Little things that give me joy: The small (and not so small) signs of reawakening in my tiny garden, especially the asparagus poking up through the soil and the tiny parsley, dill, lettuces, and other baby plants sprouting from the seeds that their predecessors left behind last autumn. Receiving another one of your posts and reading it on a rainy morning while I sip my coffee and eat a bit of late breakfast. Happy belated birthday! I'm glad to hear that it was a good one.
Hi Shanna. Belated happy birthday! I am so glad you posted again (because I know you were thinking of leaving substack). We’ve never met, but I can relate to you in many ways (I’m also a highly sensitive person, think I have fibromyalgia & have a Feb. birthday!). Also, your posts just bring me joy! Thanks for the update and I hope you & your loved ones have a great summer/year!
Thank you, Amy. I'm glad you're still here as a part of the life: examined crew. And happy birthday to you! Boo fibro--I'm sorry you have that "fun" challenge. If you have topics you'd like me to write about, feel free to let me know. Take care, be well, and thanks for being here!
Gratitude holds such power and healing. It takes us out of a “seeking, striving, struggling, grabbing for more” state of being for just a moment (and hopefully longer.) There is baseline gratitude, of course, such as waking up each day, mental clarity, decent health, friends and loved ones, a safe place to lay my head, food on my table.
I also try to remain open to and notice those small, unexpected opportunities for gratitude throughout my day, which as you describe are the simple occurrences. And they generally also involve moments of awe or delight such as watching very young children running and giggling at the beach, the comfort of time spent with a friend, seeing an elderly couple holding hands as they shuffle down the sidewalk, a striking sunrise or sunset, amazement as an ant wrestles a large bread crumb back to its nest.
In these moments of gratitude and contentment, my heart is full and my soul is at ease.
Happy birthday to you, and best wishes to you and your wife for a gentle recovery. Love to all.
Also. For whatever reason, I began singing "ball baker" to the tune of "Moon River," and I quickly saw that the whole translation lends itself to the song: "ball baker, beak carcass or ball of water - stuffed with cheese or ham..." I am indeed grateful for this little gift you've just given me.
Hi Shanna, happy birthday or should I say happy belated birthday! Hope you had a lovely day! Hope Catherine ( is that right?) feels better soon. Hi to Milo too! My dog Holly , who at this moment in time is yapping, nothing unusual there! She is so giving but then her Jack Russell side kicks in! You can always tell, she suddenly looks at you out the corner of her eye!! Little minx! The funeral for my brother is Thursday, nothing religious, just celebrating his life! That's how he would have wanted it but it will still be so sad. Anyway, take care of all of you there in Portugal, it will warm up very soon I know! xx
Hi Anne! Thank you for the belated birthday greetings. Catherine (yep, that's right) is better and we're both looking forward to Spring--more Spain travels coming up!
I hope the celebration of life for your brother was healing for you and your family.
Little things that give me joy: The small (and not so small) signs of reawakening in my tiny garden, especially the asparagus poking up through the soil and the tiny parsley, dill, lettuces, and other baby plants sprouting from the seeds that their predecessors left behind last autumn. Receiving another one of your posts and reading it on a rainy morning while I sip my coffee and eat a bit of late breakfast. Happy belated birthday! I'm glad to hear that it was a good one.
Oh Julie, I love your comment! Thank you.
Keep encouraging those tiny seedlings--it's such a delight to watch them poke their little heads up, and then turn into actual plants.
Are you familiar with Ross Gay and his Book of Delights? His story about carrying a tomato seedling through the airport is essential reading! :)
Hi Shanna. Belated happy birthday! I am so glad you posted again (because I know you were thinking of leaving substack). We’ve never met, but I can relate to you in many ways (I’m also a highly sensitive person, think I have fibromyalgia & have a Feb. birthday!). Also, your posts just bring me joy! Thanks for the update and I hope you & your loved ones have a great summer/year!
Thank you, Amy. I'm glad you're still here as a part of the life: examined crew. And happy birthday to you! Boo fibro--I'm sorry you have that "fun" challenge. If you have topics you'd like me to write about, feel free to let me know. Take care, be well, and thanks for being here!
Happy belated birthday!
Gratitude holds such power and healing. It takes us out of a “seeking, striving, struggling, grabbing for more” state of being for just a moment (and hopefully longer.) There is baseline gratitude, of course, such as waking up each day, mental clarity, decent health, friends and loved ones, a safe place to lay my head, food on my table.
I also try to remain open to and notice those small, unexpected opportunities for gratitude throughout my day, which as you describe are the simple occurrences. And they generally also involve moments of awe or delight such as watching very young children running and giggling at the beach, the comfort of time spent with a friend, seeing an elderly couple holding hands as they shuffle down the sidewalk, a striking sunrise or sunset, amazement as an ant wrestles a large bread crumb back to its nest.
In these moments of gratitude and contentment, my heart is full and my soul is at ease.
Hi Alex,
thank you for the belated birthday wishes and your lovely comment :)
Happy birthday to you, and best wishes to you and your wife for a gentle recovery. Love to all.
Also. For whatever reason, I began singing "ball baker" to the tune of "Moon River," and I quickly saw that the whole translation lends itself to the song: "ball baker, beak carcass or ball of water - stuffed with cheese or ham..." I am indeed grateful for this little gift you've just given me.
Thank you, dear friend. And now you've got me singing Ball Baker to the tune of Moon River... Can't wait to do a duet with you! :)
Hi Shanna, happy birthday or should I say happy belated birthday! Hope you had a lovely day! Hope Catherine ( is that right?) feels better soon. Hi to Milo too! My dog Holly , who at this moment in time is yapping, nothing unusual there! She is so giving but then her Jack Russell side kicks in! You can always tell, she suddenly looks at you out the corner of her eye!! Little minx! The funeral for my brother is Thursday, nothing religious, just celebrating his life! That's how he would have wanted it but it will still be so sad. Anyway, take care of all of you there in Portugal, it will warm up very soon I know! xx
Hi Anne! Thank you for the belated birthday greetings. Catherine (yep, that's right) is better and we're both looking forward to Spring--more Spain travels coming up!
I hope the celebration of life for your brother was healing for you and your family.
Take care and thank you for your comments :)