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Miracle Lists

Started by pam1, January 01, 2012, 10:15:12 AM

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pam1

This is Luise's explanation and background of the "Miracle List."  (Luise, I just copied and pasted from your post on the holiday thread, I hope you don't mind!)  Since it's generating a lot of interest we'll get our own topic going on Miracle Lists right down here!  I'll have to take a minute to compile mine but I'll be posting it soon.  Please feel free to post your own.


Luise said  "For the last two-plus decades, my sort of daughter, Sonja, and I have done what we call Miracle Lists together on New Year's Eve. (We define a Miracle as anything totally wonderful!)

We write a list of all of the Miracles we got in the last year. (Val used to always do it with us.) When we both finish, we take turns reading them out loud to each other and sometimes we add to them. Then, we both make a list of the Miracles we are willing to have come to us in the coming year. Again, when we are done, we share those, taking turns. The last thing we do, is read last New Year's Eve list of what we were willing to have come our way this year...and we check them off. Usually it's a lot! :-)))))"
People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

Pen

Hey Pam, I'm a klutz these days & hesitate to do it myself so....could you grab the "miracles and more" posts and move 'em over here? Thanks!
Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

pam1

Pen...lol, I kinda mussed some things up but I grabbed your post.

Pen says "I love this topic :)

Here goes:

I'm constantly amazed at how this site helps me. As my DIL/DS situation smooths out, I find that I want to explore this business of making the next few decades my very best...I feel the urge to do something incredible with my life for the betterment of others and my own personal fulfillment. It started with the basic step in Aug 2011 of improving my physical health by losing weight and committing to working out a few times a week. The miracle is that although I honestly thought I'd bail on the process within a week, I've stuck with it for months! On to stress reduction & clearer thinking through yoga & meditation in the new year. I will be open to intriguing paths of opportunity (miracles!) rather than frightened and closed off from possibility.

More love, more laughter, more life-affirming experiences in 2011!"
People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

pam1

Worrying said "Somewhere on this site yesterday I read about Louise's tradition of making her list of blessings or miracles at New Years. I love that idea - it is so uplifing.  Woke up this morning wanting to share a few of mine which have and do help me in coping with where I am in my life with DS problems.

A young woman around my son's age (32) helped me care for my mom before her death in March 2011. I knew they had a special bond as mom's face lit up when T. was in sight and there was a lot of laughter. After mom'sr death, this young woman came forward to give her eulogy and then continued to stay in close contact with me. I am sure God sent her to mom and then on to me. There were a lot of nights talking quietly in my garden with her this summer, and she brought her sister and parents and nieces into my world as well.  She is a daughter of my heart and a miracle in my life for sure.

In fall 2011, in the depths of pain, trying to figure out how to step back from DS, I found a therapist who has become a guru for me of sanity in what had come to seem my insane family life. ( Just DS and new DIL and I - they live 1500 miles away)..  In just a few months he has helped me sort out what I can and put me on the path of loving detachment as all of you so wisely advise here.  I am thankful I found him and all of you as well.

I broadened my social world and am continuing to add more people to my network. The ones I enjoy most are those with whom I laugh. Sometimes the laughter is the 'can't catch your breath and afraid you will fall down' kind - echoes of the peals of childrens laughter it seems from a younger time in my life.

These miracles in my life have helped me begin to focus more closely on what is still possible in my life, not what isn't there. It doesn't always work, yet it works a lot more often than it did just a few months ago. I think it is the miracle of hope come home to me again.

So... on this day of new beginnings, I am praying all my sisters of the heart here on this site will find their own miracles and hope in their lives as well.  And a good belly laugh doesn't hurt either!!!!

Today I am going to start taking better care of myself and joining the Y. I imagine there will be a few good laughs on that trail as well."

People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

pam1

Ok, my miracles for 2011:

-my brother came back from Afghanistan alive and in one piece
-I won a jackpot on a slot machine :)
-my DH and FOO have finally meshed and I guess I can tie that one in with I'm still married lol!
-we finally decided to move to give our family a better quality of life
-I designed and practically built by myself a new kitchen (I did have some help here and there like hauling and putting in cabinets)  This is a miracle because I have no handy hands
-my daughter did not inherit the genetic disease that most of my family has, just a by product.  I'm thankful everyday for this
-a little boy that has been in DDs class since preschool that has had signs of clear abuse is finally in a good home

I know I have more but I'm drawing a blank.  I'll probably just come back and add when I think of them.

As for miracles I'm willing to accept in 2012???

-baby
-MIL gets into an effective treatment and DH is able to reconnect with his FOO
-my new business gets up and off the ground without too much complication
People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

Begonia

Thanks Mods, for putting this here and gathering the "miracles" together.  I am in love with list-making so mine is a list. 

Miracles of 2011

Found a wonderful vet who "cured" my dear little kitty's chronic UTI. Thank you, Dr.T.
My contract was renewed at work
Have established a new way to communicate with DS and DD thanks to WWU.
Have reunited with a friend from another country after 9 years.
Am in perfect health as I enter 2012
My friend C got a good report from her cancer check up
Have maintained my healthy distance from three toxic friends and one former lover
Created a magical fairy garden in my backyard where I find a lot of peace

For 2012
Stay healthy and increase my exercise
Keep an open mind about my relationship with DD and DS
Continue to send cards to GC
Visit Nepal, Australia and Cape Town
Make measurable headway on my book
Keep my heart open and give to others
Continue to do meaningful work in my community
Find and nurture three new friendships
Spend more time with my sister
Continue to mentor D with loving kindness
Do at least 5 things that scare me
Stay on track with my financial plan

Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift (Eleanor Roosevelt)

luise.volta

You guys are doing great! :-) I feel so honored that you find this tradition our ours viable! :-) My List #1 - "Miracles I got in 2011"...has sixty-five (65) entries! LOL! I will spare you and me any attempts on my part to reproduce it. (It's handwritten.)

I am struggling so with Sonja's PC laptop after my used Mac Notebook went South right after i got over here. I converted a year ago to a desktop iMac and at 84, I haven't retained my PC skills like I once would have been able to do without a problem. I am going to be here until the 7th...traveling 5 hours on the 6th to get back home. Until then, my participation on WWU will be sketchy at best. I'm so thankful for our Global Moderators because I didn't expect this huge glitch! (You won't believe how long it takes for me to write one email on it. Hours!)
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Pooh

Ok, here goes my highlights, although I'm sure I could go on and on...

Miracles of 2011

*Got to see YS three times and watch him graduate from a specialist field
*Received a diagnosis of my disease and even though it is rare, have a Doctor who is willing to try to work with it
*Had a SD move in and survived the transition, even though it was not the ideal situation that brought her to us
*Continued to have a wonderful marriage with a thoughtful, loyal, funny, loving man
*Have continued employment in a time when so many don't
*Got to see OS/DIL at TG after two years of estrangement
*Started a healthier diet and stuck with it, losing 24 lbs.
*Continued to find strength, courage, wisdom and love through WWU
*Fulfilled DH's lifelong dream of owning his own motorcycle and enjoyed various trips on it
*Visited Mexico for the first time
*Kept my humor, spirit and personality intact through trying times

For 2012

*Quit smoking (day 3!)
*Continue my healthy diet and get back into an exercise plan
*Love the person I am and make no excuses for the person I am not
*Keep the loving detachment going with OS/DIL
*Do my best to help SD make informed decisions about her future, while respecting that I can't control her decisions
*Let my DH know every day how important he is to me and thank him for no reason
*Do 3 charitable acts for no reason
*Finish an afghan that I started for the first time
*Declutter my house
*Sell my second house
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

luise.volta


Thank you! I am just loving this!  :D
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama