It's a long list and I've not been up long! Waking up to another day, cuppa brought to me this morning in comfy, warm bed, a lovely cuddle with my husband, hot water in my shower, clean clothes, and now breakfast, and a text message from my son. Knowing I'm in a safe place and am loved by family and friends. And also my email with your yoga advent prompting me to reflect on these things- thank you 🙏🏻
Friends and the warmth of the holiday spirit shining through strangers. The roof over my head when I know others aren’t so fortunate. The beauty of live music as it ties ortherwise arbitrary parts of my life together. The power of physical touch. Reflection of Christmas lights in rain filled puddles …
Waking in a comfy bed. A cup of tea from my husband. Knowing I have a day off today in the middle of a very busy week. A warm shower. A lovely Christmas tree to look at. I’m sure there will be many more 😊
Amazing broccoli and cheese soup made by son, mince pies made by my daughter, snuggles from Thea the Labrador, licks and love from Cara the Spaniel, watching mad max the moggie cause mayhem and not getting clawed after stroking grumpy cat Obi- thanks Jo- fab session as always. Xx
I’ve just gotten up and haven’t had more than a sip of coffee but I am especially grateful for my best friend and quilting partner of more than forty years!
Well, one thing I'm SO grateful for is you mentioning toxic positivity. Not even a pet peeve of mine but a major one, because I think it's a dangerously harmful mindset (well, I say mindset, but it's often fakery). When I see somebody's bio on social media, or recently a sign above a door of a cafe, saying 'positive vibes only', I'm instantly done. What I also see more and more are negative reviews about tv shows or books because they're too 'real'. I will not get into the hypocrisy of being 'positive vibes only' but yet leaving a negative review, ha, but the most worrying bit is the denying of reality. For example, I've just finished listening to Eoin Colfer's children's book about Christmas. Even though it of course ends well, has not one but two Santas, features a happy young reindeer and scientist elves, I saw a few quite nasty reviews because it's also about dealing with losing loved ones. Christmas is supposed to be cheerful (is it?), so children should not feel sad (shouldn't they, if that happens to be what they're authentically feeling?) and of course children should not be exposed to sad things happening in the lives of others (shouldn't they, if that is reality?), so of course they blame the author. Ugh.
Anyway - I've kept a gratitude journal for many, many years. In fact (and I somehow find this a bit cringe), even since Oprah mentioned it back when she still had regular shows. She mentions it many times later too, I see, but I think the show I'm referring to is from somewhere around the 2000s, meaning I should have a box with dozens of reporter notebooks that I use for it. I don't use them from a positive vibes only perspective, but because my brain is mostly sad (severe depression because of animal cruelty and the world in general) and my disabled body doesn't make life easy either. It's a wonderful way to not let your 'system' forget there are things to be grateful for. Not to compensate. It doesn't cancel out the negative. They exist alongside each other. But it's a nice tool in my survival-belt.
I do your advent practice last thing at night, in bed. That’s when I do my gratitude list, stretch, and meditate. I had just written all the things I was grateful for today and doing your meditation made me think of a few others too. Laundry day today so obviously clean sheets goes on the list! Thank you!
Lovely. So much to be grateful for, but I'll start simple -- a washer and dryer. I threw a load of laundry in before starting on a gazillion other things on my to-do list. It's the simple things we often take for granted.
that's not something I take for granted since the Christmas 2 years ago when my washing machine broke and it took a while to be able to arrange delivery of a new one. That's when I realised how much washing I actually do x
It's a long list and I've not been up long! Waking up to another day, cuppa brought to me this morning in comfy, warm bed, a lovely cuddle with my husband, hot water in my shower, clean clothes, and now breakfast, and a text message from my son. Knowing I'm in a safe place and am loved by family and friends. And also my email with your yoga advent prompting me to reflect on these things- thank you 🙏🏻
thank you very much Ju x
Friends and the warmth of the holiday spirit shining through strangers. The roof over my head when I know others aren’t so fortunate. The beauty of live music as it ties ortherwise arbitrary parts of my life together. The power of physical touch. Reflection of Christmas lights in rain filled puddles …
Beautiful! Such lovely gratitudes xx
Very grateful for the peace and warmth whilst I drink my tea as the wind is howling outside.
one of my cats hates the wind, so I've been watching him trying to catch it through the window 😂
Waking in a comfy bed. A cup of tea from my husband. Knowing I have a day off today in the middle of a very busy week. A warm shower. A lovely Christmas tree to look at. I’m sure there will be many more 😊
it's nice to have that time at this time of year x
Friends.
❤️
Amazing broccoli and cheese soup made by son, mince pies made by my daughter, snuggles from Thea the Labrador, licks and love from Cara the Spaniel, watching mad max the moggie cause mayhem and not getting clawed after stroking grumpy cat Obi- thanks Jo- fab session as always. Xx
Ooooh soup, cats and dogs! The building blocks of a lovely life indeed xx
I’ve just gotten up and haven’t had more than a sip of coffee but I am especially grateful for my best friend and quilting partner of more than forty years!
that's lovely Pamela x
And so much more!
Well, one thing I'm SO grateful for is you mentioning toxic positivity. Not even a pet peeve of mine but a major one, because I think it's a dangerously harmful mindset (well, I say mindset, but it's often fakery). When I see somebody's bio on social media, or recently a sign above a door of a cafe, saying 'positive vibes only', I'm instantly done. What I also see more and more are negative reviews about tv shows or books because they're too 'real'. I will not get into the hypocrisy of being 'positive vibes only' but yet leaving a negative review, ha, but the most worrying bit is the denying of reality. For example, I've just finished listening to Eoin Colfer's children's book about Christmas. Even though it of course ends well, has not one but two Santas, features a happy young reindeer and scientist elves, I saw a few quite nasty reviews because it's also about dealing with losing loved ones. Christmas is supposed to be cheerful (is it?), so children should not feel sad (shouldn't they, if that happens to be what they're authentically feeling?) and of course children should not be exposed to sad things happening in the lives of others (shouldn't they, if that is reality?), so of course they blame the author. Ugh.
Anyway - I've kept a gratitude journal for many, many years. In fact (and I somehow find this a bit cringe), even since Oprah mentioned it back when she still had regular shows. She mentions it many times later too, I see, but I think the show I'm referring to is from somewhere around the 2000s, meaning I should have a box with dozens of reporter notebooks that I use for it. I don't use them from a positive vibes only perspective, but because my brain is mostly sad (severe depression because of animal cruelty and the world in general) and my disabled body doesn't make life easy either. It's a wonderful way to not let your 'system' forget there are things to be grateful for. Not to compensate. It doesn't cancel out the negative. They exist alongside each other. But it's a nice tool in my survival-belt.
Love this comment Chantal.
You're so right, they can exist together at the same time x
I do your advent practice last thing at night, in bed. That’s when I do my gratitude list, stretch, and meditate. I had just written all the things I was grateful for today and doing your meditation made me think of a few others too. Laundry day today so obviously clean sheets goes on the list! Thank you!
Is there anything better than clean sheets? I'd be hard pushed to think of something. x
I’m grateful that my husband bought me dinner tonight ☺️
Oooh Lovely! Being fed makes me feel so cosy and cared for x
Lovely. So much to be grateful for, but I'll start simple -- a washer and dryer. I threw a load of laundry in before starting on a gazillion other things on my to-do list. It's the simple things we often take for granted.
that's not something I take for granted since the Christmas 2 years ago when my washing machine broke and it took a while to be able to arrange delivery of a new one. That's when I realised how much washing I actually do x