I am grateful that my mother who was an alcoholic for most of my life and created a lot of harm now has early on-site dementia from drinking but it has give us the gift of her forgetting to drink and made her become such a kinder, gentler person. Not only has her brain softened but her heart has softened as well. Our relationship has become healed and beautiful on so many levels. The thing that caused such pain wound up giving me a true gift. Talk about a paradox.
This is so beautiful. I have heard of other people who had family members who were judgmental or hateful who became beautiful human beings when they developed dementia.
The book that changed my life 'Reviving Ophelia' by Mary Pipher PhD #1 NY Times Bestseller. In the middle the auther defines & explaines the mother-daughter relationship. After reading her book I never got angry at my mother again. I found the closure I was looking for.
What I learned from my parents is not to make their same mistakes. My life is worth more than alcohol. I grew-up more mature. I learned the basics of what is important in life by not having it. To appreciate and find joy where others are oblivious and immature chasing things that dont matter.
Listening to “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” by Ross Gay is sort of like going to church, or the synagogue, or repeating a prayer of any faith, or just standing beneath a canopy of trees. Gratitude is light, and it is light that beckons each of us to rise to the dawn of each new day, no matter the hardships, or busy-ness, or responsibility, or joy that awaits.
I am thankful for this Community of Caring Souls, all of us wounded in one way or another and still, all moving forward. I am thankful that I have two. long silver braids that frame my face. I am thankful that I have learned to love and cherish my younger self. I am thankful that my "little sister" (she is 59) and I have decided that in our old age (which won't be for a number of years) we will live in a duplex like we lived in on Ft. Leavenworth when we were little kids. And now, on to cup of strong coffee number two and a deep gratitude for the time to drink it.
I am grateful for my kind husband, who gives me the room to be who I need to be, even in the tough times like this year when my dad died unexpectantly, and finding myself an orphan, opening myself up to all sorts of big questions I had put to bed in my early 30s. I am grateful for our old cat, who adopted us, and who knows when I am sad and looks so deep into my soul and says things will be okay and sleeps next to me like my mom would have, and then when I am better, he is no longer human, but a cat, and we both keep all of this a secret. And to you, Suleika, for sharing this poem on this sleepy Dutch Sunday morning, just right when I needed it.
Dearest Suleika, Jon, Ross Gay for bringing me to my knees in gratitude. You have listened to your souls and consistently bring beauty into the world, this community, and our souls respond in receiving the love. I am crying at 6am Sunday morning because my soul has received such gifts of love. I see you! I hear you! I love you. Suleika Freedom is another gift and because of you sharing such gifts while daily dealing with illness and uncertainty you are sharing this freedom of love. And when we have to walk in shit may we bring this freedom and love with us.
Nov 20, 2022·edited Nov 20, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad
“I'm excitable and grateful,” says Ross Gay. After hearing your poem, I'm a giddy goofy plumb fool filled with gratitude! Gratitude - this treasure of light and goodness, the drink we so desperately need but don't know how much we need until we drink it. Gratitude is the elixir of life that literally breathes life into the soul it inhabits. Gratitude marches on past grief and anguish and sadness and what is not - gratitude illuminates what is! It paves the way for contentment and presence and acceptance and joy, which cannot be fabricated. I could go on forever!
Ross Gay - this poem. This poem - IS EVERYTHING! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Now Sunday begins!!!
Thank you for putting this time of year into perspective. We love you just as you are, dear Suleika, and are holding you close from wherever we are. ❤️❤️
I, too, have struggled with gratitude and the pressure to find the positive in everything. Thank you for naming the struggle. And thank you, too, for now claiming gratitude as survival. In a similar way, I’ve come to understand joy as resistance. So grateful for you and the beauty you create and share with us all. Peace...
I am grateful that in the ugliest and messiest times -- the ones that send me into panic, forcing me to just accept -- little seeds are planted then. I never see them growing until later when things are calm again.
This poem surprised me because I was expecting order and tenderness. But its honesty was brutal and rings true to me. Life is shocking and horrifyingly sad. And precious. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem. I am thankful that I chose to listen. Poetry is like a song and it needs to be heard.
Dearest Suleika I am thankful for you prompts and weekly gratitude. It hurts my heart knowing you are sick. I’m glad you are surrounded by love and support. Even though I don’t know you I care! I just want you to be completely healed and strong again. You are a beautiful force.
Ross’s poem brings to life the messiness of life. But every day we are here, alive and breathing, is something to be thankful for. Even love isn’t perfect. And if someone truly sees us and still adores us with all our messy human parts this is something to be thankful for. If life was just one a smooth fairy tale we would be bored. There would be nothing to really strive for. Life is work. The bumps along the way make is sharper, brighter and stronger. So today I will howl my joy. I’ll open my lungs and reach deep down and oooooowwwwwwww! Oooooooowwwwwwoooooo! Thank you life for the life you gave me. My difficult childhood. My imperfect broken parents. If my path had been easy I would never have tried to be better. I can be grateful for the quiet and uneventfulness of certain days because of the acrimonious days. Thankful for my challenges. Thankful for the people who can still love me when I’m difficult to love. Thankful for the sun on this cold morning. Thankful I am here. As long as I have breath their are possibilities.
I am overcome with joy to know that the pieces came together so that you could freely celebrate your BELOVED!!! I am overwhelmed with delight because I hear in your words the life-giving benefits of gratitude and that you are savoring every “second goes away.” What endears me most about you, Suleika, is that you are always willing to give what you’ve learned and experienced away - and that is the circle of love that is your community - the free giving of love and wisdom and joy and even of pain. If I’ve learned one thing through this journey with you - it’s that life is exceedingly better in community. We love you - see you - feel you, and are eternally grateful for you, Dearest Suleika!❤️
This video -- it’s words and music --righted my mind & helped me to write an authentic gratitude list. Suleika, I so appreciate your honesty of regarding the harm/pain caused by the seemingly required gratitude of this time of year. And I love how you instead hold both of these: true thankfulness and the realities of your health struggles. You’re helping us all us do the same. Ross Gay’s piece is really powerful. So are your words.
Love this poem & this post. I'm a 42-year cancer survivor, diagnosed with ALL leukemia one month after my 18th birthday. Three grueling years of chemo while I attended college, the possibility that I'd never have children. Moments ago my 28 year-old daughter was engaged to be married. "Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Do not be afraid" Frederick Buechner
I’m once again so moved by your piece on gratitude and Ross Gays words and beautiful voice. I sit quietly in the house I grew up in 60 years ago awaiting my 100 year old father to wake up and celebrate the day. I’m filled with gratitude. Thank you for making me stop and listen.
My dad is turning 100 this week, and I wait for him to wake up every day too :) it’s fun to have that shared experience with someone in this beloved community.
I listened twice, so beautiful to hear Ross Gay and the music with the words flashing so I don’t miss a beat......before I read the prompt I’d already written a page & dressed it up with colored pencils as he read his poem again. Grateful for Suleika & her consistency on a Sunday morning, sitting on the couch in the early morning sunrise with the bay window full of happy houseplants I repotted yesterday, deep appreciation for the quiet this morning and the sun.....I have more projects to complete before the ground freezes....there’s a short window when it’s warm enough on a November day in New England to finish up outside!
I am grateful that my mother who was an alcoholic for most of my life and created a lot of harm now has early on-site dementia from drinking but it has give us the gift of her forgetting to drink and made her become such a kinder, gentler person. Not only has her brain softened but her heart has softened as well. Our relationship has become healed and beautiful on so many levels. The thing that caused such pain wound up giving me a true gift. Talk about a paradox.
Sending love ♥️
This is beautiful. ❤️
This is so beautiful. I have heard of other people who had family members who were judgmental or hateful who became beautiful human beings when they developed dementia.
The book that changed my life 'Reviving Ophelia' by Mary Pipher PhD #1 NY Times Bestseller. In the middle the auther defines & explaines the mother-daughter relationship. After reading her book I never got angry at my mother again. I found the closure I was looking for.
What I learned from my parents is not to make their same mistakes. My life is worth more than alcohol. I grew-up more mature. I learned the basics of what is important in life by not having it. To appreciate and find joy where others are oblivious and immature chasing things that dont matter.
That’s powerful
I am starting to write about it. It has been very powerful
I’m glad! Have you read Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir? Helpful here :)
No I haven’t but will check it out. Thank you!
Listening to “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” by Ross Gay is sort of like going to church, or the synagogue, or repeating a prayer of any faith, or just standing beneath a canopy of trees. Gratitude is light, and it is light that beckons each of us to rise to the dawn of each new day, no matter the hardships, or busy-ness, or responsibility, or joy that awaits.
Gorgeous—thank you ♥️
It’s so beautiful. I’m going to listen again later when I go for a walk,
I am thankful for this Community of Caring Souls, all of us wounded in one way or another and still, all moving forward. I am thankful that I have two. long silver braids that frame my face. I am thankful that I have learned to love and cherish my younger self. I am thankful that my "little sister" (she is 59) and I have decided that in our old age (which won't be for a number of years) we will live in a duplex like we lived in on Ft. Leavenworth when we were little kids. And now, on to cup of strong coffee number two and a deep gratitude for the time to drink it.
♥️♥️♥️
Coffee! There is always coffee.
2nd cup down over here N Vegas - caffeine plus Suleika doubly enhance my beating Heart - ever'time - Sunday morning pick me way UP
Oh yeah!
I am grateful for my kind husband, who gives me the room to be who I need to be, even in the tough times like this year when my dad died unexpectantly, and finding myself an orphan, opening myself up to all sorts of big questions I had put to bed in my early 30s. I am grateful for our old cat, who adopted us, and who knows when I am sad and looks so deep into my soul and says things will be okay and sleeps next to me like my mom would have, and then when I am better, he is no longer human, but a cat, and we both keep all of this a secret. And to you, Suleika, for sharing this poem on this sleepy Dutch Sunday morning, just right when I needed it.
♥️♥️♥️
❤️
Dearest Suleika, Jon, Ross Gay for bringing me to my knees in gratitude. You have listened to your souls and consistently bring beauty into the world, this community, and our souls respond in receiving the love. I am crying at 6am Sunday morning because my soul has received such gifts of love. I see you! I hear you! I love you. Suleika Freedom is another gift and because of you sharing such gifts while daily dealing with illness and uncertainty you are sharing this freedom of love. And when we have to walk in shit may we bring this freedom and love with us.
♥️♥️♥️
“I'm excitable and grateful,” says Ross Gay. After hearing your poem, I'm a giddy goofy plumb fool filled with gratitude! Gratitude - this treasure of light and goodness, the drink we so desperately need but don't know how much we need until we drink it. Gratitude is the elixir of life that literally breathes life into the soul it inhabits. Gratitude marches on past grief and anguish and sadness and what is not - gratitude illuminates what is! It paves the way for contentment and presence and acceptance and joy, which cannot be fabricated. I could go on forever!
Ross Gay - this poem. This poem - IS EVERYTHING! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Now Sunday begins!!!
It’s truly everything! Grateful for you, Tammy ♥️
The poem made me giddy too. It made me feel so much lighter!
Thank you for putting this time of year into perspective. We love you just as you are, dear Suleika, and are holding you close from wherever we are. ❤️❤️
♥️♥️♥️
I, too, have struggled with gratitude and the pressure to find the positive in everything. Thank you for naming the struggle. And thank you, too, for now claiming gratitude as survival. In a similar way, I’ve come to understand joy as resistance. So grateful for you and the beauty you create and share with us all. Peace...
I am grateful that in the ugliest and messiest times -- the ones that send me into panic, forcing me to just accept -- little seeds are planted then. I never see them growing until later when things are calm again.
This poem surprised me because I was expecting order and tenderness. But its honesty was brutal and rings true to me. Life is shocking and horrifyingly sad. And precious. Thank you.
Brutal honesty = love ❤️
Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem. I am thankful that I chose to listen. Poetry is like a song and it needs to be heard.
Dearest Suleika I am thankful for you prompts and weekly gratitude. It hurts my heart knowing you are sick. I’m glad you are surrounded by love and support. Even though I don’t know you I care! I just want you to be completely healed and strong again. You are a beautiful force.
Ross’s poem brings to life the messiness of life. But every day we are here, alive and breathing, is something to be thankful for. Even love isn’t perfect. And if someone truly sees us and still adores us with all our messy human parts this is something to be thankful for. If life was just one a smooth fairy tale we would be bored. There would be nothing to really strive for. Life is work. The bumps along the way make is sharper, brighter and stronger. So today I will howl my joy. I’ll open my lungs and reach deep down and oooooowwwwwwww! Oooooooowwwwwwoooooo! Thank you life for the life you gave me. My difficult childhood. My imperfect broken parents. If my path had been easy I would never have tried to be better. I can be grateful for the quiet and uneventfulness of certain days because of the acrimonious days. Thankful for my challenges. Thankful for the people who can still love me when I’m difficult to love. Thankful for the sun on this cold morning. Thankful I am here. As long as I have breath their are possibilities.
Hope you all have an amazing day! 🌻🪶
I am overcome with joy to know that the pieces came together so that you could freely celebrate your BELOVED!!! I am overwhelmed with delight because I hear in your words the life-giving benefits of gratitude and that you are savoring every “second goes away.” What endears me most about you, Suleika, is that you are always willing to give what you’ve learned and experienced away - and that is the circle of love that is your community - the free giving of love and wisdom and joy and even of pain. If I’ve learned one thing through this journey with you - it’s that life is exceedingly better in community. We love you - see you - feel you, and are eternally grateful for you, Dearest Suleika!❤️
Now I'll read the prompt...
This video -- it’s words and music --righted my mind & helped me to write an authentic gratitude list. Suleika, I so appreciate your honesty of regarding the harm/pain caused by the seemingly required gratitude of this time of year. And I love how you instead hold both of these: true thankfulness and the realities of your health struggles. You’re helping us all us do the same. Ross Gay’s piece is really powerful. So are your words.
The poem is divine.
I am just beginning my journey with leukemia. I read your missives every Sunday to give me courage. I am so thankful for your writings!
Sending love ♥️
💕
Love this poem & this post. I'm a 42-year cancer survivor, diagnosed with ALL leukemia one month after my 18th birthday. Three grueling years of chemo while I attended college, the possibility that I'd never have children. Moments ago my 28 year-old daughter was engaged to be married. "Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Do not be afraid" Frederick Buechner
Wow!!!
I’m once again so moved by your piece on gratitude and Ross Gays words and beautiful voice. I sit quietly in the house I grew up in 60 years ago awaiting my 100 year old father to wake up and celebrate the day. I’m filled with gratitude. Thank you for making me stop and listen.
My dad is turning 100 this week, and I wait for him to wake up every day too :) it’s fun to have that shared experience with someone in this beloved community.
Wow!!
I listened twice, so beautiful to hear Ross Gay and the music with the words flashing so I don’t miss a beat......before I read the prompt I’d already written a page & dressed it up with colored pencils as he read his poem again. Grateful for Suleika & her consistency on a Sunday morning, sitting on the couch in the early morning sunrise with the bay window full of happy houseplants I repotted yesterday, deep appreciation for the quiet this morning and the sun.....I have more projects to complete before the ground freezes....there’s a short window when it’s warm enough on a November day in New England to finish up outside!
Love the second listen ♥️♥️
Yes! It’s beautiful! The poem and the sun on this cool November day here in New England.🐝🌞