This was so lovely to read. Thank you. I have been going through my subscriptions and unfollowing a lot of accounts that don’t spark joy. Yours definitely does. Love the gratitude idea. Not sure of difference between chat and thread Substack is a bit of a mystery to me! Have a wonderful holiday break. See you on the other side. ❤️🏴
The same week the election result was announced, we brought a new puppy into our lives. Getting to know this being and caring for him has consumed my attention and lowered my anxiety about things outside of my control. I would like to post a photo of Jake but don’t know how. I’m so grateful for the sweetness and hard work it is to raise him.
Oooooh, that's wonderful!! I'm so glad you have sweet Jake in your life. I was thinking the same thing, that I wish you could post a picture, but the comments don't have that function. Dang it. Is he a dachshund? Those were my mom's favorite dogs so they hold a special place in my heart!
Inspired to propound on Jólabókaflóð, Icelands flood of books with a writing pal in our pre-Christmas FaceTime conversation, we started to grin then laugh at the joy of it. It set me to planning for a Christmas Day spent eating just what I wanted (without cooking it) and lazing around reading my Christmas books and anything else I felt like (but no Social media, even Substack, this is a old-time reading kind of day, in front of a fire and with candles in the windowsill. I'll have some real food in the fridge and good bread and homemade mayonnaise so it won't be only cookies and cake....Just writing this here makes my heart lift in gratitude for the leisure and place to enjoy such a day.
Delilah! What a Queen. Dogs are often so patient with us humans. Thank you, Jane, for these wonderful writers. Looking forward to reading later. Take good care. Keep us posted on further adventures. Safe travels! ♥️🐾💫
ah yes, the Things One Does Not Talk About... and asking for/accepting help. Big things for sure. (Nice to know I'm not the only one working on these.) Grateful to you for opening up and sharing your journey of being a human in this so imperfect world.
Thank you, Megan! Yes, I'm good at offering and giving. Not so good at asking for and accepting! Glad to know I'm not alone. (I think there are a gazillion of us!) Onward!
Very lovely, Jane. Gratitude is very important. Before I go to sleep every night, I try to find ten things that happened during the day for which I am grateful. It can be as simple as waking up one more time or finding one little cup of creamer for my coffee hidden behind the butter. All the small things strung together make up a life.
All of that is my way of saying, yes, I would love to join the Gratitude Club.
Two things. One, I generally only interact with Chat on my phone and I hate typing anything substantive on my phone. Two, when I step into a Chat then I get notifications on my phone every single time someone types a response to the initial question instead of just if someone responds to something I wrote so I find it distracting and disruptive of my peace.
Hi, I love the sound of the gratitude club - personally I would prefer it to be a short post and then for us to comment on it or maybe put in the chats. I don’t know what a thread is?
A short post is just what I had in mind! It's what I did in Notes and it seemed really perfect to bring here! I think Threads is exactly what you describe: it happens within the body of the newsletter. Whereas a chat happens off the page, so to speak!
Love your wonderful article...definitely interested in the Gratitude Club. I am very grateful for my three cats who are with me through everything...also food,water,a hot shower and clean clothes,a place to live.I have been homeless until very recently:my hubby died December 27,2023 suddenly and I was evicted,been having trouble getting work because of my age-62.Still no steady income so I take it day by day.Thank you for your writings,Jane,they always gladden me and give me food for thought...
Oh, Sandra, I'm so very sorry you've lived through so much sorrow and hardship. And I'm glad you now have a place to live for you and your three babies. Thank you for your kind words. They mean so much. ❤️
I must remember gratitude which is hard at a time of loss. My sister, my beloved husband.
But - the most loving, caring, skilled hospice nurse is now a very close friend. She cared for my husband and wrapped her loving arms around me - somehow helping me survive. I have learned that joy and heartache can be experienced at the same time.
Oh, Mimi, I'm so very sorry for your losses. It's so hard to remain in gratitude during those times -- and perhaps isn't required of us. I'm glad you and the hospice nurse found one another. And, yes, joy and heartache most definitely coexist. Sending much love. ❤️
And I’m grateful to you and your writing Jane! You have nothing to be ashamed of!! What is shameful is the American health system. I’m I total disbelief. Sorry you have to go through this. You deserve all the love and support. Soak it in!
Oooooh, thank you! She's a mutt! So many people speculated on her breed, I did have her DNA tested: Beagle (that's the one I really see!), Border Collie (that's the one most people see) Australian Shepard (that's the other one most people see), and Jack Russell (that's the one no one sees!). She also apparently has a few drops of wolf?! ❤️
This was so lovely to read. Thank you. I have been going through my subscriptions and unfollowing a lot of accounts that don’t spark joy. Yours definitely does. Love the gratitude idea. Not sure of difference between chat and thread Substack is a bit of a mystery to me! Have a wonderful holiday break. See you on the other side. ❤️🏴
Ooooooh, Elaine! Thank you for sharing that!! That means the world to me! ❤️
I know! I find the chat and thread so confusing. We'll see if others have greater knowledge. Somehow I will figure it out!!
Happy holidays! ❤️
The same week the election result was announced, we brought a new puppy into our lives. Getting to know this being and caring for him has consumed my attention and lowered my anxiety about things outside of my control. I would like to post a photo of Jake but don’t know how. I’m so grateful for the sweetness and hard work it is to raise him.
Oooooh, that's wonderful!! I'm so glad you have sweet Jake in your life. I was thinking the same thing, that I wish you could post a picture, but the comments don't have that function. Dang it. Is he a dachshund? Those were my mom's favorite dogs so they hold a special place in my heart!
Yes an unusual cream miniature dachshund!
❤️
Inspired to propound on Jólabókaflóð, Icelands flood of books with a writing pal in our pre-Christmas FaceTime conversation, we started to grin then laugh at the joy of it. It set me to planning for a Christmas Day spent eating just what I wanted (without cooking it) and lazing around reading my Christmas books and anything else I felt like (but no Social media, even Substack, this is a old-time reading kind of day, in front of a fire and with candles in the windowsill. I'll have some real food in the fridge and good bread and homemade mayonnaise so it won't be only cookies and cake....Just writing this here makes my heart lift in gratitude for the leisure and place to enjoy such a day.
Oh, Ellen, that sounds absolutely heavenly!! And you taught me a new word: Jólabókaflóð! So great!! Thanks! 🌸
I am grateful for forgiveness.
Oh gosh, yes! Especially for oneself!! ❤️
Delilah! What a Queen. Dogs are often so patient with us humans. Thank you, Jane, for these wonderful writers. Looking forward to reading later. Take good care. Keep us posted on further adventures. Safe travels! ♥️🐾💫
Thank you! (I never know what to call you?? Constellations??) Thanks for all the kindness and support this year! Much appreciated! 🌸
You’re welcome, Jane! Constellations is good. Happy to support and celebrate your work. Cheers!
❤️
ah yes, the Things One Does Not Talk About... and asking for/accepting help. Big things for sure. (Nice to know I'm not the only one working on these.) Grateful to you for opening up and sharing your journey of being a human in this so imperfect world.
Thank you, Megan! Yes, I'm good at offering and giving. Not so good at asking for and accepting! Glad to know I'm not alone. (I think there are a gazillion of us!) Onward!
Very lovely, Jane. Gratitude is very important. Before I go to sleep every night, I try to find ten things that happened during the day for which I am grateful. It can be as simple as waking up one more time or finding one little cup of creamer for my coffee hidden behind the butter. All the small things strung together make up a life.
All of that is my way of saying, yes, I would love to join the Gratitude Club.
What a beautiful practice, Dawn! I agree, life usually is in the small things! And they can be breathtaking!
Yay! I'm glad the Club appeals to you! More soon!
I'm down for Gratitude Club. I'll confess, I hate the Chat function of the app, so I would much prefer a Thread.
That's so good to know, Asha! Since I don't use either, I find them confusing! What do you not like about the Chat?
Two things. One, I generally only interact with Chat on my phone and I hate typing anything substantive on my phone. Two, when I step into a Chat then I get notifications on my phone every single time someone types a response to the initial question instead of just if someone responds to something I wrote so I find it distracting and disruptive of my peace.
So helpful! Thank you, Asha! 🌸
Hi, I love the sound of the gratitude club - personally I would prefer it to be a short post and then for us to comment on it or maybe put in the chats. I don’t know what a thread is?
A lovely read as always x
A short post is just what I had in mind! It's what I did in Notes and it seemed really perfect to bring here! I think Threads is exactly what you describe: it happens within the body of the newsletter. Whereas a chat happens off the page, so to speak!
Thank you for your kind words, Tracey! ❤️
Yes to this, please.
Oh, good! More soon!!
Love your wonderful article...definitely interested in the Gratitude Club. I am very grateful for my three cats who are with me through everything...also food,water,a hot shower and clean clothes,a place to live.I have been homeless until very recently:my hubby died December 27,2023 suddenly and I was evicted,been having trouble getting work because of my age-62.Still no steady income so I take it day by day.Thank you for your writings,Jane,they always gladden me and give me food for thought...
Oh, Sandra, I'm so very sorry you've lived through so much sorrow and hardship. And I'm glad you now have a place to live for you and your three babies. Thank you for your kind words. They mean so much. ❤️
Love the idea of The Gratitude Club, and I can't wait to take part either in a chat or a thread! Whatever is easiest for you works for me! 💕
Wonderful! More soon! ❤️
I must remember gratitude which is hard at a time of loss. My sister, my beloved husband.
But - the most loving, caring, skilled hospice nurse is now a very close friend. She cared for my husband and wrapped her loving arms around me - somehow helping me survive. I have learned that joy and heartache can be experienced at the same time.
Oh, Mimi, I'm so very sorry for your losses. It's so hard to remain in gratitude during those times -- and perhaps isn't required of us. I'm glad you and the hospice nurse found one another. And, yes, joy and heartache most definitely coexist. Sending much love. ❤️
And I’m grateful to you and your writing Jane! You have nothing to be ashamed of!! What is shameful is the American health system. I’m I total disbelief. Sorry you have to go through this. You deserve all the love and support. Soak it in!
Thank you, dear Imola! ❤️
Also, I want to belong to the Gratitude Club!
Yay! I will send round info in the next few weeks!
What breed is your dog? She is so cute!
Oooooh, thank you! She's a mutt! So many people speculated on her breed, I did have her DNA tested: Beagle (that's the one I really see!), Border Collie (that's the one most people see) Australian Shepard (that's the other one most people see), and Jack Russell (that's the one no one sees!). She also apparently has a few drops of wolf?! ❤️
You shine.
Ooooh, thank you, Alison! Same to you! 🌸