For those living on the East Coast of Canada and the US, the Fall season is glorious in colour at this time of the year. Living on the West Coast, while the Fall changing of colours is a beautiful sight to behold, I admit to missing the red colours and the Maple trees and shrubs of the East Coast where I grew up.
When I saw these two in a friend’s yard yesterday, I couldn’t resist taking this photo. For me, it was TRIPLE “M” time: Magic! Memories! Marvellous! What a treat!
In the midst of deep concerns for the people of Jamaica as they face the worst hurricane they’ve ever encountered … in the midst of growing angst, concern and fear for the future of democracy in a growing number of places around the world … in the realization that bodies continue to age and medical services/supplies/medications are becoming harder to access and afford, Mother Nature offers TRIPLE M” moments of magic and memories that are marvellous!
Breathe – inhale the beauty wherever and whenever you can … if only for a moment. In that moment, the body, mind and spirit are engaged and experience calm, peace, hope. Magic! Memories! Marvellous!
Fragility … the quality of being broken, damaged, delicate, vulnerable, wounded, weak. These days, many want to live in a world that is healthy, durable, safe and strong. They don’t want to live in a world that is fragile. Many want to be perceived and perceive themselves as healthy, durable, strong and resilient. They don’t want to perceive themselves as fragile.
But, life can be fragile. * Some leaders ignore the people they serve and instead, serve their personal greed and lust for power. * Weather changes result in … breathing difficulties … homes being damaged or razed … people, animals, crops being injured and destroyed * Killing of children happens … in classrooms … on the streets … in grandparents’ back yards … at concerts … churches … shops … * Unexpected health issues erupt and lives … finances … relationships are disrupted. * People of all ages live in fear of reprisal, prejudice, discrimination, ICE agents, revenge. * The pandemic was real: people died and long-haul health issues are on-going for many. * Wars continue with inexplicable horrors and devastating consequences. Fragility.
Life can be fragile because … people don’t listen … feelings are hurt … relationships end … misunderstandings happen … trust is eroded. Fragility. Life can be fragile because the voice of reason is silenced by … greed … ambition … desire for personal power … egotism … revenge. Fragility. Democracy begins to fade. Fragility. Grief causes hearts to break. Fragility. But … fragility isn’t always negative / bad.
Fragility can be seen as … resilience … possibility … hope … strength. Think of the heart. It pumps blood through the body every moment … every single day of life. Hearts are strong and resilient. We are, too. Think of the eggshell. It can be easily broken. But put a raw egg, in its shell, in the palm of a hand and squeeze. Even under pressure, eggshells are strong. We are, too.
The “I-don’t-know-what-it-is object” (less than one inch in circumference) in this image (which unexpectedly appeared in my garden while I was weeding), was delicate, strong, tiny, beautiful … like spun-gold. Fragility.
As evidenced by the egg, the heart, and this “spun-like-gold-I-don’t-know-what-it-is” object, we need to take comfort and realize that out of fragility, there is hope! Especially in these oh-so-difficult days.
Mindful that others have lived in difficult and fragile times before us (war, plague, violence, corruption), we can be hopeful … even if only for a moment. And then – we can be hopeful for another moment … and another … and another. Survival in the midst of fragility IS possible.
In the midst of the political rhetoric/reality/anxiety in many parts of the word, this weekend, Canadians are marking Harvest Thanksgiving – a time and opportunity to express ‘giving thanks.’ Thanksgiving.
But these days, many struggle to find something – anything – for which they are thankful. Health issues, financial concerns, weather disruptions, faltering relationships, the political reality of our neighbours (from within and from DJT) complicate lives. It’s not easy to ‘give thanks.’
When I remember that “thanksgiving” is an “attitude,” not a feeling, I find it helps me look beyond and focus on an attitude change – a Gratitude Attitude.
Having a Gratitude Attitude Habit helps me extend my focus and be open to an attitude of hope, even when things may appear to be hopeless.
How to have a Gratitude Attitude? How about being grateful for yourself? Seriously … beginning with gratitude for ourselves is a great way to begin a Gratitude Attitude.
Here’s one way to cultivate this habit / attitude: Each morning, as you stand in front of the mirror, ready to brush your teeth, look in the mirror (hair likely uncombed, no make-up, haven’t yet shaved, grunge still in the eyes), think or say “Thank you Universe / God Creator (or just “thank you”) … for the gift of creation. Me.” Look into the mirror again and see the Gift of Creation. You!
Simple acts like keeping a Gratitude Journal, a Gratitude Box/Jar (click the ‘search’ bar here on Soulistry and you can read all about it) … sharing words of appreciation … volunteering … can cultivate a long-lasting sense of thankfulness, even in a world that can often feel overwhelming and anything but a place where one finds an attitude of gratitude easy.
Having an Attitude of Gratitude, grounds us and reminds us of the good that surrounds us.
A Gratitude Attitude can help transform the way we see the world. Perhaps only just for a moment … but it does work. 🙂
This weekend, whether Canadian and celebrating Thanksgiving as a holiday or not, may we all have an Attitude of Gratitude and “give thanks” and “live thanks” in some way.
***************************************** Nicole is on FB and IG … https://www.instagram.com/nicolesartbox/ Her words which accompanied her artwork: The flowergirl stands in the light Her glasses flow in lantern light She whispers dreams to stars above And fills the dark with gentle love.
Fear. It’s palpable. And it’s growing … and growing … and growing.
Fuelled by conversations, social media and political actions it is a word that resonates and leaves little space for anything other than fear.
What to do? We could let the fear grow and grow until physical, emotional and spiritual paralysis sets in.
Or, we could transform our understanding of fear, and our approach to it into hope and F ace E verything that is A gainst R eason
with
H ealing O penness and P ossibilitie, by and for E veryone
Will changing our approach to a single word bring about change? … change in our actions, our attitudes, our abilities to cope?
How will we know … if we don’t try?
When fear attacks may we Face Everythingthat is Against Reason (FEAR) with Healing, Openness and Possibilities of peaceful action and response by and for Everyone. (HOPE)
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