Time for another Gratitude Gumbo, a round-up of random joy points that have brightened my week and for which I’m thankful.
1. Vision has been a theme this week. A trip to the optometrist and a new prescription – yay new glasses! I’m grateful for the ease with which my vision can be corrected. My father developed macular degeneration and suffered significant vision loss, and it was hard watching his world become increasingly limited. So I think I pay more attention to this gift than I might otherwise. But this week was also a celebration for a friend’s grandchild who as a young babe is receiving some state of the art treatment to correct significant vision issues he was born with. And so my personal world was touched by a story of what a difference tissue and organ donation makes.
2. I’m giving a shout out to my long-time friend who goes by the nickname Sweet Violet. How she claimed that moniker is her story to tell, but let me just say it was hilarious and involved dye. I’m grateful for her friendship and the laughter we’ve shared over years that have held both the hard and the happy, and I’m sending a boatload of love her way. She’s taught me so much about heart connections.
3. Paper, paper, paper. Have I mentioned my love affair with paper? It showed up early in my life. My mother claimed all she ever needed to do to entertain me was set a magazine in front of me and I’d rip my way into hours of contentment. That’s probably why I like collaging so much, and this week I made time to do an eclipse one and one for the new moon. I also got to play with beautiful origami paper (Paper Jade is one of favorite sources) creating a bunch of paper boxes. And I also got to work on some surprise mailings.
4. This video by Ze Frank An Invocation to Begin is BRILLIANT. Yes, I’m shouting. Because it delights and inspires me so. (And a thank you to Michele Bergh for bringing it into my field of awareness!) I’m going to watch it daily and see what it impact it has.
5. I’m a big believer in bath therapy. Water is a great inviter of inspired thoughts. Knowing that I’m a flower essence practitioner and aromatherapist, you won’t be surprised to know that I’m also a big believer in natural ingredients as well. And so I was delighted to find this delicious slightly fizzy oil-infused bath melt that is a heaven send for my already winter-dried skin. From Endue on Etsy.
6. I love and respect Lori-Lyn Hurley. She’s a beautiful lightworker living an intuitive life and spreading her magic in delightful ways. We’ve been gently dancing around in each other’s circles for while. I love how transparent she is in her process. This is a blessing to everyone stepping into their divinely-guided life, and I’m grateful she’s here shining with such beauty. This week she wrote a wonderful blog post about connecting with her guides. Check it out.
7. Today was a beautiful day – one of those perfect transition autumn days. The sky was a deep bright blue, the crisp air was sun-warmed, and I enjoyed the crunch of leaves underfoot as I did what was probably one of the last rounds of raking. There were squirrels chattering and looking for treats to carry off and a couple of crows flying overhead sending their blessings. And then I came in and made a cup of orchid vanilla tea and had a Skype chat with a lovely new friend in Germany. Life is good and I have lots to be grateful for.
What about you? What are you appreciating?
Hi Deborah, I found your blog post in Michele Bergh’s forum. Welcome to the group. I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I love that you are a flower essence practitioner and an aromatherapist. I am neither, but I love the essential oils and recently am using flower essence on my own and through Heilkunst treatments along with homeopathic remedies. I enjoy alternative therapies as well as energy healing. It’s lovely getting to know you and dropping in here.
Thanks for stopping by Suzanne. And now I’ve popped over and taken a look at your delightul blog. There’s so much wonderful stuff available in alternate healing and energy modalities, we truly are able to experiment and find what works best for us. And what a blessing that is.
Great list this week, Deborah! I loved your description of your perfect autumn day…I felt like I could just step right into the scene and help you do a little raking! I love this time of year, too.
LOL Janice – I’d love your help raking. And then we could have a cup of tea and chat.
Oh – did you just hear me gasp with delight? Thank you so much for including me on this beautiful list. I’m grateful to know you.
LOL – gasps of delight are the best! In fact I think that should be an offically designated measure of happiness. How fun would it be to enter each day prepared to gather gasps?! In any case, it delights me to see all the magic you’re putting out in the world. Good stuff!
What a beautiful post! I also got new glasses this week! I’m pretty excited – it’s been a while and was one of those things nagging at me to get done and now it is. Business is going well and my life is heading in exactly the direction I want it to go. I also have much to be grateful for 🙂
Yay Michele – I celebrate you and the things you’re grateful for. And it’s always good to have clear vision – both literally and figuratively. 😉
I am a huge fan of organ donation! I tell my family repeatedly that I have the orange dot on my driver’s license and anything salvageable better be gone!! No open casket for this girl, cremation all the way because I plan on saving a few lives when my candle burns out. It’s not like it’ll do you any good if you take it all with you anyway. LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Julie. Organ and tissue donation can be such a gift! The ability to designate your wishes via your driver’s license really makes it simple. But the conversations with your family and doctor can really help ensure that your wishes are followed. So good for you for being clear about your choices. Also registering with your state’s donor registry and making sure your wishes are stated in your advance directives and living will are also helpful steps as well.