Tag Archives: Cultivating Courage

Gratitude Friday

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This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

1. Lemon Poppyseed Scones. I’m kind of obsessed right now. The lemon and sugar combo are like sunshine in my mouth.

2. Cultivating Courage ecourse. It’s technically over now (next session starts January 14th), but we have a private Facebook group and Andrea offered alumni a discounted rate for the next session. 30 days of cultivating a habit is really effective, especially when you have such amazing support. The class gave me more confidence and also allowed me to reconsider what it means to be brave.

3. My original art piece from Mary Anne Radmacher, which I wrote about yesterday.

4. More light for our morning walks. This will only last a week or so, but it was nice that first day after we “fell back” to not have to wear my headlamp and walk in the dark.

5. The end of another election season. Every year, it’s just way too nasty and stressful. Even without regular TV, it’s hard to not feel its impact.

Obi and Dexter

they were so in love

Bonus joy: Three years ago today, we had to let Obi go. He taught me so much about life and love, about fear and courage, about accepting another just as they are, about being safe and loved even when things are uncertain, but most of all how to let go.  It’s because of him, his loss, that I can be with what’s happening with Dexter, be with it and keep my heart open. They loved each other so much. Dexter was actually Obi’s dog, and Dexter loved him even more than he loved us or his Little D. If I could only know for sure that letting Dexter go meant he could be with his Obi again, I’d more easily surrender him.

Gratitude Friday

3 Replies

This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

1. A new washing machine. Something weird about me that you might not know: I love doing laundry. It’s comfort, therapy, so peaceful and simple, the warmth and the clean smell and the hum and spin, beeps and clicks of the machines, the “setting things right” and renewing of order that happens taking the clothes from dirty to clean, wet to dry. It was unsettling for me when our old machine broke and it took a week for the new one to arrive and be installed, (and believe me, I get that this is a first world problem, and as such, I’m grateful to be lucky enough to have such “problems”).

2. Clean sheets, (see list item #1).

3. Dalai Lama chant, gifted to me by the kind and generous Sherry Richert Belul, at the request of my equally awesome reader and friend Tina. It’s a little over an hour long, and I have been listening to it constantly. It has been such a comfort, helping me to feel centered amidst a swirl of uncertainty.

4. The Open Heart Project and Susan Piver, as well as all the practitioners committed to meditation. When I am struggling with my practice, when I’ve dropped it altogether, I know that when I come back, this resource, this support will be there waiting for me. And I know that even when I am not practicing, they are, and many of them are dedicating the merit of that activity, their kindness rippling out to meet me where I’m at.

5. Cultivating Courage ecourse with Andrea Scher. This class and the beautiful humans in it, all of us working so hard to be brave and Andrea making the space for us, has been an inspiration.

Bonus Joy: Another week with Dexter.