This posting reminds us to celebrate all seasons of life, but especially our elderly family members and neighbors as they may not be with us tomorrow. Personal stories highlight special moments between senior couples and also focus on the musical talents of many of our parents. Have gratitude for your older family members.
#gratitudelite
Mothers of special children are amazing. This posting focuses on one mother of an autistic child who was often disruptive to the family. The awesome mother would sing to her daughter to calm her and to try to teach her. When her daughter was good she would sing “You Are My Sunshine”. When her daughter was having a bad day, the mother would sing “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus”. This posting focuses on the lyrics from both songs and reminds us to have gratitude for the good as well as the bad times in life. Especially during the pandemic, the words to the songs offer lessons to us all.
#gratitudelite
Gratitude is such a personal emotion. When one considers “gratitude” from a religious perspective, frequently viewers draw referents from their own social systems, cultural experiences, sets of morals, beliefs, ethics, worldviews, faiths, and/or spiritual elements. It seems that we all know what gratitude feels like, but we differ as to how we might explain it to each other.
As for me, I feel pleasure when I achieve a state of gratitude as, even if for a moment, I am removed from the here and now, and am transcended to a point of joy. I feel happy if I may cause gratitude in another person. I am touched to watch others experience gratitude. I am saddened when people can not find gratitude during a particularly difficult time.
I enjoy reading about gratitude. I find peace while studying particular behaviors of gratitude; when viewing specific practices related to gratitude; if learning about cultural systems related to gratitude; during visits to sanctified places; as I visit preserved holy places; and when examining meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, and/or religious or spiritual aspects of human culture.
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Tomorrow will be my four year health anniversary! I did not expect to see tomorrow. I feel like I am sailing (see exhibit at #LACMA) through the years – oh happy days!
This evening is an important time in my life as it is the eve of my 2017 health discovery that I was dying. On April 21, 2017, I learned I had several serious tumors and had approximately 7 to 9 months to live. It is an interesting feeling to learn you are going to die. It is a joyous emotion to not have died! Thus, the 21st of April on every year is a sacred time to me and I want to express my sincere gratitude on this important annual date with all of you. I do not take this day for granted.
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#UrbanLight is a landmark in Los Angeles at #LACMA by the artist #ChrisBurden in 2008. It is free!
The lights are from the 1920’s. There is repetition. There are lines of lights like “toy soldiers” lining up. Burden says the lights are “about imagining something”, a “societal responsibility”. What holds the work together? What do you feel when the lights come on at dusk and turn off at dawn? What do you relate to with regard to the repetition of the rows of lights and the on and off of the lights?
Today is the end of the #GeorgeFloyd murder case with the verdict of guilty. During this eve, I wonder what will the societal responsibility be tonight? Will people consider this eve as a sacred time for gratitude and thankfulness; will people consider this eve as a point of anger towards others? What will be the societal impact tonight? The recent mass shootings, the constant violence, the repetitive cycles of killings, court cases, protests, and discussions of racism continue on and off like the 1920’s lamps at the museum. The fear of citizens and communities to travel during the day as well as during the night re-emerges again and again after each act of violence.
This is a sacred eve before the dawn of day. Will people feel #joy, or #happiness, or #gratitude? Time will tell us… tonight when the people reflect will they be imagining something new, a change, hope, or will they not? I do not know how to feel about this sacred eve.
#gratitudelite
#MichaelHeizer, the artist, stimulated the imaginations of many in 2012 in #LosAngeles through the #LosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt #LACMA project when he placed a 340 ton granite boulder suspended over a 450 foot long slot carved in the earth. Persons can walk under the rock, around the rock, and next to the rock for FREE.
The rock allows the viewer to experience whatever they want to see and imagine and feel. The artist lets us look under the sculpture which rarely happens for a work of art. I am #grateful for the energy I felt when under the boulder. The energy is contagious to all and is unbelievable while there. Plus, during the following two days after my visit, amazing connections and conversations with others has taken place in my life! I am full of #joy after my visit to this “pebble”.
Below are two videos of the experience of walking the 450 long slot carved in the earth. One is my personal walk. The other video I provide for YOU, empty of all people, so you can imagine only YOU are walking the 450 feet. What do you feel? What is your experience? Enjoy!
#gratitudezero
The next video I provide for YOU, empty of all people, so you can imagine only YOU are walking the 450 feet. What do you feel? What is your experience? Enjoy!
This video explores when gratitude is enough. The text of this posting was released on April 9, 2021 by the title “When Gratitude Is Enough”. Some of you tell me you prefer to listen and see photos versus reading the text, so some of my posts are provided in two different formats for your viewing pleasure and enjoyment. Expressing gratitude through your different senses provides a variety of experiences for your reflection. Enjoy!
#gratitudelite
The categories for each posting were defined in my February 28, 2021 posting titled, Your Choice: Gratitude Zero, Gratitude Lite, or Gratitude Ultra.
Today was a splendid day. My father, a Baptist Minister, always held an Easter Sunrise Service and this sunrise reminded me of those mornings with my dad. On this blessed day, Joy was in the air. Many friends and family sent beautiful text messages, colorful images, and kind wishes to each other.
People seemed extra friendly to one another in restaurants, when shopping, at dog parks, when driving, in airports, in coffee houses, bagel shops, and even during conversations with strangers. All in all it was just a glorious day for which I am deeply grateful, and for which I feel thanks to see hope coming alive as we put the pandemic behind us. We are not out of the woods yet, but the spirit of positivity in the air is notable and uplifting, a soulful feeling for which I feel deep gratitude.
Today “gratitude” is my attitude. How ’bout you?
This is #gratitudelite.
By February 17, 2021 GratitudeSquared.com was taking off! People were talking. People were excited. Gratitude Circles were forming. This posting, only one month later, is classified as #GratitudeLite following a classification system posted on February 28, 2021 titled, Your Choice: Gratitude Zero, Gratitude Lite, or Gratitude Ultra. Many older persons can no longer read. Many persons with various disabling conditions do not read. Busy people like to listen “on the go”. Mary has recorded some of her postings for such people. It is truly a different experience to read about gratitude than to listen to gratitude expressed. People like both formats to stimulate their senses. Enjoy this audio version of the text that was first shared on February 17, 2021, titled Gratitude Circles.
During the winter of 2021, Indiana had a lot of snow. Rather than see the snow as blocking the day, Dan had some fun designing a maze for his dogs. This post is classified as #gratitudezero following the categories posted on February 28, 2021 in a post titled, Your Choice: Gratitude Zero, Gratitude Lite, and Gratitude Ultra. I hope this video brings you JOY!
Gratitude Squared 