Thanksgiving and Gratitude Attitude

Thanksgiving and Gratitude Attitude

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Blogposts

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.

Happy Thanksgiving!

© June Maffin
www.soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry
@soulistryjune.bsky.com


שָׁלוֹם سلام peace

שָׁלוֹם سلام peace

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Blogposts


There are no winners in war.

Only
lives lost
lives destroyed
anger released for generations

May there be peace.
שָׁלוֹם
سلام
pax
peace

peace
in hearts
in minds
in souls
in bodies
in families
in countries
between countries




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© June Maffin
https://soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups

Photo: used with permission of Pixabay

Whispered Dreams

Whispered Dreams

by | Oct 8, 2025 | Blogposts

May dark nights and dark days

be filled with whispered-dreams to stars above .

May Love flood

hurting hearts, minds, bodies and souls.


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© June Maffin
Artist: © Nicole Susanne Dreyer Used with permission.

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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.

TURNING FEAR INTO HOPE

TURNING FEAR INTO HOPE

by | Oct 3, 2025 | Blogposts

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 Everything that is Against Reason (FEAR)  with
Healing, Openness and Possibilities of peaceful action and response by and for Everyone. (HOPE)


Hope really is the only thing stronger than fear.

May we be open to hope.  


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© June Maffin

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WM-HopeStrongerThanFearhttps://soulistry.com/blog
@soulistryjune.bsky.social
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www.medium.com/@junemaffin

“GARDEN CHURCH”

“GARDEN CHURCH”

by | Sep 7, 2025 | Blogposts

This weekend, I went to church … ‘Garden Church’.    What’s “Garden Church”?    Mmmm, well, if a church is a place for worship, and worship is an expression of praise,  reverence, joy and thanksgiving, then surely a garden with flowers and bees, colour and birds, fruit and grass, trees, bushes, and even bugs and weeds can be a place of worship.


And if so, surely an encounter with Garden Church can nourish the soul, nurture a sense of deep gratitude, and be a gentle reminder of the gift of creation and the miracle of birth, growth, life.

Garden Church … can be sacred and holy … and offer an opportunity for reflection, worship, praise, healing, thanksgiving, prayer, joy – gentle, spiritual growth.

Over the years, I’ve found Garden Church “calling” to me on sunny days as I take it all in … whether it’s a back yard, a rented veggie bed in a community plot, a deck with flowers/veggies in planters with colourful flowers, bees, burgeoning strawberries, fruit trees, bugs, shrubs, weeds, silence, shining sun,  gentle warmth … sweet peace.

And not just sunny days!  Garden Church can “call” on overcast and rainy days as one takes a walk around the neighbourhood, listening to the calls of the birds, the chatter and joy of the children, enjoying the beauty of flowers and plants in the front yards of my neighbours.  I love it when Garden Church is enriched by nourishing rain, gently watering the plants, grass and flowers in the garden (like these pansies), and bringing beauty to my day.

Garden Church … thank you.  You deepen my appreciation of nature.  You nourish my understanding of the created order.  You deepen my sense of spirituality in ways that touch my soul.   And you bring an awareness of the blessings around me in ordinary ways, often when and where I least expect them.

Truly, I am blessed when I experience Garden Church.

In these difficult days when peace and tranquility, calm and joy can seem to be difficult to access, may we make time in some way to experience Garden Church.

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https://www.soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry

@soulistryjune.bsky.social

Watermarked-GardenChurch IS
Photo & Text © June Maffin

“BEING STRENGTH”

“BEING STRENGTH”

by | Sep 6, 2025 | Blogposts

If …
news from the political scene leaves you feeling hopeless
fires and floods threaten your home
the lack of availability of vaccinations against measles, Covid etc. deeply concerns you
climate control has you worried for future generations
you are feeling frightened, unsafe, worried about the future
because of personal health, relationship issues, financial situation, politics
let others carry you in their prayers.
But,
what if you don’t believe in prayer?
Then how about thinking of ‘prayer’ as ‘love’
and let others love you … be there for you … listen to you … march in protest … write letters … speak up
so that “we can be – will be – each other’s strength.”

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© June Maffin
https://www.soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry