Author Archives: Gratitude Squared

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About Gratitude Squared

I’m Mary and write on my blog, Gratitude Squared. I prefer creativity with artistry sprinkled with bits of philosophy, previously a university scholar, compassionate for others, and deeply involved in advocacy and inclusion for human rights for people with disabilities. In 2017, I was diagnosed with a serious illness and prepared to die. However, nearly five years later I am very alive and extremely grateful to see life’s joys daily. Even with a recurrence in 2022, I love sharing aspirational and inspirational messages, and want to help you find your own gratitude. Thank you for going along this journey.

Grateful For Artists In Our Life

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I recently had the opportunity to visit the Laguna Beach, CA Annual Winter Fantasy Sawdust Art and Craft Festival. For over 30 years approximately 200 artists have shared their arts, culture and passion with the public to create a winter fantasy. They have baby animals to pet and feed, musical groups playing live music, glass artists blowing beautiful glass creations, jewelers, painters, woodworkers, potters, beautiful hats and garment creations, a marionette show, nutcrackers walking around, visits with Santa, and many more handmade treasures and gifts. It was simply a magical, uplifting, fun, enchanting day.

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Grateful For The Benefits From Mental Practice

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Physically, we are constantly faced with the need to perform various physical actions such as walking, running, sitting, skating, biking, swimming, opening bottles, lifting and many more. As we grow older, or if we have any illness, sometimes our physical actions become limited, or modified. Too often I watch people become increasing disabled by their perception of their limitations.

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Grateful For Caregivers, Caretakers, And Helpful People

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During the holiday season, I observe so many thoughtful and helpful people all around us. Typically we learn helpfulness from our parents, especially our mothers, who create magical moments for us as children with visits to colorful locations, cooking our favorite foods, decorating our homes, giving presents, and preparing us through their models to be kind and giving individuals as we grow up.

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Through Gratitude We Are Generous (STICKS Poem)

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This is the season of generosity. My mother (Marian E. Blake) composed a poem, “STICKS – Four Men Sitting Around A Fire”, that captures this spirit and reminds us what will happen when we act with greed. Just like the season of Thanksgiving, the various religious practices during the month of December should be practiced year round, yet we seem to get busy with life and we forget about the importance of giving to others.

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Gratitude For My Mother’s Teachings

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Early today as I was considering topics for my posting, I found one of my mother’s poems that family always loved. A House Inside of Me, by Marian E. Blake. As we continue in this holiday weekend, I miss my mother who passed from this earth in 2007. To honor her life and all that she did for me, I play her poem for you. I am so grateful to my mother for the moral virtues she gave to me.

Actually, I previously included this poem in an earlier posting, but thought it was beautiful enough to include again today. In addition, I am also thinking about a February 7, 2019 posting called, “Our Gratitude Stream”, in which I thanked my mother for her teachings to me.

Enjoy my gratitude for my mother with me today. Thank you

#gratitudelite

A House Inside Of Me, poem by Marian E.Blake

A Day For Gratitude

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Today is Thanksgiving – a day for Gratitude! This is typically a memorable day for all because of time with friends and family and, THE FOOD. The various parades, and runs, and shopping beginning for the holidays, new movies, lots of photos taken, and generally great times happen on this day each year.

As I reflected on this day for all of us, I paused to reflect on why each day can not be like this day? Is gratitude seasonal? Gratitude should be practiced each and every day don’t you think?

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Interpretation When In A State of Gratitude

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Medicine is not a pure science like mathematics or physics. We learn this when getting second opinions from professionals because we want choices for our health care. When we get an initial diagnosis, we sometimes feel “frozen” and “scared”. It is at these moments of information exchange that I want to share some insights with you.

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Managing The Emotionality Of Gratitude

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Gratitude is an emotion. Poor health creates strong emotions and fears. Life and death decisions are emotional events in our lives. Yesterday, I experienced “life” once again after several weeks of believing I might be dying this time.

Back in 2017, without warning, I experienced breast, ovarian, and peritoneal cancers. I had multiple surgeries and treatments. Yesterday, we expected that I had lung cancer. I always say I am the sickest healthy person you might ever meet. Yet, for 4.5 years I have been blessed with good health and no recurrences. Yesterday, we decided my lung nodules will be followed… no invasive diagnostic procedures just yet. Yeah!

These past, but sudden events in my life drove me to “Gratitude”.

I am so grateful that I am alive and healthy, but I sometimes have survivor’s guilt as I know many people who have not been as fortunate as I, and have already lost their life.

So, I ask myself… how may I help? What might I say to you to cause you to be positive instead of scared to death, miserable, and so often in pain?

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Gratitude For Health

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Yesterday morning I felt fearful to visit a new doctor. As I drove to Santa Monica in the early morning hours, I found this artwork on the side of a building next to a Subaru car dealership in the Los Angeles area. I stopped and took a photo of “Gratitude” in a bed of roses. Seeing this art, I knew my fears were not warranted. I was gonna be OK.

Nearing the 4.5 year mark from several tumors, multiple surgeries and other health treatments, I was worried that my doctor referred me to a Pulmonologist to check out nodules in my lung after a recent CT scan. With the pandemic, of all the health issues I did not want to face, I was concerned about breathing, my lungs, and a painful biopsy during this particular time. Fortunately, I met a talented doctor who opted to watch the nodule as opposed to continue with an “invasive diagnosis” at this time. Oh Happy Day!

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