Saturday, August 22, 2015

Ojai Moments and Gratitude ... Even When Things (kind of) Suck


Let gratitude be the pillow upon which
you kneel to say your nightly prayer.
~Maya Angelou 

Photos from this post were taken over the last several months, over various weekends in Ojai.

When I loaded photos for this post, it was back in mid July, and I had decided to do a post on gratitude. (I was trying to stay on the Deepak Chopra 21 day Meditation!) Things were stressful at that time, and those are the times that, for me, it's most important to find gratitude in little blessings and people in your life. You know, whatever you can find in your life that doesn't go in the "this totally sucks" column. ;)


I was having tests done, and words like biopsy, cells, and pathology were a part of my everyday vocabulary much more that I'd like. 

Most of the time on this blog, I've written about things and places that inspire me, and that I hope will inspire you too. That can lead to a bit of Grass is always greener Facebook Syndrome. You know, where other peoples lives look utterly fabulous because we never see them when they wake up in the morning, or any of the things that keep them up at night! 


We often show what is the best in our lives, but alas, in the spirit of honesty and balance ... the Reader's Digest version is that in my absence I've had abdominal surgery for female stuff (mostly preventative, we can say now) and a subsequent trip to the E.R. Having said that, despite a few bumps in the road, things are getting better little by little and I'm off the Percocet, and most importantly I've had good lab results, from my surgery! All clear! Hurray! 


The more you are grateful for hat you have, 
the more you can live fully in the present.
~Dana Arcuri

I've been recovering in Ojai at my parents' place. Something to be very grateful for. 

In fact, during all the stress, before lab results came back, I had a very long list of blessings to be thankful for in my little gratitude app (yes, there is actually an app for that) on my iPhone ... the people in my life, antibiotics that can save you when you really need them, drugs (ditto- when you really need them,) my faith, lip balm, a good pillow, broth, a new robe, flowers, gifts of the heart, and being able to sit under a beautiful tree. All really good stuff!


And now? Good report from the pathologists. No more "A-typical" or otherwise scary cells. Phew! Gratitude.

below, the lovely shop Fig


Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings,
turn routine jobs into joy
and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
~William Arthur Ward
below, Bart's Books


Fairy Godmother breakfast at my friend Lynn's


A walk with my sister in the Ojai Arbolada with Lucy her labradoodle ...


There is no prescription 
for finding moments of gratitude in every day;
there is simply the choice.
~Gillian Deacon



Rancho Matilija


There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude,
a quiet joy.
~Ralph H. Blum


Meg's Ojai House


Mom and Dad's house


And their cactus garden ...


Real life isn't always going to be perfect or go our way,
but the recurring acknowledgment of what is working in our lives
can help us not only to survive 
but surmount our difficulties.
~Sarah Ban Breathnach


My sister's Chickens


Loveliness at the Ranch House




Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted-
a paved road or a washing machine?
If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation,
you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude,
a feeling that nurtures the soul.
~Rabbi Harold Kushner


Shrine in Upper Ojai


Upper Ojai ... Gratitude


Here's a lovely acoustic rendition of Bob Marley's Thank You Lord by Reggae a Semente




The moment one gives close attention to anything,
even a blade of grass,
it becomes a mysterious, awesome, 
indescribably magnificent world in itself.
~Henry Miller

Hope this finds you all enjoying a beautiful summer.
(And hopefully not a lot that sucks!)
Blessings and light

and 
Gratitude

8 comments:

Candy said...

I'm very glad you got the all clear. This is a beautiful post, Lucinda.

Rick Forrestal said...

OK Lu, now we know you are alright. This is a great post, considering. Beautiful pics from Ojai, all the while as you recovered and restored. And you're right about the restorative power of gratitude.
The quotes you share are wonderful. And I especially loved the reggae video of Thank You Lord.

I'm thankful you came through your "experience" and surgery with a positive outcome. Thanks for sharing.

xo

donna baker said...

Oh Lucinda, I've wondered what fantastic trip you've been on and wondered and waited for a post. So sorry it has been because you've been sick. I just posted about something very similar. I am so glad to hear the results have been stellar. Fear, anxiety, pain and all that goes with it does suck, and so glad you had your family to take care of you. Poor baby. We shouldn't have to endure those kinds of things. The photos are beautiful and once you are recovered, I expect to live vicariously through you once again.

Kerry O'Gorman said...

In the midst of difficult times it takes a certain attitude to get through it and I believe you have mastered that wholeheartedly. I'm so glad that things are on the upswing for you and I keep you in my thoughts that it will continue this way. Thanks for taking the time to share this post with us. Love and Light to you Lucinda.

Loree said...

Sending healing thoughts your way. Glad to hear that you are on the mend. I truly enjoyed this post on gratitude. There is a lot I need to be grateful for. Sometimes it's good to be reminded.

Amanda Summer said...

Lucinda, I'm so happy to hear everything turned out OK and you are recovering in such a beautiful and serene environment. Like Loree said, also sending healing thoughts your way xoxo

rjerdee said...

Oh, Lucinda...I had no idea. And what a remarkable response you have had to such scary conditions and events. I can relate...I lived through a biopsy last summer and that was nothing like yours that required surgery! To remain thankful is a wholesome and creative way to live the hours. Thank you for such a lovely and meditative post...it will continue to remind me to do the same.

Best wishes on further recovery and getting back to "normal" life...is anything normal? :)

Blogger said...

Do you need free Twitter Followers?
Did you know you can get these ON AUTO-PILOT & ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE by getting an account on You Like Hits?