BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.
This Monday post became a Tuesday post this week due to the holiday.
I believe in the power of positive group energy. Perhaps if enough of us join together we can change the negative climate that exists and is overtaking our planet. Together we can move our fellow citizens of to a better, higher and finer place.
I hope that by writing these posts that we will move together beyond thankfulness into appreciation. Because appreciation for the moments and things for which we give thanks requires us to be mindful of our lives. One of the “mantras” that the great Vietnamese activist and teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, has written about in his book, The Art of Communicating, is: “I know you are there”.
At the end of the post you will find a link up frog and I hope you will join me on this venture and once a week write a post and link up to others and share what you are thankful for this week.
This holiday weekend my youngest son came to visit. It has been a long time since we have come together as a family. I was overwhelming thankful for this very rare opportunity. But how did thankfulness become appreciation this weekend. I think for me by taking the time to follow Thich Nhat Hanh word’s of wisdom to pay attention to the person in front of me, to let that person know that “I know you are there”.
THINGS THAT CAUSED MOMENTS OF APPRECIATION
- Talking to my son about his visit with his brother who is severely brain injured.
- Watching my daughter-in-law, despite her discomfort, treat everyone with loving kindness.
- Watching the entire family, brothers, fathers, sons, grandfathers and grandson, just enjoy a lot of laughter over the game of bocce.
Wishing you many moments of appreciation this week,
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. SHARE YOUR STORIES OF THANKFULNESS AND APPRECIATION.
I am sharing this post today with my friends over at TWO WRITING TEACHERS.
Nothing beats the togetherness of a family. It strengthens the bonds and warms the heart. You sound delighted 🙂
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You cannot even begin to imagine how delighted. Thanks for stopping by.
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I have read Thich Nhat Hanh for years, and have a coaster with those very words inscribed on it—Be the change you want in the world—It sits on my coffee table, and reminds me of that very important message every time I sit there. So glad you had such a beautiful family visit, Bernadette!
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Bernadette, so glad to hear the happiness in your words, appreciating your time with family, and especially your son & wife visiting. Thanks for the special words too.
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Bernadette, it is a wonderful feeling to appreciate our family and friends. Independence Day is the perfect time of year to be filled with the American spirit and gratitude for what we have. Thanks for sharing with us. I decided to share my post at your link-up.
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So glad you had this special time Bernadette! I did not know about his brother! So sorry. love Lynn
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I love these, Bernadette, and how you are putting a focus on thankfulness. It’s so linked to joy. I bet they are making a difference in your life. 🙂
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Yes Dianne, thankfulness is one of the essential ingredients of joy.
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That’s certainly nice you have family around you. I have only husband here and everybody else, including my daughter, mom, sister, grandchildren, etc. is overseas in Latvia, Europe. I am in the middle of these lengthy treatments, it didn’t go too well today, but I have to decrease my anxiety attacks, and hopefully tomorrow is better already. Well, and I will be grateful most likely if the surgery goes well and I won’t need the second, more extensive one. I was reading your post and thinking how lucky you were. Well, we all have ups and downs, and it has just happened so that the last 3 years have been total downs. Once I will be better, I hope to get my life back.
I’m not a positivist, although, I recognize the immediate need for positive changes. I’m a realistic optimist. To achieve a better planet we should start with global things because otherwise there won’t be any planet in some 50 years. I am strictly against consumerism since it drives depletion of natural resources. You are right saying that everybody has to start with themselves.
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Thank you for taking the time to ready post. It must be very hard to be undergoing treatments without your family close by. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
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We were on the same page with our posts, Bernadette! I talked about us paying it forward to change the negativity of our planet, and here you are talking about extending kindness and being grateful changing the climate. Great minds think alike! 😉
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Having spent some family time myself this weekend I echo your words, Bernadette, it is truly something to be thankful for and appreciative of when everyone takes the time to come together. Joy and happiness just fill the space. How truly important it is to let people know that, “I know you are there”.
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So wonderful to be with family! So many blessings to count!
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What a sight to savor, your family enjoying their time together. That is one memory to hold close.
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Family as a group is so powerful. It brings me to tears. So glad you had a family 4th too.
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Thank you Bernadette, what a great reminder about the power of love. I have managed to get past your frog and join you in your thankfulness posts, with the help of wi fi . The previous Internet connection was too slow. My post goes out on Saturday next titled Simple Pleasures feed Contentment.
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[…] I have also linked this as my first post for Bernadette at Haddon Musings new challenge “52 Weeks of Thankfulness” https://haddonmusings.com/2016/07/05/52-weeks-of-thankfulness-2/ […]
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