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One of the main things I learned from going through periodic rough times in my life was that I can always find things to give thanks for, regardless of how challenging those times might have been. Which is why when I look back on those times, I see them as times of light; not darkness. Now mind you, that doesn't mean I would wish to go through them again, because I wouldn't. However, I see them as times that I wouldn't want to ever change because they were times when I felt more consciously aware of all the many things I have in my life that are good.

During those times I was more focused on what I had; not on what I didn't have.

And oddly enough for as scared and vulnerable as I was during those periods, I also felt incredibly strong.

There is truth in the saying, "During times when we feel the most powerless, we also feel the most powerful."

Through weakness, we know strength.

I used to have a gratitude book in which I would write down things at the end of each day, for which I felt grateful. But I no longer do that because feeling grateful is something I now automatically do without having to make a written note of it. Gratitude is something I don't focus on at a particular time each day or even a particular holiday, such as Thanksgiving. For me, gratitude is state of mind that I try to practice in the moment.

And that's what I feel Thanksgiving truly is. It's a reminder to be thankful, not just on one Thursday in November each year, but throughout the year.

Conscious of our blessings...


One day last week while walking through my favorite park, I looked up into a tree because I heard something moving. And lo and behold, I saw that it was one of my favorite little creatures - a squirrel.

And what was so wonderful is that the squirrel suddenly stopped moving; looked down at me; and patiently sat there while I took its picture....


What a blessing!


Blessings to you and your loved ones!
X

27 comments:

  1. I love this post, Ron. It made me ponder on my own situation. Joe, of course, came to mind and I realised that my mind dwelt more on my gratitude to him for guiding me to being who I am. I get on with life as he would wish, without sadness but with joy that at least we had so many years of happiness together. My father used to say 'life is for living' and how right he was. We don't have a special Thanksgiving Day but I don't mind since it is a daily daily prayer.

    Love the photos of the squirrel.

    Weekend will soon be upon us - have a nice one, my friend.

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  2. Beautiful post, Ron! You express yourself so well. I love what you said about how through weakness we know strength. That is so true! I always say that we can't know light until we know darkness.

    Your photos of the squirrel are adorable! I have a soft spot in my heart for squirrels too. They're so cute!

    Happy Thanksgiving, Ron!

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  3. Oh, Ron, what a wonderful post! I've been going through some rough times lately, so I'm very grateful for this reminder--and that awesome squirrel photo!

    I recall reading some yoga or Zen master who advised that we should say three things every single morning as soon as we open our eyes: "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

    And as much as tough times suck, they can make us stronger and teach us valuable lessons about gratitude. Like they say, a ship wasn't built to stay in the harbor. It was built go out on the ocean.

    I'm so thankful that I know you!

    Happy Thanksgiving, buddy!

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  4. You call it a blessing. Maybe he just thought you were NUTS.

    I kid! Love your post, Ron. You always strike me as the type to look at the bright side of things. In other words, you're sort of a yin to my yang. We always seem to have a lot in common!

    Hope you have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Stay warm!

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  5. Focusing on what we have, instead of what we don't, is a great approach to every day living. Before I go to sleep, I thank the Lord for simple things, like a comfortable bed, warm blanket and my pillow. And I often thank Him that I was born in this time period, because I'm not pioneer material! 😂

    Ron, I'm thankful for you! Hope you have a good holiday and that work isn't too crazy afterwards. XO

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  6. Hello there Valerie!

    I love what you shared about Joe...

    "I get on with life as he would wish, without sadness but with joy that at least we had so many years of happiness together. My father used to say 'life is for living' and how right he was."

    That is so beautiful and so true! No doubt, it's challenging to move forward after losing our mate (and even our child, our parents, or loved ones), but it's all in how we choose to move through it. As you shared, life is for living. And I'm sure that's how our loved ones want us to life....to get on with life.

    "We don't have a special Thanksgiving Day but I don't mind since it is a daily daily prayer."

    A-men! Thanksgiving should be a daily prayer.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a lovely weekend!

    X to you and Charlie

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  7. Thanks, Candice :) I love what you said..."I always say that we can't know light until we know darkness."

    Yes, because it is through darkness, we discover the light! And it's through some of the darkest times in my life, I felt the most light!~

    I love squirrels! I enjoy spending time in my favorite park, watching them romp and play with each other. City squirrels are very domesticated, so they will take food right out of your hand. I love feeding them nuts and granola bars.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!
    X

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  8. Hey there Rob!

    It's always been through the challenging times of my life that I've been reminded to notice the things in my life that are good. It's funny how in the hard times, we are always jolted into shifting our attention on our blessings.

    "I recall reading some yoga or Zen master who advised that we should say three things every single morning as soon as we open our eyes: "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

    Yes! Yes! Yes! And it's amazing how that by that, we set the "tone" for our day.

    "And as much as tough times suck, they can make us stronger and teach us valuable lessons about gratitude. Like they say, a ship wasn't built to stay in the harbor. It was built go out on the ocean."

    LOVED that, Rob! I've learned the most through tough times. Which is why I said that I would never want to change them.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving!

    X

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  9. " Maybe he just thought you were NUTS."

    HA! You're right, Mark, maybe he did :) When I first heard a rustling in the tree above me, I thought one of the tree branches was falling off or something, so I jumped a bit.

    Yes, isn't it funny how you and I so often have a lot in common throughout our lives? Also, I think you and I are optimists, so we always see the bright side.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Wishing you and Tara a Happy Thanksgiving!

    X to you both

    P.S. Today we're supposed to get freezing temps. And as I'm sure you already know, I am VERY happy about that :)

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  10. "Before I go to sleep, I thank the Lord for simple things, like a comfortable bed, warm blanket and my pillow."

    OMG, I do the same thing, I kid you not! When I think of how some people are homeless and don't have a warm place to live and sleep, I feel immensely grateful just even the most simple things, like a bed in which to sleep.

    "And I often thank Him that I was born in this time period, because I'm not pioneer material!""

    HA! Me either!!!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend. And me too...I'm thankful for YOU!

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
    X

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  11. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comFriday, November 23, 2018

    Stunning photos! And I do so agree that if we focused more on what we do have, we would be happier and the planet would be too.

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  12. Thank you, Fiona :)

    "if we focused more on what we do have, we would be happier and the planet would be too."

    Yes....and the planet would be happier too.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a grrrrrrrrrrrreat weekend!
    X

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  13. First, I love the pictures of the squirrel!!! Oh my god, how cute is he! Great capture!

    " Which is why when I look back on those times, I see them as times of light; not darkness." You are so right that because when looking back on rough times in my life, I see that I had so much support and love from family and friends. They were rough no doubt about that, but there was also something uplifting about them.

    What an inspiring post and reminder, Ron. Thanks for sharing it. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day. Hope Black Friday wasn't too bad :)
    X

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  14. Ron, you always put into words so many things that I feel but don't know how to say them. LOVE this post! You're right, through weakness we know strength, and through feeling powerless we understand what power is!

    Back in the early 90's I used to keep a journal where I would write down things that I was grateful for. I got the idea from watching Oprah one day when she said that she kept a Gratitude Journal. It taught me that the more I focus on what I am bless with, the more blessings I receive.

    Those pictures of the squirrel are awesome! I love how he's looking right at you.

    Hope you had a Happy and Peaceful Thanksgiving Day, Ron! X

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  15. Hola Denise!

    Isn't the squirrel so precious? I adore them, so I felt utterly blessed when I looked up and saw him looking down at me. :) I took the pictures so fast, I didn't know if any of them would turn out.

    "I see that I had so much support and love from family and friends. They were rough no doubt about that, but there was also something uplifting about them."

    Yes, isn't something how when we look back on challenging times, we suddenly see the "good" in them?

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving! No, Black Friday wasn't bad at all. Being a city store, it's not as hectic as the malls because people like to shop in malls so that they have all those stores in one place.

    Have a great rest of your weekend!
    X

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  16. Helloooooooooo there Elaine!

    Thank you :) I find that I express myself best when I write my feelings out because I get a clearer picture of how I feel. Sometimes if I need to talk to someone about something, I will sit down and type my feelings out before I speak to them so that I can say what I mean without confusion. Often times my emotions get in the way of my feelings, so it's best if I pause before speaking.

    "and through feeling powerless we understand what power is!"

    Yes, you are so right. And I like how you said that!

    OMG, I too discovered gratitude journaling from watching the Oprah show back in the 90's! In fact, one of my best friends at the time and I went out and bought a journal book together. I used to keep all my journals but eventually tossed them out because I had so many and they were taking up too much space. I agree...the more we focus on our blessing, the more blessed we feel. And I also think it leaves us open to have more blessings.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor. Hope you Thanksgiving was a fantastic one! I can't believe Christmas is next. Time is flying, isn't it?

    Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
    X

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  17. YES! You know how much this resonates for me. I am a huge believer in counting blessings and noticing the little good things in our lives even in the midst of turmoil or sadness or fear. I take a moment to think about what I"m grateful for every day, and make a sincere effort to feel whatever I feel no matter how negative but not to stay in that place. And that's why I can say honestly that I'm lucky and have much to be grateful for.

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  18. I LOVE how you said this because it says it ALL...

    " I take a moment to think about what I"m grateful for every day, and make a sincere effort to feel whatever I feel no matter how negative but not to stay in that place. And that's why I can say honestly that I'm lucky and have much to be grateful for."

    That is so beautiful, my friend! And knowing how much you've been through this year, you're a perfect example of how even though we go through some rough times (and you've been through a lot of rough times this year), we can still choose to see and be grateful for the "light" in our lives.

    Thank you!

    Hope you had a Happy and faaaaaabulous Thanksgiving Day!

    X

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  19. It sure is, Ron! I feels as though Labor Day just ended, and now it's almost Christmas!?! I'm trying to enjoy every single moment because before we know it, Christmas will be over.

    Hope Black Friday wasn't too stressful.

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  20. "I'm trying to enjoy every single moment because before we know it, Christmas will be over."

    Meeeeeeeeeee too! I LOVE this time of the year, so I try to savory every second.

    I put up my little Christmas tree yesterday and it looks so cute!

    No, it's wasn't too stressful at all. We were busy, but not insane. The day went very smoothly.

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  21. Ron, I trust you had a Happy Thanksgiving! I, too, have learned the importance of an "attitude of gratitude," in ALL things. Sure, we're had our share of problems and difficulties, but we've come through them stronger than before. I think it's our tough times that really show our strengths.


    That little squirrel is so darling. Poor Dallas would be beside himself seeing that! The squirrels here derive great delight in sitting on tree branches or utility poles, flicking their tails, and chattering up a storm while my poor dog circles below them, barking to beat the band! I find myself hoping they'll stay where they are because I'd hate to see Dallas tangle with one!

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  22. Finding things to be grateful for is the best way to chase away our pesky habit of complaining about situations. I need to focus more on having this type of attitude rather than focusing on things that are causing me angst. Hindsight is always perfect vision and I do see how challenges and situations have come together to make me the person I am today. Would I change anything? Maybe a few of my more stupid decisions. :-) But overall, I believe there is a plan for my life and can see how both my struggles and blessings have played a part in a much larger plan My faith has increased the most not during the times of plentiful blessings, but during those dark times when faith is tested beyond measure. It's so easy to take everything for granted when life is good. The fact that you can see the positive during the negative times is a testament to your faith and beliefs. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I wish you enough.....

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  23. Hellooooooo there Debbie!

    Yes, my friend...I had a Happy and peaceful Thanksgiving Day. It was very quiet and low-keyed, but it's how I like to enjoy Thanksgiving, quiet, reflective, and of course eating LOTS of food!

    " Sure, we're had our share of problems and difficulties, but we've come through them stronger than before. I think it's our tough times that really show our strengths."

    A-men! We discover our strengths through the tough times. And that's why I wouldn't change them for the world.

    "..derive great delight in sitting on tree branches or utility poles, flicking their tails, and chattering up a storm while my poor dog circles below them, barking to beat the band! "

    HAHAHAHA! OMG, yes, I see the same thing in the park I visit. The dogs there go CRAZY over the squirrels in the trees. They bark and bark, and try to actually climb the trees to get to them.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you, and Dallas, and your Domer had a fantastic Thanksgiving Day!
    X

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  24. "Finding things to be grateful for is the best way to chase away our pesky habit of complaining about situations."

    Lisa, you are soooooooooo right about that!

    "Hindsight is always perfect vision and I do see how challenges and situations have come together to make me the person I am today.:

    Exactly! Yes...and it's through hindsight that I've discovered that. It's hard to always see it when I'm going through it, yet it's getting easier for me to bring myself back to a feeling of gratitude for what I have.

    "But overall, I believe there is a plan for my life and can see how both my struggles and blessings have played a part in a much larger plan My faith has increased the most not during the times of plentiful blessings, but during those dark times when faith is tested beyond measure. It's so easy to take everything for granted when life is good. "

    Lisa, I couldn't have said it any better because you nailed it. We increase our faith during times of challenge because it tests (and increases) our faith.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you and your family had a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

    X

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  25. You never cease to inspire me with what you've learned, Ron! It's true, even through rough times can be unsettling and scary, I've learned the most from them. And why is it that we always see that in hindsight? I guess that's how we learn the gratitude part, right? If life was always smooth sailing, how would we be conscious of our blessings?

    "For me, gratitude is state of mind that I try to practice in the moment." Yes!

    Thanks again for the inspiration, dude! Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

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  26. "And why is it that we always see that in hindsight? I guess that's how we learn the gratitude part, right? If life was always smooth sailing, how would we be conscious of our blessings?"

    You're exactly right, Matt! I think we need the challenges/rough times to remind us of all the positive things in our lives. And by focusing on those things is what gives us the strength to move through the challenge.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your insight, buddy! Hope you and your girlfriend had a spectacular Thanksgiving Day!
    X

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  27. Ron, I forgot to say that I love the pics of the squirrel!

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