I am aware of the value, complexity, challenge and gifts of family + community roots. Attending the convocation of my nephew from a posh university, and exploring the Motherland of ancestors with my aging father invites patience, understanding and prayer.
Finally, after 54 years of living, I am learning that making myself small serves no one, least of all me. The new powerful and shining me does not scare people away as I had feared; in fact quite the opposite is happening. And as I live and love, shining bright from a stance of gratitude and abundance, everything I give away comes back to me thousandfold, most especially love and gratitude. It doesn't mean "bad" things stop happening, or that I don't still experience the full range of emotions...
Finally, after 54 years of living, I am learning that making myself small serves no one, least of all me. The new powerful and shining me does not scare people away as I had feared; in fact quite the opposite is happening. And as I live and love, shining bright from a stance of gratitude and abundance, everything I give away comes back to me thousandfold, most especially love and gratitude. It doesn’t mean “bad” things stop happening, or that I don’t still experience the full range of emotions that come with challenges, but I am better able to accept and feel them without judging myself and let them pass through. Those feelings are no longer in the driver’s seat, but they are respected back seat passengers. Hard times have taught me much about blessings and the goodness in people, and the worse things got for me, the more grateful I became for the smallest blessings (which really were the hugest blessings…a smile or kind word spoken to me, my children, a helping hand, a flower blossoming, a purring cat, a bird at the feeder, a bite of food to eat, a sip of water, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and access to clean sanitation, to name a few.) I am grateful for this new understanding of no longer making myself small. I do not regret that it took me so long to live into it. The old stories served me at the time, and I was always doing the best that I could. I have thanked them for their service and lovingly released them. I feel like the butterfly emerging from a dark tight cocoon, which I have been in for a very long time. But my new insights show me that very important transformations were at work in the darkness. And those transformations are allowing me not only to be more whole myself, but to begin to truly serve others on a whole new level, and to connect with what I was placed on this earth to do. Yours truly with a grateful heart – thank you for the opportunity to share.
Thank you, Betsy! Wonderful to read! It gives me the hope and the feeling that I am not alone and likely in a similar transformation which will lead to something new and beautiful! I love the butterfly Image – I got a beautiful butterfly made by my sister and my two nieces recently, and it was like a symbol of what is going on in my body and spirit at the moment! Much love to you, Ursula
Dear Ursula - thank you so much for sharing. I am so very glad my story could resonate with you...As a teacher of many years I have always tried to impart to my students that we all have a story, and a story which matters...and by sharing it we heal ourselves in the process of uncovering, and provide a light of hope for others, who may learn that they are not alone. It is high time I took some of my own medicine! lol...and I am so very grateful for the welcoming community here at demo.grateful...
Dear Ursula – thank you so much for sharing. I am so very glad my story could resonate with you…As a teacher of many years I have always tried to impart to my students that we all have a story, and a story which matters…and by sharing it we heal ourselves in the process of uncovering, and provide a light of hope for others, who may learn that they are not alone. It is high time I took some of my own medicine! lol…and I am so very grateful for the welcoming community here at demo.gratefulness.org. Thanks again for your words…light and love to you…spread those wings and fly! <3
So beautiful to read, Betsy. I made some notes in my own journal after reading your meditation. I am believing more and more that I really am ok, maybe even quite wonderful. I can be grateful and joyful.
Thanks for your insights!
Mary
Pushing myself – mostly begin pushed – out of my comfort zone is a bit scary but I am finding new skills and talents I didn’t know I was capable of, meeting new people developing new relationships, and finding gold in my existing relationships.
*we make changing patterns a difficult task. *many parents are going through difficult personal lives and taking it out on their children. *gratefulness is much more powerful than complaining and spreading this “gospel” is extremely important. my personal insight of greatest importance is I need to really take care of myself so I can go full force each day n continue what I’m called to do.
In about two weeks, on May 30, after coping with significant back pain that has forced me to alter almost everything I do, I will have surgery on my back. The recovery process, I am told, will take quite some time. But I am ready, even looking forward to it in order to turn a new chapter once I heal.
When one lives with and in pain with no lasting or real relief in sight, you cope and go about doing what you can in the best way possible. A week ago new tests revealed that I not only needed su...
In about two weeks, on May 30, after coping with significant back pain that has forced me to alter almost everything I do, I will have surgery on my back. The recovery process, I am told, will take quite some time. But I am ready, even looking forward to it in order to turn a new chapter once I heal.
When one lives with and in pain with no lasting or real relief in sight, you cope and go about doing what you can in the best way possible. A week ago new tests revealed that I not only needed surgery, I needed it soon. These last few days while pushing myself to do certain things I began to realize, to let it sink into head, just how hard and painful things have gotten for me these last few months. It’s as if I am being released, with time, to experience being in a different place with hopefully some new possibilities.
– Kevin
Dear Kevin, as I have just written in the Gratitude Lounge I am planning to make a pilgrimage to Assisi and St. Francis' Country. If all is well I will start in almost one week's time. I will certainly think of you, dear Kevin, and many people have told me that St. Francis' "vibes" which he left there are perceptible even for people who aren't religious at all.
So I am confident that those powerful thoughts that I may send to you from Assisi and/or surroundings will have a healing effect to yo...
Dear Kevin, as I have just written in the Gratitude Lounge I am planning to make a pilgrimage to Assisi and St. Francis’ Country. If all is well I will start in almost one week’s time. I will certainly think of you, dear Kevin, and many people have told me that St. Francis’ “vibes” which he left there are perceptible even for people who aren’t religious at all.
So I am confident that those powerful thoughts that I may send to you from Assisi and/or surroundings will have a healing effect to you (well it will be my modest contribution, I know that you have excellent doctors, I am sure countless people will pray for you, and I know that God is always with you)!
Much love and blessings, Ursula
Dearest Ursula, humbly here, let me say that no higher assurance of prayer could come my way when delivered by you and by the presence of Saint Francis. As a Quaker, we hold not to icons and such, but for me, spiritually and emotionally, Saint Francis has always held a "high mystery" and a central presence in my spiritual practice. To be honest, I am not totally sure why either, which makes it all the more "real' to my spiritual condition. We, my wife and I, have a beloved little statue of what ...
Dearest Ursula, humbly here, let me say that no higher assurance of prayer could come my way when delivered by you and by the presence of Saint Francis. As a Quaker, we hold not to icons and such, but for me, spiritually and emotionally, Saint Francis has always held a “high mystery” and a central presence in my spiritual practice. To be honest, I am not totally sure why either, which makes it all the more “real’ to my spiritual condition. We, my wife and I, have a beloved little statue of what I call “Saint Franny” in our upper garden. Our dog, Gracie, knocked Franny over one day and poor Franny’s head fell off. But I glued it back on and there he stands in sun, shade and snow through the seasons. Check out the Gratefulness Lounge to see a picture of Saint Francis in the snow. And most especially, thank you for your thoughts and your prayer on my behalf and of others as you arrive at Assisi .
Wishing you all the best for the operation, dear Kevin. Keep faith and trust, and we all here are with you the coming weeks to support you with our prayers for you to become free of pain again, that you may fully recover to well being. Feel warmly accompanied in this difficult decision for the better.
Ose, You are using your name again with your icon. I enjoy reading your thoughts and listening to your wisdom. I am glad to feel comfortable calling you by name again!
Mary
Quite a lot, I have to say. That being true to myself is one way to grow, as far as growing is used as a concept in this world. To internally let go of the professional role I am partially still using as a protection. To see that yielding to manipulation to something which was never true was one of my weaknesses out of fear, and that this is the line I will not cross any more. To be soft and allowing vulnerability as a guideline. That one of my strengths is to wholeheartedly include others even ...
Quite a lot, I have to say. That being true to myself is one way to grow, as far as growing is used as a concept in this world. To internally let go of the professional role I am partially still using as a protection. To see that yielding to manipulation to something which was never true was one of my weaknesses out of fear, and that this is the line I will not cross any more. To be soft and allowing vulnerability as a guideline. That one of my strengths is to wholeheartedly include others even when I feel or am truly excluded by them from what my heart yearns for and not avoiding to feel the excruciating pain this causes, nor accusing or giving back in revenge. That wholeheartedly including all what is, all other into my heart is the way. That there are thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground. With deep gratefulness to be here and having the opportunity of sharing with you all here.
I guess for me how precious the gift of life is. I’m a non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor; but it’s been through my spiritual growth – including Br. David & his teachings – that I’ve come to realize what a gift every day is. Of course it doesn’t always feel like that; but when I come home to myself, I realize it’s true.
Work with the present moment and not against it. Make whatever is happening a friend and an ally.
With open hands, I accept whatever comes to me like I have chosen it.
I accept and then I act accordingly. Stop, look and go out into the world with grace.
I am aware of the value, complexity, challenge and gifts of family + community roots. Attending the convocation of my nephew from a posh university, and exploring the Motherland of ancestors with my aging father invites patience, understanding and prayer.
Finally, after 54 years of living, I am learning that making myself small serves no one, least of all me. The new powerful and shining me does not scare people away as I had feared; in fact quite the opposite is happening. And as I live and love, shining bright from a stance of gratitude and abundance, everything I give away comes back to me thousandfold, most especially love and gratitude. It doesn't mean "bad" things stop happening, or that I don't still experience the full range of emotions...
Finally, after 54 years of living, I am learning that making myself small serves no one, least of all me. The new powerful and shining me does not scare people away as I had feared; in fact quite the opposite is happening. And as I live and love, shining bright from a stance of gratitude and abundance, everything I give away comes back to me thousandfold, most especially love and gratitude. It doesn’t mean “bad” things stop happening, or that I don’t still experience the full range of emotions that come with challenges, but I am better able to accept and feel them without judging myself and let them pass through. Those feelings are no longer in the driver’s seat, but they are respected back seat passengers. Hard times have taught me much about blessings and the goodness in people, and the worse things got for me, the more grateful I became for the smallest blessings (which really were the hugest blessings…a smile or kind word spoken to me, my children, a helping hand, a flower blossoming, a purring cat, a bird at the feeder, a bite of food to eat, a sip of water, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and access to clean sanitation, to name a few.) I am grateful for this new understanding of no longer making myself small. I do not regret that it took me so long to live into it. The old stories served me at the time, and I was always doing the best that I could. I have thanked them for their service and lovingly released them. I feel like the butterfly emerging from a dark tight cocoon, which I have been in for a very long time. But my new insights show me that very important transformations were at work in the darkness. And those transformations are allowing me not only to be more whole myself, but to begin to truly serve others on a whole new level, and to connect with what I was placed on this earth to do. Yours truly with a grateful heart – thank you for the opportunity to share.
Thank you, Betsy! Wonderful to read! It gives me the hope and the feeling that I am not alone and likely in a similar transformation which will lead to something new and beautiful! I love the butterfly Image – I got a beautiful butterfly made by my sister and my two nieces recently, and it was like a symbol of what is going on in my body and spirit at the moment! Much love to you, Ursula
Dear Ursula - thank you so much for sharing. I am so very glad my story could resonate with you...As a teacher of many years I have always tried to impart to my students that we all have a story, and a story which matters...and by sharing it we heal ourselves in the process of uncovering, and provide a light of hope for others, who may learn that they are not alone. It is high time I took some of my own medicine! lol...and I am so very grateful for the welcoming community here at demo.grateful...
Dear Ursula – thank you so much for sharing. I am so very glad my story could resonate with you…As a teacher of many years I have always tried to impart to my students that we all have a story, and a story which matters…and by sharing it we heal ourselves in the process of uncovering, and provide a light of hope for others, who may learn that they are not alone. It is high time I took some of my own medicine! lol…and I am so very grateful for the welcoming community here at demo.gratefulness.org. Thanks again for your words…light and love to you…spread those wings and fly! <3
So beautiful to read, Betsy. I made some notes in my own journal after reading your meditation. I am believing more and more that I really am ok, maybe even quite wonderful. I can be grateful and joyful.
Thanks for your insights!
Mary
Thank you Mary…and good for you. <3 No matter what, there is always something to be grateful for.
Well said,
dear Betsy!
Thank you Sparrow!
Thank you to you, for this beautiful post!
Thank you!
Pushing myself – mostly begin pushed – out of my comfort zone is a bit scary but I am finding new skills and talents I didn’t know I was capable of, meeting new people developing new relationships, and finding gold in my existing relationships.
Not new but a reminder: always I begin again.
Thank you for that reminder.
Mary
Self reflection and having some practice or some faith in a greater power than yourself makes life easier
*we make changing patterns a difficult task. *many parents are going through difficult personal lives and taking it out on their children. *gratefulness is much more powerful than complaining and spreading this “gospel” is extremely important. my personal insight of greatest importance is I need to really take care of myself so I can go full force each day n continue what I’m called to do.
That we cannot alone
Just now, reading the responses here I have gained insight into our collective life (oneness)’ and I thank you all for your heartfelt expressions.
In about two weeks, on May 30, after coping with significant back pain that has forced me to alter almost everything I do, I will have surgery on my back. The recovery process, I am told, will take quite some time. But I am ready, even looking forward to it in order to turn a new chapter once I heal.
When one lives with and in pain with no lasting or real relief in sight, you cope and go about doing what you can in the best way possible. A week ago new tests revealed that I not only needed su...
In about two weeks, on May 30, after coping with significant back pain that has forced me to alter almost everything I do, I will have surgery on my back. The recovery process, I am told, will take quite some time. But I am ready, even looking forward to it in order to turn a new chapter once I heal.
When one lives with and in pain with no lasting or real relief in sight, you cope and go about doing what you can in the best way possible. A week ago new tests revealed that I not only needed surgery, I needed it soon. These last few days while pushing myself to do certain things I began to realize, to let it sink into head, just how hard and painful things have gotten for me these last few months. It’s as if I am being released, with time, to experience being in a different place with hopefully some new possibilities.
– Kevin
Dear Kevin, as I have just written in the Gratitude Lounge I am planning to make a pilgrimage to Assisi and St. Francis' Country. If all is well I will start in almost one week's time. I will certainly think of you, dear Kevin, and many people have told me that St. Francis' "vibes" which he left there are perceptible even for people who aren't religious at all.
So I am confident that those powerful thoughts that I may send to you from Assisi and/or surroundings will have a healing effect to yo...
Dear Kevin, as I have just written in the Gratitude Lounge I am planning to make a pilgrimage to Assisi and St. Francis’ Country. If all is well I will start in almost one week’s time. I will certainly think of you, dear Kevin, and many people have told me that St. Francis’ “vibes” which he left there are perceptible even for people who aren’t religious at all.
So I am confident that those powerful thoughts that I may send to you from Assisi and/or surroundings will have a healing effect to you (well it will be my modest contribution, I know that you have excellent doctors, I am sure countless people will pray for you, and I know that God is always with you)!
Much love and blessings, Ursula
Dearest Ursula, humbly here, let me say that no higher assurance of prayer could come my way when delivered by you and by the presence of Saint Francis. As a Quaker, we hold not to icons and such, but for me, spiritually and emotionally, Saint Francis has always held a "high mystery" and a central presence in my spiritual practice. To be honest, I am not totally sure why either, which makes it all the more "real' to my spiritual condition. We, my wife and I, have a beloved little statue of what ...
Dearest Ursula, humbly here, let me say that no higher assurance of prayer could come my way when delivered by you and by the presence of Saint Francis. As a Quaker, we hold not to icons and such, but for me, spiritually and emotionally, Saint Francis has always held a “high mystery” and a central presence in my spiritual practice. To be honest, I am not totally sure why either, which makes it all the more “real’ to my spiritual condition. We, my wife and I, have a beloved little statue of what I call “Saint Franny” in our upper garden. Our dog, Gracie, knocked Franny over one day and poor Franny’s head fell off. But I glued it back on and there he stands in sun, shade and snow through the seasons. Check out the Gratefulness Lounge to see a picture of Saint Francis in the snow. And most especially, thank you for your thoughts and your prayer on my behalf and of others as you arrive at Assisi .
I am so happy for you, Kevin!
Mary
Thank you, Mary, very much.
Kevin, best wishes for a smooth recovery – hoping the surgery will improve your wellbeing a lot. Will keep you in my thoughts.
Thank you, Maya.
Wishing you all the best for the operation, dear Kevin. Keep faith and trust, and we all here are with you the coming weeks to support you with our prayers for you to become free of pain again, that you may fully recover to well being. Feel warmly accompanied in this difficult decision for the better.
Thank you, Ose, “faith and trust” for sure are key elements that promote healing for sure.
Ose, You are using your name again with your icon. I enjoy reading your thoughts and listening to your wisdom. I am glad to feel comfortable calling you by name again!
Mary
I will hold you in my prayer Kevin.
You know, with prayers from you, Anna, maybe I’ll just have the surgeon come to my house! Thank, thank you, my friend.
This is a brave choice. Know that I will be part of your circle of prayer in the weeks ahead.
Thanks very, very much Pilgrim! Your prayers will mean a lot, actually.
My old age dad is living with rheumatism pain, all the best with the op
Thank you, Palm.
Quite a lot, I have to say. That being true to myself is one way to grow, as far as growing is used as a concept in this world. To internally let go of the professional role I am partially still using as a protection. To see that yielding to manipulation to something which was never true was one of my weaknesses out of fear, and that this is the line I will not cross any more. To be soft and allowing vulnerability as a guideline. That one of my strengths is to wholeheartedly include others even ...
Quite a lot, I have to say. That being true to myself is one way to grow, as far as growing is used as a concept in this world. To internally let go of the professional role I am partially still using as a protection. To see that yielding to manipulation to something which was never true was one of my weaknesses out of fear, and that this is the line I will not cross any more. To be soft and allowing vulnerability as a guideline. That one of my strengths is to wholeheartedly include others even when I feel or am truly excluded by them from what my heart yearns for and not avoiding to feel the excruciating pain this causes, nor accusing or giving back in revenge. That wholeheartedly including all what is, all other into my heart is the way. That there are thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground. With deep gratefulness to be here and having the opportunity of sharing with you all here.
I fully share what Mary has said! Ursula
This was wonderful to read, Ose. Thank you.
Mary
Oh my…. yes
I guess for me how precious the gift of life is. I’m a non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor; but it’s been through my spiritual growth – including Br. David & his teachings – that I’ve come to realize what a gift every day is. Of course it doesn’t always feel like that; but when I come home to myself, I realize it’s true.
Work with the present moment and not against it. Make whatever is happening a friend and an ally.
With open hands, I accept whatever comes to me like I have chosen it.
I accept and then I act accordingly. Stop, look and go out into the world with grace.
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