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.

The Innkeeper Is Off to Go Sing

    Welcome to my friends from Canada, India, Malaysia, Russia and the United States, thanks for dropping by today.  A few moments, I have,  to post. Dropping by to visit a friend who's dying from cancer, is on today's agenda.  I'll take my guitar along and sing. Please pray for her and her family during this season in all of their lives. Armida.is her name. Thanks!

      I've been crying more lately. That's okay. As I experience more healing in my life, I find that tears come easily. Often, the cause is joy.  This is a big turnaround for me. As a youth and young man, I bottled things in.  I've learned over the years that it requires strength, to be gentle.

God Does the Work, All We Do Is Ask ............... 7/20/11

        Areas in our lives improve when we turn them over to God.  Progress is not a matter of working harder. Nor is it a result of thinking positively, despite what the self-help book proclaim.  Sorry, Oprah, Robert Schuller,Tony Robbins and Norman Vincent Peale. Our best efforts and thinking brought us to the state where we find ourselves.

        Life improves when we rely upon God.  We need His transforming power.  We get better when He works in the vulnerable areas of our lives.  He helps us transcend weaknesses.

     There's no humility in self-will.  How often we say, "I'll do this and I'll do that," without taking a moment to consider what God wants

The Need for Boundaries: Being Responsive To, But Not Responsible For Other People's Struggles ..7/19/11

    Good evening everyone, 

I'm about to take off for an evening ride on my bike. The day has been good and restful. Just what I needed. 

She's not opening her
mouth for a dental checkup

         It was a dramatic day, today.  I prefer avoiding them, when possible.  An intriguing conversation with someone I almost did business with, took place this afternoon; thank God for intuition---we need to trust it.  Glad, I am, that I did.

         A woman pressed me----expected me----to do a favor for her. Twice she asked me, while leaning into my personal space, to complete a financial transaction with her.  It would "really help me out," she said.  I did not answer immediately. I paused.  That's better than reacting, giving in to her pressure.

         What was shocking was I didn't even know her. The setting off the the red lights on my discernment dashboard, prompted me to say no.  Everyone is responsible for their circumstances. It's not my job rescuing others, especially when are forcing me to do so.  You know what that's called, right?  Yes, manipulation.

        The problem with being treated this way is that we are not allowed  to make choices. We are not allowed to be an adult.  Choices are a basic right for adults.  Having my free will definitely meets my need for autonomy, safety, harmony and peace of mind and soul.

        For more about that, click here for a great review of what is our responsibility, or rather, what isn't.  I'm not interested in pleasing unpleasant people. I don't have "stupid" or "abuse me" tattooed across my forehead.

         We are not "nice", when giving in to pushy individuals.  We are scarring them. Did you know that?  We are empowering them to continue their bullying.