365 Project

[Mazarita]

Good morning, @Terry. I'm responding to your 'blessings' post here as it's where we all talk about our gratitude. I like your long list of things to like about your life in the other thread. Today I'm grateful once again to @Former-Member who introduced me to adult colouring books. I was doing some this morning and last night. I've also expanded it to include freeform drawing of lines and shapes on blank pages, which I then colour, or paint with watercolor pencils. Working with colour is delightful and really does calm down that nervousness I seem to have within me most of the time. Also brings back some good memories of childhood, when I used to like colouring in too. Thanks again LJ!

[Former-Member]

🙂 sounds awesome @Mazarita I have been crocheting lately - a friend just had a baby boy (sooo perfect and adorable - I'm so clucky around babies sigh) so making a cot blanket. It's going well.

[Mazarita]

@Former-Member, how wonderful, a newborn. Crocheting and knitting, so therapeutic, creative, and useful too. Would be good to see it when it's done. 

[Appleblossom]

I am thankful for Australia Day. For about 6 years we have been doing the same thing. I watched my son and his student play a lovely piano in a beautiful house and garden setting. 

Often I play, but this year, I was stressed and cancelled and was just mum.  Even so, I was flushed and anxious for them throughout the performance. My son also likes to rock boats in conservative worlds ... but the host could also see value in his style of playing.  Its almost as nerve-wracking as playing myself. Proud of my boy.  A couple of friends came to watch, a piano and drama teacher ... they said "He's good".

So I have to say with all the ups and downs it has been a great January.

cheers

[Appleblossom]

I am grateful for both these discussions about the limitations of gratitude on Berkeley's Greater Good website. Sorry somehow I have forgotten how to post links.

by Amie Gordon

And about Barbara Ehrenreich

[Appleblossom]

I am glad I have received a "thank you" card for my silly little presents in that parcel I carted all around town.  Yes grateful for another's gratitude.

[Mazarita]

Wonderful, @Appleblossom, gratitude for gratitude. 

I'm grateful to the manager at the op shop where I will be volunteering. She gave me the position in about one minute and was understanding and supportive when I had a migraine and was not able to make the first day. I start again next week.

[Appleblossom]

She is my dead brother's 2nd child and is a tough little trooper.

[Mazarita]

It's your niece you gave the gift to? Lovely.

I have formed a nice relation at a distance to an aunt on mum's side now that she is in her 80s. We send christmas cards to each other and I regularly go for a visit when down south seeing Mum. Prior to her turning 80, I thought of this aunt as someone who had never said a nice thing to me in my life. Then, about four or five years ago I went through a long period of looking into the family history. I compiled my research documents and wrote some pieces on different aspects and ancestors, copies of which were sent to some of the extended family via my mum. My aunt, being interested in the family history, invited me for lunch at her place while I was down there. We hadn't seen each other, except very briefly, for decades. During the lunch she gave me a glass photograph of one of our female ancestors from 1870s Scotland. It's a rarity and treasure to me. At this different time of our life, we like each other as never before. Since I have very little contact with other aunts or uncles, it means a lot.

[Appleblossom]

I try and keep contact with the group of 3 sibs: 2 nieces and a nephew. They had it tough and their mum was seriously head injured. She is the most responsible so replies for the whole group.  It is just to keep a mild link going, for them to take up if they wish.

It is really weird who makes a difference and helps us understand ourselves and our family histories.  I feel more grateful to these kids' grand mother .. my brother's first wife's mother in law.  She enabled ongoing contact.  My mother hated her because she felt some blame for his treatment and death and later rivalry over her dead son's children. but in the end the mother in law was more honest than my mother, she actually discussed issues and apologised for misunderstandings. By being kind to me when I was really beyond gutted, she helped me see my mother's bad treatment of me was not just in my head.

it was such a relief that someone outside the family realised it was not right.