November Twenty-Twenty-Two

 

Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.   -Robin Wall Kimmerer

The best memories are made while wearing a silly costume. -J.J. Kissinger

New York Marathon Recap

Just because you are happy it does not mean that the day is perfect but that you have looked beyond its imperfections. – Bob Marley 

It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world. -Mary Oliver 

If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life was “Thank you,” that would be enough. -Meister Eckhard

Research on emotion shows that positive emotions wear off quickly. Our emotional systems like newness. They like novelty. They like change. We adapt to positive life circumstances so that before too long, the new car, the new spouse, the new house--- they don’t feel so new and exciting anymore.  But gratitude makes us appreciate the value of something, and when we appreciate the value of something, we extract more benefits from it; we’re less likely to take it for granted.  In effect, I think gratitude allows us to participate more in life. We notice the positives more, and that magnifies the pleasures you get from life. Instead of adapting to goodness, we celebrate goodness. We spend so much time watching things- movies, computer screens, sports- but with gratitude we become greater participants in our lives as opposed to spectators. -Robert Emmons

When I am grateful, I am neither rushing nor slouching through my day- I’m dancing. -Br. David Steindl-Rast

Gratitude is like a flashlight. It lights up what is already there. You don’t necessarily have anything more or different, but suddenly you can actually see what it is. And because you can see, you no longer take it for granted. – M.J. Ryan 

I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment. - Audrey Hepburn

Continue / To let gratitude be the pillow / Upon which you kneel to / Say your nightly prayer / And let faith be the bridge / You build to overcome evil / And welcome good

—Maya Angelou,  “Continue ”