The Grateful Thread

i'm grateful for friends who support me, whether they understand my struggles or not. i know most of them don't believe that they do, but just being there for me helps in ways i can't even begin to thank them enough for.

I'm cautiously optimistic that I could be moving back to Chicago as early as the weekend of Dec 5-7th.

Grateful for family and a warm place to sleep.
I am rich beyond words because I have these things.

Honest Trailers on Youtube because however rubbish I feel, their videos never fail to make me laugh and cheer me up.

Competent technicians who know how to do their jobs ...

I'm grateful for friends who, for whatever reason they might, actually seem to personally care about me and my well being. That does mean a lot.

Being made to park a few blocks away and walk up the beach to the prize home instead, because right in front of it washed up in the surf we found a $20 note!!!

Grateful for individuals who's actions make being a Jedi challenging, ever so reminding me to be a better man than I was yesterday....

I am grateful for my in-laws who accept me and love me as family should

I started this thread exactly two years ago (give or take a few hours) partly in the spirit of our American holiday Thanksgiving here, but even more so in the spirit of us reminding ourselves that for every negative thing we experience, there are many things good to acknowledge as well. With the hope that it has helped any of you to feel a little better about your day, or your life, this thread is very dear to me, because all of you are dear to me. You have pulled me out of some of the darkest days of my life just by being YOU - not even by having to message me and check on me or by doing anything in particular with me - but by doing what you do here At All as a Temple -
by being the temple that welcomes all the newcomers so warmly;
by being the temple that loves to post inspirational quotes on the wall to remind the world of what is important;
by being the temple who discusses both the mundane, insignificant things as well as the intense, personal, political, religious, scientific and social ordeals, questions, and debates that Have Been In-Fact enriching my level of thinking about myself and the world;
by being the temple with members who are always progressing and learning through the initiates program, your apprenticeships, seminaries, and onward through what you learn when being a knight, minister, and councilor;
by being a temple with the amazing services and sermons you create with some of the most compelling and thought/heart provoking reminders and contemplation I have ever been so privileged to receive.

I love this temple because of how accepting it is of itself as it is, and not trying to be something that it knows it is not or cannot be (and that is not always easy). But I feel it is out of that foundation of acceptance for all of its own flaws and all of its strengths that it shines the brightest for everyone to see. It is that example which has helped me to accept myself as I am in such the manner.

Let's continue to expand thanksgiving to everyday of the year with everything we do as the temple we are - nothing more, nothing less.

I am grateful to my fiance, who is literally the only person whose presence I can deal with on days like this, and whose hugs are like magic.

One of my people had tonic seizure during group. It is scary every damned time. That said:

It was one of my other clients who pointed the seizure out, lingering to see how it all worked out and how I was doing after. The medical staff responded very promptly and the clients left the room so the nurses could work without comment or question. The seizure was brief and she didn't hit her head on the floor like the other time.

All told, it was the best possible response to a crappy situation. I am grateful for the grace everyone showed.

All my apprentices ... every last one of them ... and theirs too ....

... and some that aren't mine, but still !

... and some who aren't quite apprentices yet, but still !

Stars in the chilly clear mid-winter night ....

That I have learned to get a good chuckle out of trolls rather than get angry. Mind you, I'm not laughing with them. I don't find what they do or say funny, but rather that they take the time to do it. Seriously, why put that much energy into that? Oh trolls. How you entertain me in ways that you don't understand. :laugh:

I am grateful that i have clothes to wear, food to eat, a school to go to and friends to spend time with
And then, i have the temple
And i am really greatfull for it's existance

Jediism has changed so much for me, and it has become a part of what i am, with other words, my identity
I am also greatful for that

I absolutely love my new job. They value my contribution and allow me creative freedom. Plus its the best I've ever been paid, which, to be honest, is a huge help after the year I've had.

And, still so in love. It's a wonderful thing to realise its been nearly 5 months now, this honeymoon phase shows no signs of letup. So excited for our first Christmas together, and soon after that 10 days where she used to live in Spain.

Today I am grateful for the television series M*A*S*H* and the fact that my father had me watch it with him almost every day as a child. It helped mold my sense of humor as well as my sense of right and wrong and I continue to learn from it to this day.

The kindness, generosity, and sense of humor of strangers.
Empathetic doctors.
Big bear hugs from a friend I haven't seen in a long time.

All my Jedi family

The privilege of being a part of this gracious temple...