  Spiritual
This week: In Gratitude Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. My name is Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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I recently turned fifty, and I've never been happier or more comfortable in my own skin. I have coworkers and friends who dread every birthday, and they fight the inevitable passage of time (Botox, plastic surgery, etc.) in an attempt to hold on to the youth that has already passed them by. But everyone gets older. The alternative is that you're dead, right?
I don't mean to sound as if I'm looking down on people who get Botox injections or breast implants. I just don't understand it, I guess. My mind doesn't work that way. I prefer to be grateful that I've been given the opportunity to age instead of living in fear of it. I suppose that being a registered nurse has something to do with it--that seeing death and dying, oftentimes young people who didn't live to adulthood let alone old age, changes one's perspective a bit.
I've earned every gray hair on my head; each wrinkle on my face represents laughter and days spent in the sun with the people I love. I'm grateful for them, as they tell the story of my life.
I've been blessed with more than 18,250 sunsets--passed hundreds of thousands of hours enjoying what God created for me in the form of the beautiful planet Earth. I've been outside so much the past few days that the skin on my shoulders is peeling away and the exposure will undoubtedly result in more lines on my face, and that's okay. Each morning that I open my eyes to see sunshine streaming through the bedroom blinds is a good day, and I plan to enjoy every one.
I live in gratitude.
How have you been blessed? Do you keep a gratitude journal? What are you thankful for? Respond with your thoughts, ideas, feedback, and/or blessings and I'll include them in next month's newsletter.
Thank you for reading.
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. I occasionally feature static items by members who are no longer with us; some have passed away while others simply aren't active members. Their absence doesn't render their work any less relevant, and if it fits the week's topic I will include it.
Thank you, and have a great week!
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The following is in response to "For Women Only" :
Quick-Quill  writes: Here's my story-Short version-I've been married for 45 years!!! My parents for over 65 until my father passed. The key? Divorce is not an option. That's it. When you take that off the table you tend to work a little harder to make your life easier. That's a pat answer. No, my life is far from a perfectly happy marriage. It's had its ups and downs. Both of us subliminally agree having a partner in this life is better than living alone. That being said, my hubby has traveled away from home usually 4-6 weeks as a time for over 4 years with a year off. Sometimes he's home for a couple weeks sometime, a day or just hours. I live alone. I love being alone. When he's home sometimes he's hard to live with and I'm glad when he's off on the road. I love him but there are times... It's tying two people together and only the death of one releases them. I know people will fight that and there are exceptions they are few and far between if you pick a person with the same deep beliefs and strong commitment. Wow, 45 years! Congratulations. That's wonderful! 
QPdoll  writes: I'm not currently contemplating divorce, but I have in the past. This is a good newsletter with a wonderful message. I think I'll try and get this book. Thank you for sharing. You are very welcome! Thank you for reading. 
Jeff  writes: My wife and I went to marriage counseling during a particularly rough patch years ago and you're totally right... it made things worse. The therapist/counselor's office may be a "safe space," but you know what's not a safe space? The car ride home, or the house for a few hours after you've each spent time complaining about everything you don't like about your spouse!  Over the years, we've found that the point you bring up is totally spot-on... working on ourselves is far better for a relationship than trying to work on fixing the other person. Whether it's counseling, getting perspective from friends and family, etc., working on improving ourselves is the thing that's made our marriage the strongest. Sorry, I know the newsletter said "For Women Only" but apparently I'm one of those guys that just has to voice his opinion anyway.  "You know what's not a safe space? The car ride home, or the house for a few hours after you've each spent time complaining about everything you don't like about your spouse!"  So true, Jeff. And I welcome your perspective anytime. 
Joy  writes: Thoughtful, NL and so true, Shannon, we can only change ourselves, and being in a marriage with the same man for 52 years, I look at marriage as something to grow in, even if two people do not exactly grow along the same lines, but then, who wants to live with a replica of oneself! So true, Joy! It's like Laura says in her book, "I complained every time my husband didn't do something the way I thought it should be done and I began to wonder why I didn't just marry myself!"
Jacqueline writes: dear Shannon my husband and I will celebrate thirty years of marriage in October. We don't have a perfect marriage, but we remember our vows and God's love for us as man and wife. Our love for each other outweighs any fights we might have and we talk to each other to sort out our problems. Yep. That's what it's all about, Jacqueline: commitment and keeping a promise to the person you married. It's like Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." The same goes for marriage. Be the person you'd like to be married to. Be the best person you can be: kind, compassionate, caring, empathetic, thoughtful, a good listener, etc. and all your relationships will change, including your marriage.  |
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Spiritual: May 09, 2018 Issue [#8885]
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