Dinner with my fellow widows

Grateful for All the Blessings in My Life!

Expressing gratitude has been beneficial in coping with my grief!

Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 56 seconds
Dinner with my fellow widows

Dinner With My Fellow Widows, June 11, 2023

Today has been a day of gratitude for me. I’m feeling immensely thankful for all the blessings in my life. It’s easy to get lost in the pain of losing Jan, but I focus on the love I shared with my wife and the happiness of spending time with my friends. I recently read an essay by Christina Caron in The New York Times titled “Gratitude Really is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows,” which only reinforced the importance of cultivating a grateful mindset.

Patty and Jan Visiting Hanson Park

Patty and Jan Visiting Hanson Park

I’m most thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my loved ones, no matter the occasion. Last night, I had dinner with six of my friends at Carmine‘s, and though the food was good, the company made the evening truly special. I’m also grateful for the chance to catch up with two dear friends who traveled far to spend time with me. Patty, Jan, and I walked together in Hanson Park and enjoyed my wife’s memorial garden, a moment I will forever cherish.

Reflecting on my day, I realize gratitude is not just about the big moments but the small ones. Whether it was enjoying Greek lemon chicken soup and oatmeal cookies with friends or simply coming home to a space filled with memories, there are many things to be thankful for every day.

After reading Ms. Caron’s essay, I felt compelled to delve deeper into gratitude. Her link to Joel Wong’s 100 questions list is an excellent tool for those seeking to foster a more profound sense of appreciation within themselves. I urge everyone to acknowledge the big and small things we are grateful for. By doing so, we can experience its positive impact on our overall well-being.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Is Gratitude in My DNA!

Expressing gratitude is so habitual that it might be a part of my DNA. Each morning, my first thought is to be thankful for the new day, appreciating that I can still walk long distances at my age. This exercise tests my endurance and gives me another reason to be grateful.

The love of my late spouse, Jan, is at the center of my being. Before I go to bed each night, I reflect on my day and remind myself of how grateful I am to be alive, have neighbors, and have the enduring love of Jan.

3 comments add your comment

  1. I am glad you had a great time with your friends and shared memories!
    I will start checking your book reviews; I ignored that section before.

    You are right; we have to work more on our gratitude; I can see that with your smile every time I see you.

    • Hugo, I always appreciate your feedback.

      I read a lot of books. I finished my thirty-ninth book of the year today! “I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home: A Novel” by Lorrie Moore is not for the timid reader. Finn, the protagonist, confronts the death of his lifelong partner and brother. This quote summarizes my feelings so well that I should charge Ms. Moore with plagiarism.
       
      “Loss of the heart kills the brain, he had read. Loss of the brain kills the heart. But only eventually. A million love stories demonstrated it! The heart could go on and on. Love was its own little generator of quasi-buried treasure.”

      Gratitude is something we all need to work on. Smiling when I meet you or anyone else is a lesson I learned from Jan. Joel Wong’s 100 questions list is an excellent tool for those seeking to foster a more profound sense of appreciation within themselves. I urge everyone to acknowledge the big and small things we are grateful for. By doing so, we can experience its positive impact on our overall well-being.

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Dinner with my fellow widows
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