Wednesday January 30 chat

Focus, Hobbies, Obsessions

(I tried to get an announcement to go, and it was stuck, so I've made a new one.)

Seeing value in a child's collections or curiosities, hobbies and interests.

In the book, this is pages 186-191 which has links to
Focus
Barbie
Feed Passions
Priorities


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January 23, Gratitude

Page 185, Gratitude

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I've brought that page, as it's short, and important.

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Gratitude is about abundance. Resentment is about paucity. Choose gratitude. It is a choice.

Half-empty cups are substantially different from half-full cups. It's not just theoretical holy water in those cups. The half-empty cups hold a concoction of frustration and need and irritation. The half-full cups contain joy and hope and gratitude.

Ren Allen wrote beautifully about gratitude one day, and I'm glad I saved it.

Washing dishes may not be my favorite activity, I can think of many things I prefer. But I can choose to grumble and feel bummed that I "have to" do this "chore" OR I can choose to be grateful to have hot running water, my loved ones alive and with me to use dishes, to have food to need dishes for etc...there is SO much to be grateful for in the simple act of washing dishes.

Gratitude embarrasses people sometimes. The same aspect of modern life that breeds cynicism chokes out gratitude. It makes people poor, though, to think of gratitude as something archaic or corny or stupid.

The difference between poverty and abundance is sometimes the ability to see what one has. There have been times when I didn't have a car, we had a leaky roof, and the washing machine wasn't working. There have been more times that the car and washing machine were functioning, the house was solid, and I forgot to appreciate it.

People seem naturally to want more, and to want better, and to have the urge to tweak and improve their lives and their surroundings. Don't deny the restless desire that enables people to explore and invent, but while looking ahead with hope and plans, look around with gratitude, too.

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January 16 chat, "chores," serving others

In The Big Book, pages 175-184

Chores, Serving others as a gift, tales of kids helping out voluntarily

It's about the quality of peace and joy, not about the quantity of dirt or clutter moved around.

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January 9, on food

Food, eating, choices, learning to listen to our bodies (or at least letting kids continue as they've begun). In the book, pages 162-174 or on the webpage http://sandradodd.com/food

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