what good happened to you this week?

[WRITE]

since I have been doing the Thankfulness journal it has opened my eyes to how often I close off to positive things and home in on the negative. Every day I try to write five things I am thankful for in my journal.

Here is one day this week:

1. beautiful letter of appreciation from a patient's relative
2. walking in the evening with the dog
3. finding cheap summer clothes last week when I really needed them
4. going for dinner with friends and gettign to hold their new baby for two hours ( funny- they thought I was doing them the favour  )
5. my son is so happy and relaxed and about 6 inches taller...

Today was a sad day at first, one of my alzheimers group died suddenly on wednesday, I didn't know until today when everyone seemed so down in the group.
Then some people started singing an old gospel hymn, and others joined in, all in harmony, and we had one of those times of grace. I swear, my work is like going to church in terms of G_d's love...RIP lovely Miss B who always gave me such love and support, an angel in life, now an angel. She sang this with us last week, I like to think she was listening today.



Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away;
To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away (I'll fly away).

I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away (I'll fly away).

When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll fly away (I'll fly away).

I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away (I'll fly away).

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end, I'll fly away (I'll fly away).

I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away (I'll fly away).

[Hopalong]

Oh, Write. Thank you.
I can say one very beautiful thng that happened to me was reading this.

What a radiant person you are. What wonderful work you do.
What a WONDERFUL post.
(I love "I'll Fly Away" very much! Would love to be hearing it a capella, soulfully...)

This week:

I truly enjoyed the task I have now at my job (designing a publication I'm editing...teaching myself)
I too went and found some wonderful tops at the Goodwill, even 3 for my mom
The visit with my brother stayed peaceful, I gave him a kiss on the cheek and surprised myself
I made a new friend in my office...a very nice RN who lives in the country and rescues racoons, etc.
I got a lead on a job to apply for that would be just right...it's in another city but you only have to go for meetings now and then, the rest of the time you can work from a home office. Fingers crossed!
I walked a lot. (In spite of heat I do love summer best.)

thanks again, Write.

Hops

[mountainspring]

Hi Write... this is a great thread.

This week...

My daughter learned a new skating move she's been working on for a long time.
I watched Let Freedom Ring with my Grandmother and it was so peaceful.
I got some cleaning out done that I'd been putting off for a long time.
My son went out of state to a cousins wedding and arrived safely.
I watched my girls from the kitchen window eating watermelon on the trampoline and giggling.

[Plucky]

great thread, write.
This week I feel I made some progress towards forming friendships, after being stuck for so long.  I had a few real conversations with people.   I made some vague future plans with people.  I felt connected.
This happened because I was able a few times to avoid the knee-jerk reaction I have had for a long time, to shy away and avoid any risk.  To interpret every event in the most cautious, negative way.  To recognise that I also do ambiguous, inconsistent, or forgetful things to other people, without realising it, so if they do the same to me, it just might be an innocuous mistake.
Thanks for making me say this!
Plucky
 

[Certain Hope]

Dear Write, One good thing that happened to me is that I learned it's time to begin a thankfulness journal. Thank you (insert a bushel of daisies here).  I'm sorry about Mrs. B.
Love, Hope

[WRITE]

Thank you for the kind words   

The Thankfulness journal idea comes from Simple Abundance ( Sarah Breathnach ) which I am two weeks behind in the daily reading bit, because she suggests so many books I just had to look at eg. Katherine White's exquisite 'Onward and upward in the garden'.

I also started reading the Fine Romance book on relationships you recommended ( Judith Sills ) Hop, and I am speed-reading a couple of novels for talks and bookclub.

My life is so full and rich right now, let me tell you about today.

I went to a Unitarian talk by Jungian psychologist James Hollis this morning, topic: Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life.

Then I stayed for the service which was about the Indian Bhagavad gita and featured Hare Krishna people chanting with clay drum and harmonium.

Then I met my Bhuddist friend for lunch in a Thai place, he is lovely to discuss all this with and is doing some spiritual searching of his own.

Now I'm home, have walked the dog, read a little, written a little, had a long chat with ex who called in, ordered pizza for son and friends who're staying the night, washed my bedsheets!
( That's all so ordinary but so good somehow...)

***

I made a new friend in my office

  I made some progress towards forming friendships

That's wonderful!

it's time to begin a thankfulness journal

you won't regret it: it really helps keep life in perspective.

[Healing&Hopeful]

((((Write))))

Thanks for this thread.  I'm sorry to hear about the death of one of your alzheimers group.

What good happened to me this week....

1.  I appealed my pay review and when my staff manager asked to see me they offered me £500 more.
2.  My H has been offered a new job
3.  I'm going to sort my time out better so I am going to clean 1/2 rooms every evening instead of trying to cram it all in a weekend and end up feeling like I've missed out on my weekend.
4.  We are having glorious sunny weather.

Love H&H xx

[WRITE]

that's great H & H.
Money and cleaning- two big things to feel organised about!

[moonlight52]

HI Everyone ,

My daughter in college got a government grant paying for this whole year of classes .

We did not know how we were going to get a loan for her if she did not get the grant. We are so happy.

Hugs,
Moon

[Certain Hope]

I found some more of my voice and told my friend that I will not accept her projection of her own feelings, thoughts, and motives onto me. Whew. Thanks again, Write 

[Hopalong]

WOO-HOO, Moon, that is wonderful!!! Fantastic! She must be a chip off the old moon.

And H&H, you assertive rockin' thing you... Kudos to your dearH too!

Happy for you too, Hope. Those simple assertive moments really are a revelation.

Write, thanks for spreading joy this way.

Hops