but the heartfelt part of me is what comes naturally and effortlessly. It is what I am all about. Once I put an end to comparing myself to others and allowing myself to feel less than, I will have the space to fully appreciate who I am. I am about love, connecting and helping.

Every crisis is also an opportunity. I think that a crisis is an opportunity in that it’s an chance to make a change and with grace make a change for the better. My nephew might be quite sick. I will start visiting him more often, and stop taking him for granted. My work might be more than I can handle. I will start taking better care of myself and search out new methods to succeed with these children. My Mom isn’t going to be like she used to be anymore. I can love her the way she is and the way that she has always loved me. I can carry on her giving nature by making small acts of kindness to others.
Sometimes I get so anxious that I don’t know what to do. I will come back to gratefulness and all the things that bring me comfort.
Mary

Dear Ben,
I echo Anna. Your posts never seem long to me. You always come from your heart and I always feel like I am reading the thoughts and feelings of a dear friend whenever I read your sharings.
I didn’t know you had Lyme Disease and am so sorry you have had to deal with this for so long. I don’t know that much about Lyme Disease but I can tell from what I have read, that it is very difficult and painful.
Pain seems to be a given in life, doesn’t it. I think I grew up thinking everything was supposed to be ok and all pain and difficulties would just go away. I don’t think I have ever really accepted that pain is part of life. I think I have spent a lot of time in denial, insisting that pain and difficulties should not come about and that maybe it is my own fault when I get sick, depressed, or anxious. I think I have always tried to fight life in this way. (as if there is any point trying to fight with life).

Starting from a place of gratitude and acceptance of what is, is such a radical departure from the way my mind would naturally process any kind of difficulty. I am so grateful for this website and all those who write in for helping me to view my life from a place of gratitude. I feel like I am still right at the beginning, just scratching the surface, often feeling anxious, and then remembering to be mindful and grateful.
I continue to learn and forget and then relearn again how to live life in a positive, loving, and mindful way.
I wish all good things for you, Ben, a man of such great caring, kindness and goodness. Your reflections and insights have always been meaningful to me.
As you have sought out that loving space within yourself to hold your pain, I will look for that loving space within myself as well, that gentle accepting loving space to hold my own pain.
I wish you many blessings, Ben.
Much love,
Mary

Hi Palm. I find it so interesting that I can be really hurting over something, and then look at it another way, or consider something that I was not thinking about, and the pain just goes away.
In the Gratitude Lounge section of this website, Gary, just a day or two ago suggested the following: consider what triggered the pain, and then look at what need or insecurity I have that caused this trigger to be so hurtful. Then I can deal with the real issue and the trigger is no longer important. (These are my words, and interpretation of what Gary said. Look in the Gratitude Lounge to read this in his words.) His suggestion just helped me get past a hurtful question question that was asked of me a few hours ago. I was able to see that the real issue was not the question. The real insecurity that was triggered is my fear of not being good enough. Once I could see that, the question lost its sting and I began to feel much better. Mary

Trevor, I posted a message to you on May 1. Question was about making another person smile. Just hoping that you will get my messages.
Hope you don’t think I am some crazy bothering you. I am just a regular married school teacher who teaches art from kindergarten to 5th grade. You seem like a smart and interesting young person who is seeking. I just would like to know how you are.
If you are doing other things I will leave you to your privacy. I know life can be very hard. I just want to let you know that I care.
I wish you peace.
Mary