I listened as a friend told me how she recently learned how to quell anxiety (and we all have it, the plague's not over, many are sick, new variants, wars, climate change - I'm so very sick of even trying to list).
So it goes like this: she has an old rosary beads of her granny's that she treasures. Hanging up somewhere as we do with things that are precious but have no use for.
She took down the rosary bead and off it went to bed with her. And she thought of her granny and fingered one bead in thanks and then she thought of other wonderful beings in her life and she assigned one bead to each of them and on it went. And she slept better than she had in years and woke refreshed with the beads still in her hands and resolved to do this every night when lying down.
I threw out all the old beads, sinful me, but I need to find me some and do much the same thing. I have so very much to be grateful for including those wonderful beings who have no idea they help me so much as I navigate each day and I daresay I might even run out of beads.
I met my new internist yesterday, very impressed, and and afterwards went up glorious Signal Hill here in St. John's and took a few shots as the gloaming of the day settled into my bones. I took a shot behind me and a shot in front of me - the ocean and the moon and the gorgeously lit harbour with all the boats and ships and peaceful waters.
Gratitude.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for so many things, not least the very dear friends I have found in the blogosphere. I may never meet many of you in the flesh but you have a firm home in my heart.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful (always) for natural beauty similar to that displayed in your beautiful photos. And for a sense of humour (albeit often black). And for books. And, and, and...
Man! You sure live in a beautiful place. And yes there's much to be grateful for, we just have to look for it. A rosary is not a bad aide here.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I wish they were published larger. Some forty plus years ago I met my lifelong partner. It is hard to guess what life would be like without him. If there is the odd chance of there being a god, I sincerely thank her.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea. Fortunately, I am one who has no trouble sleeping no matter the physical pain or mental anguish! Lucky I am!
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for my daughter who is becoming my mother. Suddenly it is she helping me: to bathe, tucking me in, she querying gently if I would like this or that. She has no children so maybe I fill a role for her as she does me at this time in my life. She doesn't live near me, 80 as are you, and times without her are physically painful. Oh my heart.
ReplyDeleteSo many blessings to count each day, especially my kids and pets. My mom passed December 1. The epitome of a life well lived. She and my dad had an extraordinary life but think that is because they made it so. They chose each day to make the best of everything. I try and remember that.
ReplyDeleteBlessings all around us if we take the time to notice. I think that as we age, we are more mindful of them as so much has changed and yet we are still here. I am not sure that thinking of them would help me sleep but reminding myself of them often makes the day good.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for people like you!
ReplyDeleteI have spent a lonely December, not feeling very well with an endless cold and serious cough (not Covid) and the woes of the world have well nigh suffocated me, day and night. And then you come up with an answer which should, in truth, be quite easy to follow. It doesn't even have to be a rosary, Greek or Turkish worry beads might suffice! Although, fingering something that has had many years of prayer bled into it might be better.
I can't bear this world as it is. An old heathen (well, agnostic) might yet be driven to faith.
I'm grateful for so many things that like you I'd probably run out of rosary beads. A comfortable house, enough money, a wonderful partner, a peaceful country, lots of friends and acquaintances, lots of good books and good music. And much much more.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for many things, from the serious to the ridiculous, from the sacred to the profane, but most of all I am thankful for the glory of nature and all that it has meant to me in a whole lifetime of dealing with it. It is no exaggeration to state that the fundaments of my life have been patterned on it and deeply influenced by it. Sadly, humanity, seething, ever burgeoning, rapacious humanity is quickly destroying it. The song of a chickadee still thrills me, however, and for that I am grateful.
ReplyDeleteThis with the beads is a fantastic idea by the way. So much going on there..heh heh heh. Where can one obtain these beads. Do Catholics have to buy them. Well then. Direct us. Emma
ReplyDeleteI think right now, WWW, I'm grateful to you for leaving a comment of my blog. I still struggle with the writing since my wife passed away. Nothing seem quite so important anymore, though of course it is to those affected by all the troubles in the world. I hope one day to regain the enthusiasm that I used to feel when writing. Yes, one day.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful to be alive and well, for bloggers and people who take an interest and permit me the same, for my cat and for my mind and the marbles I haven't yet lost.
ReplyDeleteBeing alive!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes lie awake and pray for people, just saying their names and leaving the details of the looking after to someone who knows better than I do. I'd need a very long rosary if I had a bead for each :)
ReplyDeleteI ma grateful for fabulous children, employment, the dogs I get to live with (one is mine but the other is not so 2 dogs with the responsibility and expense of only 1)
Sunny days and cool nights and friends......and on it goes