Sharing gratitude to be alive. Multiple musings from simple to complex w/ people, family, music, poetry, pet love, scenic nature, spirituality, health, motivation, & more. Also, find the book at ahouseinsideofme.com and in print, on Kindle, and iBook titled A House Inside of Me: Poetry by Marian Elsie Blake (2013) by Mary Blake Huer
It seems that some people strive for more and more within their daily lives which is both a good attribute (for education, a better job, to become a model parent, to help within their communities, etc.) as well as a nearly torturous trait, as seeking materialism, or more attention from others, or more money does not typically equate with happiness and joy, does it?
Such desires for MORE often lead to unhappiness at times. Therefore, the point of this posting is to encourage one to find gratitude through knowing when YOU find “It is enough”!
Finding “enough” is a peaceful experience. Finding “enough” may lower your blood pressure. Finding “enough” may allow you to really “see” your world and life in a new way because finding “enough” gives you the time you have not had.
Finding “”enough” may be compared to:
Existing in a more blissful state of peace and tranquility.
Accepting/appreciating what one already has.
Discovering the benefits within the non-materialistic activities in life.
Acquiring a thankfulness for opportunities around you.
Deepening your spirituality.
Evolving your human spirit through soulfulness.
Becoming a new and better YOU.
Learning when “It is enough” develops a new YOU, from within.
Just like the new tree in the image above, pausing to appreciate “enough” reveals the deeper, more reflective YOU. This concept is but one description of walking the pathway to GRATITUDE – knowing that you have enough.
Try it, and experience your emotion from within your new inner nature!
Last week as I stood in my kitchen, rinsing and cutting the green topper leaves off each berry within a basket of large organic red strawberries, my mind flashed to a strawberry field in the summer heat, with clusters of people picking each strawberry that I was, at that moment, holding between my fingers. During that particular second, and within the joy I was feeling in anticipation of biting into those juicy delights, I paused to say a silent “Thank You”, to each person who had picked those berries…. unknown human beings, working in less than ideal conditions, to deliver the very best basket of fruit to my table. This is an example of an “overlooked moment” repeated over and over too often throughout our days.
On reflection, it seems we take such moments for granted… and we forget most of each day as our lives fly by. Not only do we have thousands of random overlooked moments in life, our purposeful, deliberate, memorable moments are also often overlooked until we flip through our photos, snapped throughout life.
On this day, I will sit in a quiet place, and recall special moments during the past week, that stirred my soul with joy, gratitude, and appreciation…overlooked moments, random acts/events, seemingly with little impact, yet collectively the composition of a lifetime of value to the human experience. Some special moments have included:
a neighbor giving me dirt to improve flower beds, and helping me learn about “earthing” for improved health
an employee at the coffee shop customizing a treat for a customer’s dog
seeing a car side swiped, though totaled, the driver was not hurt, and walked away
providing bottled water to delivery persons as they do their job in this terrible heat
a doctor responding to a late text, with a prescription, on last Saturday evening
a childhood friend, reconnecting through social media from thousands of miles away, offering to send photos of the donut shop, the location of my first job ever
listening to a young person’s delight on the day they are hired for a job they really wanted
When you have the time, please make the time, to create a collection of overlooked moments in your life. These collections are the cells of our lives that ground us and are so uniquely human. Try it…
Many people seem to become more spiritual when faced with a serious illness. Why I wondered? The last time I visited the City of Hope (COH), I noted the quote on the huge glass wall at the entrance.
I was pleased to see the COH mention the “body” AND the “soul” as I believe one’s spiritual or soul’s journey is as important for healing, if not more so, than the medical (surgical, chemo, pills, radiation, alternative medical practices, etc.) actions selected.
Since I typically analyze most events, I continue to wonder why my interest throughout this recurrence focuses mainly on my listening to old hymns from my father’s (a minister) tent meetings? Exclusively, I claim that old hymns like “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” seem to be healing me more during this recurrence than all the latest medical practices available. To put this phenomenon in context, I have never listened to these old gospel/spiritual songs since I was a young child. Yet, after six years of no need for treatments, it appears as if my spiritual side is out performing my bodily functions to keep me alive. In fact, I requested that my doctor write such in his medical notes in my files recently, and he did.
I pondered further regarding an explanation for my positive outcomes during this recurrence. While I appreciate all the pills, scans, and chemical infusions I am receiving, I believe in the music that my soul is listening to these days as an explanation for my continued life. In particular, there are old, old hymns from my father’s youth that I am enjoying. I have not listened to these songs for more than 50 years, but I listen now, and I remember the old fashioned church meetings I witnessed as a child.
A few days after taking that photo of the COH sign regarding “body” and “soul”, I was driving in my car, and listening to various songs on Pandora, when I heard the old hymn “Blessed Assurance”. As I listened to the lyrics of that song, I realized that my doctor had never given me any “assurance” regarding my treatments. He said “probably I would live X long”, or “we would hope that your treatment will give you more months or years!” When I asked him to be more specific, he declined and said “we never know”.
A LIGHT BULB CAME ON!!!!
That is, while listening to the lyrics of that particular song, I concluded that when medically trying to “cure the body”, there is no ASSURANCE given by the doctors and staff.
Patients, myself included, constantly hope and place their trust in their doctor, even in the face of ongoing collateral damage from their various treatments. Patients continue on with hope, or decide to stop when they can no longer have (or withstand) further treatment for a variety of reasons. But the actual ASSURANCE patients hope for is always missing whenever one is focusing on healing the body. This is probably due to medical licensure, FDA regulations, pharmaceutical guidelines and so forth.
For myself, a patient who wants ASSURANCE when undergoing all the experimental treatments, I understand that I will never get it from the typical western medical practice. Rather, I will get absolute ASSURANCE when I rely on healing through my SOUL.
Listen to the old hymn, Blessed Assurance! This was an absolute message as well as an explanation, on that day, provided to my spiritual side! Persons who practice within their various religions, or who are spiritual do believe in their future. As they practice and believe in their faiths, they are given absolute assurance as to their soul’s futures.
The COH is a great facility and I am grateful to be their patient. I love all the activities the COH provides for their patients to feel included. For example, they have a “Wishing Tree” where they invite people to leave messages of hope and inspiration tied to the trees. It is a beautiful collection of their patients’, hope, love, and prayers on the various branches of the multiple trees. See the photos with the messages tied to the trees. But this wishing tree does not give assurance. It gives hope.
These are messages of HOPE, not guaranteed outcomes.
So to answer the question I asked at the top of this blog:
How Does The Actual Healing Process Interact With the Body Versus How it Engages With the Soul? My answers regarding “outcomes” are explained through two parts:
Healing outcomes (or not) of the BODY are based on BEST MEDICAL PRACTICES and HOPE;
Healing outcomes when engaged through the SOUL are based on ASSURANCE, and FAITH.
HOPE is the stimulus for carrying on….. but ASSURANCE gives one PEACE and UNDERSTANDING from the beginning to the end of treatment.
I am grateful for healing assurance through my soul!
The Malibu Hindu Temple is nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, located on 5 acres (close to Malibu Creek State Park) near Calabasas, CA (1600 Las Virgenes Canyon Road, 91302) and just a short drive from Los Angeles. It was built in 1981 and is considered one of the finest examples of a Hindu Temple in the USA. It is a significant Southern CA landmark and is free and open to the public (check the web site for exact hours, days, seasons). It is a great day trip and I recommend it highly. Please find multiple photos taken at this site.
It was interesting to note that Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, dating back more than 4,000 years. Today it is the third-largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Hindu concepts, beliefs, celebrations, food preferences, worship practices, and prayer actions may be furthered studied at multiple sites such as: Hindu concepts Hinduwebsite.com
A site I found particularly straightforward and easy to understand was:
There are many Hindu Centers around the USA. This particular Temple was special as at the entrance (where all must remove their shoes out of respect) is a large statement as noted on the stone in the photo below:
This Temple belongs to the Hindu Community of America. It Symbolizes Their Devotion to God and Dedication to the Spiritual Uplift of Humanity.
I found JOY in visiting a place dedicated to UPLIFTING Humanity. Therefore I feel gratitude to Hindus for sharing their religion in such a beautiful location with everyone who wishes to visit.
My motivation to start posting about gratitude originated from an illness that began in 2017. Now, six years later, I am grateful to be alive because of wonderful doctors at various hospitals. Recently, the City of Hope broke ground to build a new hospital closer to my home, targeted to open in 2025. My goal is to have treatments in that hospital in 2025 and long after.
A week ago, after labs and a visit with my doctor, I stepped outside to enjoy a cup of coffee, and was so pleased to discover that a huge ceiling beam had been positioned on the ground, with pens and instructions, inviting patients to sign and write an uplifting message on the beam. These messages will be built into the Foundation of Orange County’s only specialty cancer hospital to be completed by Summer of 2025. As one of their patients, I am thrilled to know that my note of gratitude will be embedded forever within the new hospital.
With deep gratitude, I recognize the outstanding missions of the City of Hope to provide HOPE, HEALING, Peace, Knowledge of best practices, and inclusion in every way possible to their patients. So joyful to receive treatments within the COH network.
Last weekend a family held the hands of their beloved mother as she passed. It was a sacred moment. Through tears, they gave gratitude for mom’s parenting, joy, and deep spiritual teachings. The colors of the cloth around her neck represented memories from her grandchildren, children, and spouses.
After the death of a loved one, family members/friends reflect on life, focusing with gratitude for the individual they lost. But, life gets busy and hectic so that soon people have to move on to “the living”, while tucking away fond memories of the person who just passed … These life moments are full of various emotions, including gratitude. Deaths link to deep reflection as evidenced by the words of ministers, priests, and rabbis during funerals. The moment a person “slips through” from life to death is profound.
The pathway of Gratitude leads one through the interesting walk of life. Gratitude is multi-dimensional. Gratitude is simple, yet complex. Gratitude causes one to appreciate what you have – now. Gratitude brings deep joy, happiness, and satisfaction. When one experiences gratitude, they are drawn to more positive outcomes in their personal life. Sometimes Gratitude has been described as the strongest of emotions!
Why is Gratitude so meaningful and necessary in our lives?
Is there any stronger emotion that Gratitude?
Gratitude is meaningfully linked with appreciation and gratefulness for what you already have in life. If you are not grateful for what you have, you most likely will not achieve what you desire in the future, because you do not value what you already have. Anthony Peluso on April 3, 2019. Another way one might explain this concept is what you put out into the universe determines what you receive as in expressions of positivity, love, or light. Also, through gratitude one receives joy, happiness and emotional rewards that were never anticipated.
There is one emotion stronger than Gratitude. That is the emotion of “Regret”. Sometimes “regret” is observed during the death and dying process between family members. Regret is sad to witness. When a person waits until death, it is too late. Regret is oppositional to gratitude.
There is no room for regret in anyone’s life. What you appreciate will always reward you in ways you can’t even imagine.
Peluso, 2019
So, during tough times in life, like death, for example, we must remember the necessity of gratitude. The emotion of gratitude helps us embrace grief as a tool, propelling us toward healing. Through gratitude we will find joy and happiness again, and identify the blessings we still have in spite of the pain of loss we feel. Lean towards gratitude and away from regret.
Be grateful, always. It is necessary and will give meaning to your life.
Hi. I’m Barley and I am worried. My mommy took me to the Vet this week and they took blood, and now I have to go to the Animal Hospital for two days, with fasting, IV, extra fluids, some oral surgery, and maybe more. My labs revealed kidney problems. Can you believe it?
I want to thank my mommy and the Vet, on the one hand, for taking good care of me, but I am fearful on the other hand. So for the next couple of days I am sending up doggie prayers that I will be ok. I also will go to the beach to watch the waves, birds, and people playing in the ocean. Please God a few more years helping my mommy recover from her illness would be nice, as she still needs me. With gratitude for nearly 13 years of life, and hoping I wake up after surgery. Love you all, Barley.
Go to the Spring Arts Tower at 5th and Spring in Los Angeles to find more than 250,000 books positioned creatively in a variety of displays across two floors. As a pushback against e-books go and enjoy actual books, including rare books and VINYL records at one of the world’s largest independent bookstores (2005).
Books offer so many benefits:
transport us to delightful experiences and lands
provide entertainment for individuals
teach us about new subjects and topics
remind us about our and other histories
introduce us to new ideas and concepts
challenge us regarding our current beliefs and value systems
offer us spiritual guidance so that we may find peace and understanding
I love to touch old books – the tactile experience is great. I love the smell of the pages in old books, as well as the worn pages from readers’ fingers before me. I do not get those sensory experiences from e-books.
The owner of The Last Bookstore has creatively displayed the thousands of books throughout the bookstore – as wall hangings, as a lighted tunnel, as walls, the torn and crumpled pages are displayed as a bush in a pot, as interesting windows through which one may peer and discover, and more.
I found great joy in the visit to The Last Bookstore. Go and check it out! Enjoy, with gratitude.
I am nearing 5 and 1/2 years of good health after a serious scare with illness and death. I ask myself this morning, “Did I make the most and best out of the extra 5 plus years I have been graced?” What did I do with these gifted years I asked God to give me?
Each day I strive to help others. Did I make a difference in any person’s life? Could I do more? These are very important questions I am asking myself.
During these five plus years my little dog has lost his hearing. I want to hold him tight and love him more. During these recent years, I have grown closer to my son and my brother and they to me as I cherish each moment I have with them. I have made new friends, have lost some friends, and have observed the truer meanings of family and friends in life.
My weight is about the same. My teeth are not whiter although they are stronger with a few new crowns and root canals. I have more beautiful flower gardens surrounding me, and I have this gratitude blog I began. My gratitudesquared.com site provides me a summary of my actions over these recent years. So, how have I used my time? Have I used this “gift of time” wisely?
Gratitude Squared 