Tag Archive: gratitude
My Next Breath: A Memoir by Jeremy Renner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s always hard to rate memoirs. It is a life experience through another’s eyes. And for what Jeremy Renner went through to have so much gratitude and love and enjoyment of life is a miracle.
Jeremy Renner not only wrote of his experience but also narrates the book well.
I think my biggest issue is the repetition. Still, I think it is through enthusiasm and need to school his own spirit that these phrases and stories repeat.
I am grateful to have listened to this audiobook on Libby.
Is it me? There seemed no other good Snoopy puns. All seemed like this one. So maybe Facebook is trying to tell us something.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to stream when it’s snowing so beautifully at the moment.
But it does quiet the mind to reflect. When you can’t remember why you walked down the hallway just moments ago, it’s nearly impossible to think of a whole year.
I think it has been a harder year. Loss grew. Angels and Rocks of loving friends passed. My elderly furry friends passed. I suppose, that’s life. And at 75 it is more usual than younger ages.
Depression tries to grab sadness and sink to it’s depths. Been there, done that, took the horrible prescriptions and found my way out. Now I know to recognize it and work through it. I win quite often. Sometimes I don’t. But I have the map out.
Gratitude. Just like when I was in full body pain, I looked for the hair follicle that didn’t hurt and mentally increased the tiny lack of pain and was happy to find it. So it has been with depression. Finding the happy wonderful thoughts about what/who was lost and being grateful I got to experience that deep love guides me out.
This year was that constant struggle. But I found my passions and goals moved the time.
I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated how even these old bodies and minds can grow healthier.
Who knew I’d be looking back at a growing ability to ride the stationary bike so consistently and increase time, length, or power level.
In fact, this year taught me about how to grow a FUN habit. Notice the capitalize word. It’s key.
Here comes an idea. I’d like to try that. Hey, that was fun. And we keep it in small commercial lengths. A minute, two minutes, five. I’m up to 45 fun minutes playing piano now. Who knew I could do it? Piano has been a psychological problem most of my life. I was forced, even quite physically. But I love music.
So I played a couple of minutes. Then I tried other musical instruments to see what they had for me. The same way. Tiny bits at a time. Those helped my brain to twist to new passions.
It worked first for Duolingo. As long as I do even the smallest, what, 5 minutes? Just keep my brain there once a day. It grows and shrinks with all that goes on and my own curiosity.
Knitting, well, yarning, has been that way. Learn a bit and the passion grew. And abilities.
But there are things that try to stop the growth. At this age, arthritis and other aches and pains, and distractions can make one pause.
Creativity cries to be expressed, even when we judge ourselves horrid. If we make it fun, um, with a spoonful of sugar, we grow, we learn.
So that sums up my year. In spite of darkness, pain, and sadness find the spark of interest and make a moment of fun. Be curious. Grow passion. Flake upon flake…
Well, deep, sweet, and cute.
Someone is happy things are undogged. We keep telling him we hope to have a dog someday. And it’ll be okay.
How does one thank those who have given you the most? Especially when they’re gone. In this case, I’m embracing the passion and challenges. Though I’m not naturally gifted. My mother blanketed me in lessons and learning discipline to practice. Or as I convinced my inner child, playing.
Sammie the Spidercat the furry lapcat who now can blanket my legs as I knit, crochet or scroll.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 8th, 2024 is “gratitude.” Use the word “gratitude” any way you’d like. Have fun!
I am grateful for the prompt from Sadje click the blue gratitude. For the “rules” of JJIJ, click the other blue word. I am grateful for the WordPress family given to me starting with Linda, Sadje and so many others. Everyone is ready to help, lend support, or laugh with.
I love all of you!
I feel such gratitude for all my family and friends who surround me with love.
This is kind of a weird thing to be thankful for, but I’m thankful for what we learned from the pandemic. Zooming church and friends is a wonderful way to enhance our lives.
Oh, and I’m grateful for our snow. Except I couldn’t make it to my doctor’s appointment. But, hey, we are Zooming an appointment tomorrow.
Tomorrow we’re going to get a lot more snow. We really need the precipitation.
Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to you by Carol Anne. Thank you, Carol Anne! Please be sure to visit Carol Anne’s blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 15th 2023, is “gratitude.” Use the word “gratitude” any way you’d like. Have fun!
Gratitude grows with age. At least it has for me. From the days of birthing babies until they grew into wonderful adults that feeling of lucky and blessed has grown with them.
Now having just turned 73, I find so much in every hour to be grateful for. I think I’m most thankful that I am still learning every day. But health seems to be growing and my life is full of love. What more could one want?
Darswords 
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