The Innkeeper Sees Progress

Monet's Garden circa 1900

   Hello everyone, how are you?

I'm posting my gratitudes before the day has another name.

My gratitudes for Wednesday:

1. I'm moving forward with details that will make my life easier and more enjoyable. No, I'm not rigging the California lottery, for my benefit.

A Busy, But Auspicious, Meeting-My-Needs Day .......8/2/11

    Hello everyone,

I met with a client this afternoon, our time was productive.  Earlier in the week, I asked if we could meet at a new place, she said okay, with reservations. It ended up she likes the new place better than where we once  met. I thanked her, for her flexibility.

        Taking care of self is still an area where I'm growing. (For more on this subject click here, and here, also.) It lets me know that I must be a Safe Person. 1 (See footnote below.) As a child, I was culturally conditioned to always think of the needs others and ignore mine. It feels great seeing important areas in my life being fulfilled. More about that in a moment.

A Grateful Innkeeper

Update: 8/2/11 Armida passed away the thirteen hours after I played the guitar and sang to her. She entered into eternal rest  Monday, at 12:55 p.m.  I'm thankful I was able to be with her and her family, Sunday.  I will miss her; but, she lives on, within the memory of all those who were fortunate to know her.  She no longer suffers from the vicious disease of cancer.
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     Sunday night I performed for two hours, without stop, playing the guitar and singing in Armida's bedroom. Usually, when I perform, my sets don't last longer than 45 minutes, then I take a break.

    Armida is heavily sedated with morphine and unconscious. I'll write more about my experience Sunday, when I'm not tired, which I am, at this moment.

My gratitudes for today:

1. I'm thankful for the many who drop by the inn, each day. I look forward to getting to know you. I'm grateful for the community we share.
2. Visitors from Indonesia and Argentina, dropped by today. Welcome. I hope to see you again. I'm thankful for the growing readership taking place, here.

Grace is Sweeter Than Bitterness: Experiencing Spiritual Growth

The happiest people don't have the best of everything...they just make the best of everything.(Photographer's caption.)

      I'm off to play my guitar and sing for Armida. I just received word from her son, Paul. She has from hours to 2-3 days remaining, according to the hospice staff. He asked if I could come and sing. Of course, I will. Two of my sons are joining me. I'd appreciate your prayers for Armida, her family and for me, as I try making a difficult time more serene. For more about my dear friend and her current situation, please click here.

      I'd be happy receiving your support. I'll be spending time with the family, now, and over the next few days. It would great having you as part of the Attitude of Gratitude team. I'm thankful I don't operate alone, relying only on my resources. That would be too dangerous. There's more balance in my life benefiting from the collective perspective of my supportive community. I also have more serenity now that I don't make decisions alone. My Balcony People provide the balance needed in life.

Others Don't Determine Our Worth ...................7//28/11

    My gratitudes for Thursday:

1. I'll spend time with my two younger sons and my friend Kevin, tomorrow evening. They'll join me as I return to Armida's to sing once more.

 We don't get our worth by how others treat us

      I had a difficult time with someone today.  I wish it weren't so.  This person has been unkind, quite a bit, lately, prompting me to distance myself from him. I asked if we could be courteous towards one another and he waved me off, telling me to leave. No, I'm not thankful for this event. But ...

2. I am grateful I was able to process this person's behavior with a friend, talking with her on the phone while I walked for 30 minutes, this morning.

    The first thought when mistreated this morning was: "Breathe."   I exhaled the lack of courtesy and dignity that I experienced.

Armida, Part II. The Innkeeper Sang, Armida's Eyes Danced ....7/27/11

My dear friend Armida

          Last Thursday, I visited a dear friend, Armida.

         Her life is ending soon be-cause of a disease that's ravaging her body.   She took a strong tumble in late May. A MRI was performed, to see if she cracked her spine.

Help Needed. Some Are Unable to Post in this Inn. Any Ideas? (Also, not being triggered by others, being loved as I am, and humility allows me to grow.) ...7/25/11

The great men and women of history are remembered, not because they never failed,
but because they didn't let their failures stop them.   (Photographer's caption)

     Can someone please help readers of Attitude of Gratitude?  For some reason, there are readers of this inn who are unable to post. Any idea what's causing the problem? Please pray tell. One friend, tried three times this weekend and gave up.

A Grateful Innkeeper 7/24/11

   Welcome to the visitors from Malaysia, Australia, Guernsey, Germany and Indonesia, let us know how we can make your stay in the inn more comfortable. 

My gratitudes for today: 

1. I rested today. I made my well-being my number one priority.
2. I studied.  I invested in my mind, doing so forestalls dementia, which is a good thing.
3. I straightened clutter at home. I like having more clarity in my life.
4. I was gracious towards myself when I made a mistake today. I exercised the principles I've learned

Reveries ...7/24/11

         I fought traffic, traveling in a moving parking lot, at 5 mph, across the Bay Bridge (see above),  as it snaked its way into---and through---the City. I prowled, intently hunted, while wearing a suit and tie, for a rare prize----a parking space, in this congested town, where this metropolis is squeezed by bay waters to 49 square miles. All this was the cover charge for the delights

The Innkeeper is Going to See Ballet 7/22/11

    Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you're having (or had) a delightful Friday. The weather is a gorgeous 73 degrees with no humidity, mosquitoes and a cool bay breeze. No sweltering heat, here.

     A business meeting took up my time, earlier today.  Since then, I've spent time at home, writing and editing. Some of you know I'm working on a book. My editor wants to take a look at what I've done since our last meeting. So, I'm a busy guy.  Meeting with her is always a time for brutal honesty on her part, and growth on mine. Life would be much easier if I had a copy editor, then I could really fly with my writing. Not so, in this case; at least, not yet.