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.

Look Up!

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I have loved clouds ever since I was a little girl. Once I tried to paint clouds. I remember my grade school oil painting of clouds and angels with a blue ladder to the Heavens. Clouds are amazingly unique in color, size, and shape. Some clouds float through the air. We fly through the clouds in airplanes. I love to ride in a plane by the window seat, listening to music and admiring the clouds… realizing that I am above the clouds, or on top of the clouds.

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Masks – A Year In Review

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It has been one year since we started seriously wearing masks, social distancing, washing our hands more frequently, and locking our lives down. I thought it might be fun to look at some of the masks I tried during this year. The real fun is actually those posts in which people are wearing underwear on their heads, wearing a bra as a mask, and more, but I do not have permission to post all those fun products so I looked back at some of my own. I hope you look at all of your masks too!

I started thinking about masks more seriously today when someone said

“Who would ever think we could wear a mask in a bank?”

Fun fact – Did anyone track how many bank robbers we had in 2020?

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Gratitude Hunters

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Gratitude is contagious! It really is…

As our Gratitude Squared community grows, you are all sharing photos, stories, ideas, and more with me about your “gratitude experiences“, and your involvement is fantastic! Today, Becca spotted this license plate that says “EVR G8FL“. Isn’t that cool?

Now I would ask you all to be careful when you spot something as I don’t want you to have an accident taking photos, following people, and expressing pure joy, especially when driving, but…… How special is this?

Today’s message is “Be EVER GRATEFUL”!

This is #gratitudezero. See the February 28, 2021 posting for a definition of gratitude categories.

Organizational Model for Gratitudesquared.com Site

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So many of you are responsive to my posts, so I want to pause to express my sincere appreciation to each of you. In just 4 weeks, there have been well over 1200 views, hundreds of different visitors, and many regular followers. As a teacher, I want to provide some structure to this site.

Some of my postings are just for fun to lift your spirits for a moment.

Other posts are inspirational or aspirational to assist you along your own pathways.

There is literature on gratitude that I am tapping into for the serious scholar and disciple of gratitude.

Today let me provide an “Index” for your use. The Index lists each title, the date of posting, a tag to indicate that the post is “gratitude zero”, “gratitude lite”, or “gratitude ultra”, and several of the “topics” within each post. In the future, for those of you that love “family and people posts” you will be able to easily sort and find such; if you love “pets”, or “nature”, the same. If you want to read and reflect on gratitude, you may. The following is my first attempt at organizing this site:

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Experience Gratitude Through Your Senses

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Along our journey to gratitude, let’s experiment today with sight and sound, versus reading the printed text, or viewing static photos. All of you will find your joy through a variety of meaningful methods, particular to you. In the USA, most people live inland, away from the ocean. Some of you see beautiful mountains, some see the Great Plains, or lakes, rivers, and streams. Many live in densely populated cities with tall buildings and little light.

All of the places in which you spend your time are special, unique, memorable, and important to you.

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When Gratitude Is Hard

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Today was a great day. Finally, some mechanical problems were resolved – after months of waiting and hoping. The stress of four months is leaving my body.

Some days you have to focus on what is good in spite of the bad around you.

Some days finding gratitude is hard.

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Gratitude: May Be A Complex Blend Of Sorrow And Joy

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Somehow I always associated gratitude with joy, happiness, and thankfulness. Yet recently, I begin to realize that one can have profound gratefulness with deep sorrow. For example, during the pandemic we honor our front line workers for their service in hospitals, but, at times, we are forced to thank them through the tears of memorial services for our loved ones we have lost. When I learned I was ill and probably would die; I was deeply grateful for the good life I had had.

Lately, I am moved by so many people helping each other and cheering when they receive the vaccine, but I feel sad for the priority established for administration of the vaccine, and for all those stories of great human beings who died before their time…

So, our message today is on this day… it will past too soon, and we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I am grateful for today, and for the humanity I see all around me!

This is #gratitudeultra. See the post on February 28, 2021 for a definition of the gratitude categories.

Be Mindful: Gratitudes are Cultural Phenomena

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Note: If you are new to my site, I want to say this is a “deeper” posting and you may want to visit one of my earlier posts, more playful posts first. This topic offers an academic post versus a fun post.

During my career, I had the opportunity to participate in writing the “Human Rights Convention for Persons with Disabilities” at the United Nations. Also, I served as President of a NGO (nongovernmental organization) for ISAAC (the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication), representing approximately 60 countries. The photo is with my colleague Sudha Kaul who served as President of ISAAC before my term in 2009-2010.

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THINK WATER and THINK GRATITUDE

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When I asked “Siri” “What is the purpose of water”, she replied “The answer I found is nuclear reactor coolant”! I expected something different, like to sustain life etc. But, upon reflection, I think Siri gave me an appropriate reply, as recently the people in Texas experienced freezing temperatures, power loss, and contaminated water.

Even as I write this post today, people are lining up to get packages of water to take their medications, brush their teeth, cook, and more. The situation makes me feel sad. I am sure that although the people of Texas feel gratitude when they receive their water allotment, they are exhausted, fatigued, tired, angry, and saddened at their situation – feelings, after all the time that has passed like a nuclear reaction. Powerful angry, worn out emotions!

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