Listing of gratitudes has been a part of my daily Ignatian "examen" and smiling is something I try to do throughout the day, as it is so true that it can chase the tension quicker and better than other supposedly tension remedies. As for my three gratitudes today, I am grateful my first board meeting as new president of the International Thomas Merton Society is behind me (relief!). That I got a nice haircut. That I woke up this morning to live another day.
I start the day with a list of things I’m grateful for in my journal. But I like the idea of adding that at night as well.
The things I am grateful for this morning:
The lusciousness of a cool breeze this morning that came after a tumultuous storm last night; the swallowtails having breakfast on our butterfly bush; the luxury of time to take a moment and read the latest entry on Gathering of Spirits!
Thanks for the reminder of smiling. It always releases a few endorphins. Gratitude too. These practices are hard to keep up as habits. I'll do it for a while, and then I kind of get bogged down and distracted. Maybe I'll just have to run with them again :)
Today I am grateful for my brother visiting me from St. Louis and the easy connection and conversations we have, my little dog lying on the couch with his small body against my leg, and the soft smile from my husband of 39 years. Simple blessings touch the heart if we only pay attention...
Dear Carrie: Thank you for your appreciation! Please know that what Mom does for people in her life you do for all of us! And what a powerful witness to love you are!
When I wake up, I just whisper "Yes.," first. It gifts me a "spirit-hold" on the Life that is living me in the Now. Then I go to bathroom mirror while water heating for my Matcha Green Tea, and say, "I Love you Argaille Adelle, I really really really love you." That feels good!
A poem sometimes writes me. I return to bed with hot tea and Quiet, feeling as I I breathe, the aliveness, the tingling from the inside, of all my body, from head to shoulders, to arms and hands to torso, legs, feet, softening on meditation on my "Yes" to this day.
e.e. cummings poem flows into my mind, heart and soul, and yester-thoughts or yester-emotions, don't hang around long after:
The three gratitudes practice has changed my life. I do it every night as I write it in my journal - 1700 entries and counting!. I do love the idea of speaking them. I'll give that a go.
Today...
- For my daughter who is moved in for her 2nd year of college
- For four young people who baked bread and brought it to worship this morning for their first communions
- For the Chinese dinner my son and I will be sharing together in about 30 minutes before he gets his wisdom teeth out tomorrow.
My wife and I do this together: we call it "three good things."
Mine today: Being cancer-free for a year, having three cats watch over me on a sick day, and my wife who knew well enough to tell me to keep the Sabbath and rest.
Thank you Carrie for this wonderful post this morning. I remember you talking about 3 gratitudes in one of the many online workshops I was in with you. ( I miss those workshops!) I don’t always say them out loud but definitely in my head. I love your poem Three Gratitudes too. It reminds me that even though I might have had a tough day, there is always something in the day that I’m grateful for.
As for smiling, sometimes I think to myself that after all I have been through, I’ve forgotten how to smile. I can’t help but smile when I see your beautiful smile!! I must try this practice in the mornings. Might help to get me out of bed a little easier.
Thank you Carrie, you are amazing and so is your smile!!
I love this post! Thank you Carrie! Gratitude has been a daily practice for over 30 years. And thank you to all of you who responded! I also purposely smile everyday. Now to try for first thing in the morning 😉. My first morning action is usually a drink of water, which I call Light, with a prayer, or affirmation that I’m grateful for the light given me this day. Please let me share it with everyone I meet today. It’s small. But it’s a beginning...
Also, one thing I was grateful for this week was finalizing my mini trip to see you in Bloomington in September. My friend and I are so excited !!!
Thank you for the sweet smile to start my day! I bet you have been blessing those around you with smiles since before you could even speak! (I/we would love to see some early pictures of you... especially those early school pics). A smile is such a powerful and affirming way of connecting, saying you are ok, welcomed, safe... you have a friend, the day will be good ... you can relax, you are loved.
I am grateful for: hot tea and a fresh peach, the lovely crape myrtles blooming everywhere...you just have to smile when you see them and Pastor Beth who used an etch-a-scketch to remind us we can shake away a bad day and start all over again the next day. I love the practice of starting the day smiling and ending in gratitude. Putting this into practice starting today thank you so much for this.
Listing of gratitudes has been a part of my daily Ignatian "examen" and smiling is something I try to do throughout the day, as it is so true that it can chase the tension quicker and better than other supposedly tension remedies. As for my three gratitudes today, I am grateful my first board meeting as new president of the International Thomas Merton Society is behind me (relief!). That I got a nice haircut. That I woke up this morning to live another day.
I start the day with a list of things I’m grateful for in my journal. But I like the idea of adding that at night as well.
The things I am grateful for this morning:
The lusciousness of a cool breeze this morning that came after a tumultuous storm last night; the swallowtails having breakfast on our butterfly bush; the luxury of time to take a moment and read the latest entry on Gathering of Spirits!
Thanks for the reminder of smiling. It always releases a few endorphins. Gratitude too. These practices are hard to keep up as habits. I'll do it for a while, and then I kind of get bogged down and distracted. Maybe I'll just have to run with them again :)
Carrie, you bring so much light into the world.
Love the practice of Gratitude 🙏 Life changing.❤️🙏❤️
I woke up this morning to two beautiful gifts - my eyes.
Today I am grateful for my brother visiting me from St. Louis and the easy connection and conversations we have, my little dog lying on the couch with his small body against my leg, and the soft smile from my husband of 39 years. Simple blessings touch the heart if we only pay attention...
I am grateful today & every day for my granddaughter, my husband and my church family.
Dear Carrie: Thank you for your appreciation! Please know that what Mom does for people in her life you do for all of us! And what a powerful witness to love you are!
Love and Blessings Always,
Aaron
Correction on e.e. cummings, "for most this amazing day."🙂
Dear Carrie, You look ageless!!🙂
When I wake up, I just whisper "Yes.," first. It gifts me a "spirit-hold" on the Life that is living me in the Now. Then I go to bathroom mirror while water heating for my Matcha Green Tea, and say, "I Love you Argaille Adelle, I really really really love you." That feels good!
A poem sometimes writes me. I return to bed with hot tea and Quiet, feeling as I I breathe, the aliveness, the tingling from the inside, of all my body, from head to shoulders, to arms and hands to torso, legs, feet, softening on meditation on my "Yes" to this day.
e.e. cummings poem flows into my mind, heart and soul, and yester-thoughts or yester-emotions, don't hang around long after:
"I thsnk You God, for most this smaxing day.
For the sprightly green of trees,
For the bright blue dream of sky.
For all that is natural.
All that is infinite.
All that is "Yes."
The three gratitudes practice has changed my life. I do it every night as I write it in my journal - 1700 entries and counting!. I do love the idea of speaking them. I'll give that a go.
Today...
- For my daughter who is moved in for her 2nd year of college
- For four young people who baked bread and brought it to worship this morning for their first communions
- For the Chinese dinner my son and I will be sharing together in about 30 minutes before he gets his wisdom teeth out tomorrow.
My wife and I do this together: we call it "three good things."
Mine today: Being cancer-free for a year, having three cats watch over me on a sick day, and my wife who knew well enough to tell me to keep the Sabbath and rest.
Congratulations for being cancer free for a year, and so glad you are resting when you need it!
Thank you Carrie for this wonderful post this morning. I remember you talking about 3 gratitudes in one of the many online workshops I was in with you. ( I miss those workshops!) I don’t always say them out loud but definitely in my head. I love your poem Three Gratitudes too. It reminds me that even though I might have had a tough day, there is always something in the day that I’m grateful for.
As for smiling, sometimes I think to myself that after all I have been through, I’ve forgotten how to smile. I can’t help but smile when I see your beautiful smile!! I must try this practice in the mornings. Might help to get me out of bed a little easier.
Thank you Carrie, you are amazing and so is your smile!!
I love this post! Thank you Carrie! Gratitude has been a daily practice for over 30 years. And thank you to all of you who responded! I also purposely smile everyday. Now to try for first thing in the morning 😉. My first morning action is usually a drink of water, which I call Light, with a prayer, or affirmation that I’m grateful for the light given me this day. Please let me share it with everyone I meet today. It’s small. But it’s a beginning...
Also, one thing I was grateful for this week was finalizing my mini trip to see you in Bloomington in September. My friend and I are so excited !!!
Thank you for the sweet smile to start my day! I bet you have been blessing those around you with smiles since before you could even speak! (I/we would love to see some early pictures of you... especially those early school pics). A smile is such a powerful and affirming way of connecting, saying you are ok, welcomed, safe... you have a friend, the day will be good ... you can relax, you are loved.
I am grateful for: hot tea and a fresh peach, the lovely crape myrtles blooming everywhere...you just have to smile when you see them and Pastor Beth who used an etch-a-scketch to remind us we can shake away a bad day and start all over again the next day. I love the practice of starting the day smiling and ending in gratitude. Putting this into practice starting today thank you so much for this.