Sunday, July 20, 2008

Courage and Gratitude~

I was thinking about all of your comments in the post below (I responded to them- which got motivated to write- so thank you :) - and the thing I extracted from each of you, in some form or another, was courage.
As I reflected on this powerful attribute I recognized 2 things- 1) your thoughts and words gave me confidence, and 2) you assured me of the strength I already have within.

Immediately I was grateful and began to think heavily on all the things in my life I am thankful for; and I had never noticed how much courage it takes to be truly and utterly grateful.
I would even go so far to say that it's nearly impossible to be thankful without courage.

Think about it for a moment...
About people you know who are never satisfied, never at peace, either worried about the future, or angry at the past. They might be passionate in their anger and able to face difficult things, but it's NOT with courage and gratitude they make things happen- rather it's with force and bitterness, or selfishness.

I looked up the word "Courage"- the definition is at the bottom of the post...I found something remarkable in Latin that spoke directly to me. It was originally spelled "CORAge" :) - be sure to read all of the definition. I hope it will speak to you too.

---- Gratitude---
"Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept in POVERTY by their lack of Gratitude"
-Wallace Wattles

My deck and backyard look like a tropical garden- and the lounge chair covered in towels is where I sit in the sun and marvel at how blessed I am to live here and have this view everyday.
Spa's are nice...but this place is good for my soul.

-

A tropical storm is brewing off the coast of NC- and it will breeze right past us. My beloved children are at the coast with their grandmother for 2 more weeks. My mother in law is a blessing. My kids are fabulous, smart, funny, wonderful, healthy, and did I mention they are away for the next 2 weeks? :)

2 whole weeks of me getting to be me? Not mom, not chef, not taxi driver, not appointment maker, reminder, and taker? Wow...this is big. Anybody want to go to beach? Anybody want to go anywhere with me? lol!

-

I know it's silly- but I love my girly socks. Love them. Love them even more with a tan! :)

-More stuff to be thankful for-

Friends who love you and miss you and call you or send you email- (which is a whole bunch of you ;)

Family- especially the ones who walk alongside you on a difficult path, and the ones who make the path difficult. There's room to be thankful for all of them, even the ones who give you heart-ache, because those are the ones who teach you how NOT to be~

A BEST friend who knows everything about you- keeps your secrets- and loves you- inspite of you. My life would be sad and difficult without you Chris. One day- we may have our chance to make the biggest scandal this town has ever seen- until then, we can dream about it :) lol!

The good and dear friends of my children who have blessed my life- in so many many ways. (yes Josh- and Anna...I am talking about you :)

Airconditioning and fans

Hot English breakfast tea!

Sunshine

Rain- and having enough of it to keep the lakes full

Thunderstorms

Cookouts

Brie and good wine

Passionate kisses

The laws of attraction and expectation

The ache of watching a friend move away- it reminds us how deeply we love

Life- for it's complexities, endurance, it's fragility, it's flavor, sting, surprises, and how it's more than just breathing and moving...

Love- "Ditto" what I said about life.



-

And while I feel my gratitude list could go on and on (the ocean, trees, birds, DOGS :), books, microwaves, email, digital cameras, my car! etc)

I'm so very thankful for things that have a deeper meaning- a secret message if you will, one that speaks to you and you alone. Something in your home, or within your posession that reminds of an important event or person in your life. Something that whispers to your heart that no one else can hear. Something that gives you courage...and something that makes you grateful.

______________________


Courage:

n. The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery. [Middle English corage, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *corāticum, from Latin cor, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots.]

26 comments:

NYD said...

It's good to see you back in action.

Those who have courage are afaid of running away.

Greg C said...

Great post today. I am glad to see you posting again. I too have felt some of the same things you are and like you finally realized, that I have it good. No, I have it Great. I really have no business complaining. If you feel the need to visit a hot tub you know where we live. :)

darkfoam said...

oh look ..
you also have a orangutan habitat growing in your backyard! ;) it's a beautiful one though ..

i know it's hard being sandwiched between the care of children, spouse, elderly parents. it does take great fortitude to find things to be grateful for when life throws you curve balls. you handle your curve balls with admirable CORAge..

Josh said...

Ms. Cora, I know that if anyone can come through everything you're doing just fine, it will be you! Please know that me and my family love you and your family, and we're gonna support you 110%.

We love you!

Gnomeself Be True said...

I think you're right about needing courage to be grateful.
It takes courage to admit to needing help and that's required for gratitude.

I always knew you were Coragous.

Timmeh said...

Hey Mom! I made a Blog, obviously. Were having a great time here at the beach!

I agree with Josh. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. (P.S. Were wathing Law & Order SVU, and Im pretty much hooked. We have noticed 4 X-files characters now!)

Lady Prism said...

Aaaaaaaa!!! I luuuv' the poooorch!! Awww'..so cozy cozy cozy!! I can see you there just relaxing...so peeeaceful! I bet you hear all sorts of crickety and birdie sounds the whole day through!

I wish I were there with you...eating...strawberry ice cream...( I dunno' why strawberry...just felt like your porch is a good place to eat strawberry icecream)...Hugggzies Cora! Someday we'll see each other..Think how fuuun that'll be!..

Have I got secrets to tell you he!he!he!

Greg C said...

I almost forgot, I love the girly socks.

X. Dell said...

Well, I've long been grateful for your presence here, and the time we've spent in meatspace together.

The odds of us existing are literaly more overwhelming than the odds of winning the lottery. Yet we're here. So even before we start, we've all won one of the biggest games, with the biggest jackpots imaginable. Being able to enjoy things from digital cameras to ocean breezes pads the score if, as you say, we can appreciate them.

Libby said...

cora--how interesting that you name is a root of 'courage'! really, no surprise...!

Ruela said...

Tagged ;)


These are the rules:

enumerate 8 things that you want to do before dying and pass the challenge to 8 blogs



Taggees:

Middle Ditch
Aunty Belle
ANNA-LYS
Mayden' s Voyage
FANCY
Polux
A.Decker
Kim Basinguer

enjoy ;)

sparringK9 said...

absolute courageous outrageous
gratitude
rich beyond rich with the
proper attitude
when you write its sunlight
like a diamond on the sea
i love your cheerful insight
on this we can agree

Anonymous said...

well,
it takes
no courage
at all to say
that i am grateful for cora's ever insightful words

<3

Effortlessly Average said...

gimme a second here to log in so I can subscribe to comments...

Effortlessly Average said...

Ok, now that that's done...

There's a lot I could fill up your comments section with, but I won't bore you with it. The high points:

Is it wrong that when I saw your girly socks, my first thought was "how might a guy get to see a girl in those... and only those?"

I agree with a great deal of the things you mention about being thankful for, especially passionate kisses.

And finally, sorry I haven't been around in a while. I've been traversing my own path to the light at the end of the tunnel and finally, FINALLY, I'm in the sunlight again. Life is finally good again. I'm dating again; laughing again; making future plans again. So when you ask "anyone want to go anywhere with me?" my hand shoots up in a gesture of "ooo ooo! pick me, pick me!"

roxanne s. sukhan said...

hello ~

cora ~ coeur ~ corazon ....

i have not forgotten to write you and other to whom i owe an email ... lots is going on ... my mum (who has the early early beginnings of renal failure) has served as my pillar, and some days she is the only thing i tell myself i must live for.

I find comfort in amazing grace ... and also in the movie Elizabeth (the one with Cate Blanchet) and in trying to think of others around me who need ... just a little gesture of TLC.

soon i will be in Holland with the love of my life ... what a long road, and oh, how much i've learned.

love to you. and godspeed to you Mum ... i think of you often.

My son is currently doing his military training ... will wonders never cease? I think my boy has far more courage than i, most of the time.

ta ta. if you're ever seeking some comedic relief, go to my main blog, and check out the second to last post .... its hilarious.

love, me.

Mayden' s Voyage said...

NYD- lol- afraid of running away? Sigh...I wish I was that brave.

Greg- I do know exactly where you are and the hot tub sounds lovely :) I hope one day there will be one in my back yard too :)

Foamy- I so wish I was going to see you next week! Thank you for your email- and for your thoughts and understanding what I'm going through. Hugs for you :)

Josh and Tim...love you both :)

Mr. Iamnot- Dang- you are sweet! hug and a smooch for you :) I have trouble asking for help- it's definitely something I need to work on in the future.

Lux- I often think if you were here that I would think more clearly and choose more wisely. Strawberry ice cream would be lovely :) Hugs!

Greg- lol- thank you :)

X~ no one says it like you, "padding the score"- yes- if we can appreciate the things that touch us. I'm so jealous of Foamy seeing you next week :) Wish I could be there too~ hugs friend.

Libby- You are just too kind, thank you darlin' :)

Ruela- you are a wild man :) Ok- I accept...my next post will your tag~

K9- love you the best :) Are you really on the left coast? I might call you about the cabin- I miss you!

/t- you always make me smile- thank you for that :)

EA- The socks are hot- no doubt- but the stretch marks and 39 years of wear and tear on the rest of this body are not :) Trust me- the matching lacy underthings go best with the socks until the lights go down. Not that I need to give you anything else to think about! lol :) Hugs and it's good to see you again~

Rox- so much I want to say to you- so many times I wish we just had an afternoon to sit by the beach and talk. Be well friend- and I am sorry about your mom. It's interesting we are facing similar things with them. I will be in touch soon...and I saw the funny at your blog :) I needed the laugh!

sparringK9 said...

mayden: i am leaving sunday early a.m. if you want to go to the cabin (chickory) just call me today or tomorrow i will send you instructions. i just had it bush-hogged and its gorgeous!! there is a bear that comes around at dusk...i use the car alarm to scare him off so no worries.

The Phosgene Kid said...

Gosh I miss the woods.

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