Comments for Thirty Thousand Days http://www.thirtythousanddays.org Knowing that our days are numbered Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:02:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Expecting Perfectionism: Relationships by Gregg Krech http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/expecting-perfectionism-relationships#comment-34 Gregg Krech Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:02:48 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=399#comment-34 It's so easy to have an agenda for the other person's faults and limitations. We take on the job of "fixing" everyone but ourselves. Thanks for your comment, Diane. It’s so easy to have an agenda for the other person’s faults and limitations. We take on the job of “fixing” everyone but ourselves.
Thanks for your comment, Diane.

]]> Comment on Expecting Perfectionism: Relationships by Diane Wilson http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/expecting-perfectionism-relationships#comment-33 Diane Wilson Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:15:02 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=399#comment-33 Thank you so much for a blessed piece of Wisdom. Acceptance is the key. I think it really does start with ourselves. Have a wonderful day!! diane Thank you so much for a blessed piece of Wisdom. Acceptance is the key. I think it really does start with ourselves. Have a wonderful day!! diane

]]> Comment on Rx for Holiday Depression: Coping with the Ups and Downs of the Holiday Season by David Kohen http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/rx-for-holiday-depression-coping-with-the-ups-and-downs-of-the-holiday-season#comment-32 David Kohen Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:19:28 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=317#comment-32 Thanks Gregg. I think we all underestimate the impact that too much sugary stuff can have on our ever changing moods - particularly during the holidays! Thanks Gregg. I think we all underestimate the impact that too much sugary stuff can have on our ever changing moods – particularly during the holidays!

]]> Comment on Gratitude and the Opening of Gifts by David Kohen http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/gratitude-and-the-opening-of-gifts#comment-31 David Kohen Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:12:17 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=328#comment-31 Lovely article, thanks. SO important to truly "inhabit" our moments instead of just rushing through them, especially at this holiday period. Thanks! Lovely article, thanks. SO important to truly “inhabit” our moments instead of just rushing through them, especially at this holiday period. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Decorating the Christmas Tree with Gratitude by Dodie S. http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/299#comment-30 Dodie S. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:19:04 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=299#comment-30 I wanted you to know how your words were such a big help for me this last Christmas season. I seems that every year we lose another friend or relative, and this year I lost my best friend and a close relative at the same time. I wasn't looking forward to the holidays. However, I remembered the year I retired, you said the girls placed an ornament on the tree and spoke of me. I felt so honored. So, this year I took time with each ornament and remembered those I loved who had passed or were ill. Then I finished by thinking of those who were here. It was a loving happening and made all the difference in dealing with the holidays. Thank you! Dodie S., Vermont I wanted you to know how your words were such a big help for me this last Christmas season. I seems that every year we lose another friend or relative, and this year I lost my best friend and a close relative at the same time. I wasn’t looking forward to the holidays. However, I remembered the year I retired, you said the girls placed an ornament on the tree and spoke of me. I felt so honored. So, this year I took time with each ornament and remembered those I loved who had passed or were ill. Then I finished by thinking of those who were here. It was a loving happening and made all the difference in dealing with the holidays. Thank you!

Dodie S., Vermont

]]> Comment on Forty Days to Really Live by Bill Meade http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/forty-days-to-really-live#comment-27 Bill Meade Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:08:59 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=269#comment-27 Gregg I am towards the end of reading your very well-written, insightful, thought-provoking, and useful book, Naikan: Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this book! I, too, read Chasing Daylight and found the experience moving and wise. I am trying to make a shift from the habitual way I have lived the last 49 years to what I would consider a more realistic and practical lifestyle, one that is focused on constructive living, on acting in the present moment with awareness and gratitude. Much of my life I have been driven by my emotions and intuition, an approach that has involved great suffering in relationship especially, for me and others. In making the above shift, I hope to become more grounded. Thank you for inviting my comments. Bill Gregg

I am towards the end of reading your very well-written, insightful, thought-provoking, and useful book, Naikan: Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this book!

I, too, read Chasing Daylight and found the experience moving and wise. I am trying to make a shift from the habitual way I have lived the last 49 years to what I would consider a more realistic and practical lifestyle, one that is focused on constructive living, on acting in the present moment with awareness and gratitude. Much of my life I have been driven by my emotions and intuition, an approach that has involved great suffering in relationship especially, for me and others. In making the above shift, I hope to become more grounded. Thank you for inviting my comments. Bill

]]> Comment on Nine Steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving by Julianna http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/276#comment-22 Julianna Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:14:23 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=276#comment-22 Beautiful, Gregg -- thank you for sharing this! I thought you would like this story: When I was growing up (born in 1959), my dad would always initiate creative expressions of gratitude at our big extended family gatherings. His brothers and sister would often tease him about it, or even criticize him for "dominating the holiday meal with his rituals." But I always loved it, and everybody else did, too, once they began -- it was the best and most memorable part of the meal. It brought everybody to a deeper level of connection and sincerity than I ever heard them reach in the noisy stretches where lots of side conversations would be going on at once, often about trivial nothings. It also gave all of us (as many as 20-something family members) a chance to hear people who might not often raise their voices in the whole group, especially the women and the children, both of whom were less likely to speak up like that beyond their own smaller circles of most familiar family members. For instance, at Thanksgiving, Dad might set it up to give every man, woman and child at the table a turn to have the full group's attention while they expressed something they were especially grateful for this year... People were allowed to eat while we talked, just like you would in an ordinary dinner conversation. But what people said had so much more care in it, and everybody listened respectfully, so it was a more rewarding exchange all around. Great family memories for all of us! And a whole range of valuable "muscles" developed in the process -- gratitude, self-expression, listening well, respect for differences, an expectation of intimacy, truthfulness and mutual respect in interactions, etc. And I always appreciated my dad's guts in sticking up for what was important to him, and finding ways to make that meaningful for everybody else, too. Thanks for stirring this pot, Gregg! Beautiful, Gregg — thank you for sharing this!
I thought you would like this story: When I was growing up (born in 1959), my dad would always initiate creative expressions of gratitude at our big extended family gatherings. His brothers and sister would often tease him about it, or even criticize him for “dominating the holiday meal with his rituals.” But I always loved it, and everybody else did, too, once they began — it was the best and most memorable part of the meal. It brought everybody to a deeper level of connection and sincerity than I ever heard them reach in the noisy stretches where lots of side conversations would be going on at once, often about trivial nothings. It also gave all of us (as many as 20-something family members) a chance to hear people who might not often raise their voices in the whole group, especially the women and the children, both of whom were less likely to speak up like that beyond their own smaller circles of most familiar family members. For instance, at Thanksgiving, Dad might set it up to give every man, woman and child at the table a turn to have the full group’s attention while they expressed something they were especially grateful for this year… People were allowed to eat while we talked, just like you would in an ordinary dinner conversation. But what people said had so much more care in it, and everybody listened respectfully, so it was a more rewarding exchange all around. Great family memories for all of us! And a whole range of valuable “muscles” developed in the process — gratitude, self-expression, listening well, respect for differences, an expectation of intimacy, truthfulness and mutual respect in interactions, etc. And I always appreciated my dad’s guts in sticking up for what was important to him, and finding ways to make that meaningful for everybody else, too.
Thanks for stirring this pot, Gregg!

]]> Comment on Nine Steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving by Peter Mullen http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/276#comment-21 Peter Mullen Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:21:48 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=276#comment-21 Gregg, thanks to you and Linda for showing the way with your work and example. I am sorry I did not make the most of your hard work in the mental health month of reflection. I'm sure I'll try again. Your friend Peter. Gregg, thanks to you and Linda for showing the way with your work and example. I am sorry I did not make the most of your hard work in the mental health month of reflection. I’m sure I’ll try again. Your friend Peter.

]]> Comment on The Spirit of Thank You/Sorry by Margaret McKenzie http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/the-spirit-of-thank-yousorry#comment-20 Margaret McKenzie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:17:26 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=214#comment-20 Hi Gregg, Thanks for posting this video today. This board seems like a skillful tool to use with a group. And it just so happens that earlier today I was thinking " what sort of idea from Japanese Psychology can I take to this group this afternoon?" I'm beginning 12 weeks of coaching an intern as she works with seven young adults - ages 17 - 21 in a government funded jobs readiness program. They will be together 5 days a week doing computer training, GED, job coaching and then interviewing for jobs. The Friday group will provide leadership skills, provide a planning time for a group service project and also be a space to work on their relationships with each other and address issues that come up during the week. This board seems like a perfect way to introduce the whole idea of noticing what it is you notice in relationship to others and to practice expressing thanks and regret. Thank you again for this simple tool. Margaret Hi Gregg,

Thanks for posting this video today. This board seems like a skillful tool to use with a group. And it just so happens that earlier today I was thinking ” what sort of idea from Japanese Psychology can I take to this group this afternoon?” I’m beginning 12 weeks of coaching an intern as she works with seven young adults – ages 17 – 21 in a government funded jobs readiness program. They will be together 5 days a week doing computer training, GED, job coaching and then interviewing for jobs. The Friday group will provide leadership skills, provide a planning time for a group service project and also be a space to work on their relationships with each other and address issues that come up during the week. This board seems like a perfect way to introduce the whole idea of noticing what it is you notice in relationship to others and to practice expressing thanks and regret.
Thank you again for this simple tool.
Margaret

]]> Comment on Finishing is Not the Point by Jay Bender http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/198#comment-19 Jay Bender Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:53:01 +0000 http://www.thirtythousanddays.org/?p=198#comment-19 what a wonderful to watch this early morning! Jay what a wonderful to watch this early morning!

Jay

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