I've found that active gratitude is contagious -- and when we express it to others, it helps boost everyone.  It's so uplifting to hear what other people are grateful for - it can help us be more aware of the blessings in our own life, and also support one another's efforts to be more consciously aware of our blessings every day. 

The bottom line is that feeling gratitude, and expressing gratitude, feels so good.  The more you feel it, the more you want to feel it, so you become more aware of all the blessings around you.  We can help one another do that here in this forum.

This is a place to post what you're feeling good about, what you're feeling grateful for.  And to read what others are saying, as well.  Visit here when you're feeling great, or when you're feeling down...this garden grows for everyone!

Let's let the gratitude bloom!

 

I am grateful for the 27 years I have had with my beloved husband.

I am grateful for family -- brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren -- that make the joys brighter and the sorrows more bearable. 

I am grateful for the support of loving friends.

I am grateful for faith that endures through tough times.
 

I am grateful everyday for my family and the few opportunities we have to spend time together. I am grateful for the beauty of nature and the warmth of summer. I am grateful for a great cup of coffee to energize me and a tea to calm me and induce rest. I am grateful for laughter and those who possess the ability to make me laugh. I am grateful for the talents and gifts that God has blessed me with and I am so grateful that I get to work with a group of other wonderfully talented group of people at Artella who get to pass on great joy to others!

Today, in particular, I'm sooo thankful for Irene, who came in for 3 hours this morning. We're trying to complete our own short study of Baha'i Writings and prayers for and about spiritual growth. What Irene and I are also doing is coming up with ideas for incorporating these into small Art workshops. The idea for us is to get people OUT of their "create a pretty product" mode and into a color-outside-the-lines-anything-goes! mode! We laughed a lot and made a BIG MESS--so I call our morning a success! 

So, ta-dah: I expressed my gratitude to her by giving her one of my extra copies of Artella#10!!! Was she one happy camper when she left! Btw, she loved the ATC insert! We're working at getting other Baha'i  artists interested in ATC's and we've had small successes. But I digress--that's another story.

Love,

Pat 

 I love that you have set this up, Marney.  What a perfect thing to have at Artella.

Marney taught me the secret to finding gratitude.  She taught me that you want to find a lot.  It seems that our society sort of fosters find the bad - finding what's wrong.  So when I first started being mindfully grateful, I guess it felt fake or cheesy.  And Marney taught me that the goal is to have a HUGE basketful of gratitude at the end of the day.

Tony, almost every day teaches me more about the reality of living the grateful life.  His attitude is amazing.  He has gratitude oozing from him. No wonder he and Marney are the incredible team they are!

So, I have some wonderful mentors in this area and I am able to find so much every day that I'm grateful for.   Four things that are on my list everyday, no matter what are God,  my family, my computer and my bed.  Then each day brings something new that  I can be grateful for.  New things that sometimes are just tiny, but  they bring something to me.  Today  I bumped in to my daughter-in-law's nephew.  He was a child that I just did not like.  But today, seeing him as a young teenager, I was very impressed with him. Despite not really knowing me, he hugged me and genuinely seemed interested in me and what I am doing in my life.  I was so grateful that this awkward, unlikeable little boy did not grow up to be the way I would have predicted.

Something much larger on my list today is that I spoke directly with my daughter-in-law's mother about an issue that has been bothering me.  I'm very intimidated by her, and it took courage, but I did it, and I think that it may have solved an issue that has been a thorn in my side for a long time.

Lastly, I got to spend time alone with my oldest grandchild, Max.  It was the first time since he was an infant that I've had the opportunity to just be with him.  It was very special.  Precious moments that I'll cherish for a very long time.   

I am grateful to have a "mountaintop" such as this from which to shout out my gratitude!

For family, for my home and for the comforts found there.  For my sense of humor which is like a lantern when things get dark. For my husband who is sitting right next to me in the front car of life's rollercoaster holding my hand. For my sons, who have taught me about my own strength, as well as theirs.

For friendships, sisterhoods, and creative connections all established through the wonder of the internet. The opportunities I stumbled on and the joy I have uncovered with a mouse click.

For each day I open my eyes on the world. For each minute I am awake and curious and ready to learn. For each laugh, each taste of beauty, each opportunity to forgive or be forgiven, each chance to do something that feels right.

I am a lucky, lucky girl. I need to say it aloud more often!

 

Right now, this morning, I am grateful for...

the pink sunrise beaming my window right now 

divine timing and care

the wonderful, ebullient energy of the Artella team 

my Uncle Chet and Aunt Bobby

the miracle of computers

for my three fabulous friends who were born in in the past month: Jaime - an online friend who has been like a sister for years; Jill who I met through the first Artella retreat and became my creative friend and confidant every since; Patricia, my best friend at age 13 and we're still close through the years   

a package that I thought was missing finally arriving to Hawaii

my messy office, because it signifies productivity and full-ness

Peach tea

everyone reading this forum and feeling gratitude in their lives 

 

 Today I am grateful for our beautiful weather.

 The average temp for july 4th here is 96 degrees. Today it's 87. We have very little humidity so 87 is very nice!!!!

 I am also, of course, incredibly grateful for the millions of freedoms I experinece every single day, because of the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for my privilege to be free.

 

 

 I am grateful for the good health of myself and my family, the love we share together everyday. I am grateful for my creative mind and fearlessness when it comes to art.  I am so thankful that I married my soul mate and that he cares for me so deeply and completely.  I am grateful for the food in our cupboards, the absence of violence in my home, and the laughter that abounds in our home.  I am grateful for new internet friends and a wonderful community of friends who support me and inspire me daily.  I could go on and on.  Oh yes, I'm also grateful for the large purring cat on my computer desk, he was a true diamond in the rough 6 years ago when we found him on the street.  He's taught my son love and to see something for what they can be, not simply what they are.  We love you Mr. Potato Head!!!

 Marney, active gratitude is, indeed, contagious.  Just having this forum here has improved my conscious thinking about gratitude.

 Today I've had a "cup runneth over" kind of day.  Everywhere I look I'm seeing blessings.

 Too many to list, but just a very wonderful feeling of being showered with gifts.

 

Today I'm feeling grateful for ---

- A great project that a friend invited me to be a part of, that I really enjoyed doing 

- a little bit of extra sleep last night

- Zura, Tammy, Bobby, Allison, Sandi, Tina, Tracey, Constance, Kristina, Laurene, Linda, Nici, Beth, Heather, Holly, Fred, and bjb

- Modern dishwashers

- Music from pandora.com

- my wonderful, thoughtful husband

- everyone who has been enjoying the new Artella site, cafe, storefront

- My new rubber stamp with the new Artella logo - it looks so cute!

-  My mom

- Contentment, slow pace, no rushing

- Pierces-my-heart-its-so-lovely sky
   

 

 
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
- Marcel Proust

This sums up how I feel about this Cafe site and Artella 10!

And I am so grateful to my two friends who arrived last night bringing all the makings for dinner on the deck! Then, they cleaned up my kitchen afterward...

I'm so thankful for a lovely ending for one day,  and for this hopeful start (6 a.m.) for this new day.

 

I am grateful for waking up another day.

For the massive support of a loving husband.

For have the tenacity to survive.

For having the creativity and will to write.

For having online friends.

For online communities.

For having a job I love that allows me the time to create.

For 3 wonderful sons.

For laughter and smiles.

For rainbows and blue skies.

For freedom to be me.

Good morning, charming gardeners!

I do like that quote in the post above! Love this new Artella site--thank you, each and every one!

My next appreciation is for what I call "another gorgeous Michigan summer day!"  Sunny and in the 60's...you see, I grew up in western Kentucky where, from mid-May until September, it was hellaciously hot and so humid I was always miserable and sweaty. After college I moved "up north" and discovered that life can be wonderful in the summertime! That was true in Chicago, and it's doubly true in Michigan.

And I am so grateful for this lovely peaceful phase in my life--with time for friends, time for reflection, time for art. For healthy and happy grown-up children and their families.

Appreciatively,

Pat 

 

I am grateful for this precious life. I am grateful for my husband and my daughter. I am grateful for my cats, past and present. I am grateful for my friends and neighbors.