Sadness, Gratitude and Action

Mr. Chickabee says "We got this."

Sadness, gratitude, and action flow in and out, weaving a tapestry of emotions, thoughts, energies, connections, and impacts. Oh, the wonder of being aware, and being aware of being aware, and being aware of being aware of being aware. May all beings everywhere realize peace, happiness, understanding, and compassion!

Sadness overtakes me throughout each day. Precious people are suffering and being violently exterminated in the Middle East and elsewhere. Climate disasters of wildfires, mega-storms, and floods are increasing around the world. The US federal government is harming, threatening, and misinforming many people in America and in other countries. The current US budget bill would cause suffering and death for many people and greatly increase the national debt.

I am sad that many people in my hurricane-devastated town are still hurting, and that collapsed buildings and debris are still a shocking sight. I am missing old friends, former institutions, and former work in many countries. I am worried about close family members who have chronic pain, health challenges, and sleep issues. Difficulties with balance make me feel vulnerable and insecure while walking.

What brings you sadness?

Gratitude also fills my heart each day. Our home is a haven of serenity. Our neighborhood is full of natural beauty and kind neighbors. My wife is a wise, loving person. Our handsome cat Mr. Chickabee is a special delight. (His photo above was taken by BMT.) Being with my sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren is a constantly changing blessing. Practices of mindful breathing bring me back again and again to the present moment in gratitude. Nutritious food and water care for my body.

I am grateful that our amazing granddaughter graduated from middle school this week and celebrates her birthday this month. My creative, hardworking son in New York is coming to visit us in Asheville, NC, in July. Longtime, dear friends in Nebraska and New York are also visiting us in July. Grateful for the Compassionate Conversations community in forty-one countries and thirty-five states and for our emerging neighborhood aging-in-place group.

What are your top twenty gratitudes?

Actions taken daily can help relieve suffering and create happiness. This week, I twice contacted my North Carolina senators and asked them not to support the current budget bill and to rewrite it to help vulnerable people and the natural environment. I am supporting groups in our town working on climate disaster recovery, rebuilding, and helping the homeless and the hungry.

I am collaborating with neighbors to create an aging-in-place group. I am writing daily on social media and publishing weekly on Substack. This month, I will be on the Democratic Perspective show talking about how Democrats and progressives can deal with their angst, rage, and frustration concerning what is happening to our country.

Doing physical therapy two or three times each week is helping improve my balance and walking, and is cheering me up being with these smart, caring people. I am exercising daily and eating more protein. In July and August, doctors will improve my vision with lasers and help my heart beat in regular rhythm with an ablation.

I attended my granddaughter’s graduation ceremony this week and will celebrate her fifteenth birthday on June 14th. I will spend time this summer with dear family members and friends from out-of-state.

What actions are you taking today, this week, this month?

Please prepare for local climate disasters by doing things such as getting green energy and a back up generator for your home, digging a well for water, and growing vegetables in your yard or neighborhood. Don’t live near bodies of water that can rise, or near trees that can fall on your house, or in areas prone to landslides or wildfires.

Also, if you are an American, please contact your senators (phone 202 224 3121) and ask them to vote no on the harmful budget bill, to support Medicaid, Medicare, FEMA, and other programs that help people in need, and not to give a tax cut to the wealthy and increase the national debt by $2.4 trillion. Wherever you live, support the UN’s work of peace and development. Donate to nonprofits helping the hungry and the homeless.

Please get enough sleep, exercise, and nutritious food. Practice mindful breathing, bringing awareness to breathing in, and breathing out, in the here, and in the now, in love, and in gratitude.

How are sadness, gratitude, and action interrelated in your life?

Below are some points that AI put together concerning these three:

Gratitude and sadness, though seemingly opposites, can co-exist and even work together to foster positive change and action. Gratitude can help shift perspective during difficult times, and acknowledging both feelings can lead to more meaningful actions.

Here's a more detailed look:

1. Gratitude as a Counterbalance to Sadness:

• Gratitude can act as a mental and emotional antidote to sadness, anxiety, and depression.

• By focusing on positive aspects of life and expressing appreciation, you can start to break the cycle of negative thoughts and feelings.

• Gratitude can help you find small moments of joy and hope amidst hardship, even in grief.

2. Recognizing the Complexity of Emotions:

• It's important to acknowledge that you can feel both sadness and gratitude at the same time.

• Don't force yourself to be overly positive or dismiss your sadness. Allow yourself to feel all emotions, but also consciously practice gratitude.

3. Turning Grief into Action:

• Grief can be a powerful motivator to make a difference in the world.

• By channeling your grief into actions that honor the memory of a loved one or that address issues you feel strongly about, you can transform sadness into something meaningful.

• Gratitude can help you find ways to appreciate the present moment and the support you have, even during difficult times.

4. Examples of Gratitude in Action:

• Expressing appreciation to those who are there for you.

• Volunteering or donating to causes that align with your values.

• Sharing your gratitude with others, whether through words or actions, can help inspire them as well.

• Practicing self-compassion and acknowledging your own efforts to cope with difficult emotions.

Blessings to you and yours from Mr. Chickabee and me!