Through the Looking Glass

[Photog1rl]

Practicing gratitude can have many benefits,
“Numerous studies are demonstrating how gratitude journaling can increase one’s happiness. Others show that inflammation in one’s body can decrease. Each study offers insights into how a person can improve their overall health and wellbeing.” But did you know that showing gratitude is also linked to better sex? A new study shows that people who express and receive gratitude from their partners are more motivated to meet their sexual needs.

Join me on a month-long journey of self-reflection and the practice of gratitude expression.

Each day I will post a new prompt and encourage folks to share their responses. Discussion is encouraged. Please don’t be shy I promise to be gentle.

**Yes, I am starting this on the third day of November. I'll post three prompts today and then one a day moving forward.

 

[Photog1rl]

Days 1, 2 and 3.
I decided to post all three in one post. Answer any or all of these prompts and I’ll post one per day moving forward.

 

[TXRafe]

Day 1
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i am grateful for the friends i have already made here and the many acquaintances who have been so friendly in the short time i've been here. it's been nice meeting so many open minded and engaging people. i found these threads at just the right time.

 

[BrendaBear]

Day 1
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For me, it is simply allowing my true self to come through and stop living the lie. That change in me, has led to huge positive changes in my life.

 

[TXRafe]

Day 2

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a number to choose from, but i will take the most significant and most painful to comment on...i learned that i am deeply loving, far too trusting, and willing to give wholly of myself, even if i am not given the same in return...and that is enough for me, to know i am capable of such love and trust, even if it is difficult for me to give it freely.

 

[SWR101]

Day 1
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I’m thankful for my friends and family, who keep me honest, upbeat, and a good person.

Day 2

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I’m thankful for the mistakes I made in my first relationship. I learned to not settle for someone just because they were there.

Day 3
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I build my model kits as an artistic expression and a decompression from the day.

 

[TXRafe]

Days 1, 2 and 3.
I decided to post all three in one post. Answer any or all of these prompts and I’ll post one per day moving forward.
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for myself i take my time and i slow down...i no longer do things at someone else's pace. at times i still get ahead of myself, but the time for myself and to collect my thoughts and steady my emotions has been invaluable.

 

[Photog1rl]

Days 1, 2 and 3.
I decided to post all three in one post. Answer any or all of these prompts and I’ll post one per day moving forward.

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I am incredibly grateful for the strong women I have in my life. My mother and aunties showed me the variety of ways a woman could navigate the world. My mother-in-law the strength to always move forward. My lifelong BFF’s and real moms-we are sisters from other misters- and we have held each other up through marriages and deaths, illnesses, pregnancies, child birth, and motherhood. We can share completely openly and support and laugh and cry with each other. I am grateful I can be 100% myself and be accepted and loved by them. Lastly, I am so grateful for my daughters. They show me the power of unconditional love. Inspire me to be a better person and give me hope for our future.

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I am so thankful for my first real boyfriend. He helped me learn about my pleasure and how good oral sex could be. We practiced a lot and I learned that I enjoy not only the physical acts but the trust and power exchange that can go along with it.

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I take time to be alone when I need it. It took me years to realize that taking time for myself was not selfish and was in fact a gift I could give to myself and my family. I don't take extravagant solo trips, a simple beach walk, quiet cup of tea, or time to journal or chat on Lit all counts. I am a happier and more balanced person when I consciously give myself time.

 

[Biggalute]

I th

Days 1, 2 and 3.
I decided to post all three in one post. Answer any or all of these prompts and I’ll post one per day moving forward.
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I think this is the most wonderful idea.
Day1. I am most grateful for the good health and wellbeing of myself and my family. We take it for granted, but without it, everything else is a struggle.

Day2. I'm not a great reflector but I'm immensely thankful that me and my ex were both able to put our children first.

Day3. Like many, I'm a fuck up and make lots of mistakes but I know I'm a decent bloke, I forgive myself and keep trying

 

[Deleted member 6607120]

Day 1: I am grateful to have my sister in my life. Without her I would feel lost. I'm grateful to love my job and be able to do it every day, even on the days I don't want to be there. I'm also grateful for my best girl friends who love me unconditionally and are always there when I need them.

Day 2: Regarding a work relationship: don't make friends with coworkers. I've lost two people in my life whom I thought were close friends to me, only to find out that they make fun of me behind my back.

Day 3: I play roller derby to get out my rage, and truly be myself, with like-minded women.

 

[Photog1rl]

Day 4

 

[Hungforhangers]

I am incredibly grateful for the strong women I have in my life. My mother and aunties showed me the variety of ways a woman could navigate the world. My mother-in-law the strength to always move forward. My lifelong BFF’s and real moms-we are sisters from other misters- and we have held each other up through marriages and deaths, illnesses, pregnancies, child birth, and motherhood. We can share completely openly and support and laugh and cry with each other. I am grateful I can be 100% myself and be accepted and loved by them. Lastly, I am so grateful for my daughters. They show me the power of unconditional love. Inspire me to be a better person and give me hope for our future.

I am so thankful for my first real boyfriend. He helped me learn about my pleasure and how good oral sex could be. We practiced a lot and I learned that I enjoy not only the physical acts but the trust and power exchange that can go along with it.

I take time to be alone when I need it. It took me years to realize that taking time for myself was not selfish and was in fact a gift I could give to myself and my family. I don't take extravagant solo trips, a simple beach walk, quiet cup of tea, or time to journal or chat on Lit all counts. I am a happier and more balanced person when I consciously give myself time.

Love this. Beautiful self reflection! Thanks for sharing this side of yourself with us

 

[WhisperedDesires]

Day 1: I am grateful for all the people I have met, who have shaped who I am and who, with any hope, will continue to influence who I am in the future. Without any of them, I would not be who I am today.

Day 2: I have learned, from her, that I will sacrifice my own happiness for another's, even if that means I have to be the one to step out of the way and let her be free of me. With some self reflection, I've noticed since that I've done the same for others in my life, just letting others find their own happiness rather than seek out my own.

Whether that is a good thing is a debatable fact, perhaps given your point of view. But all the same it is a part of my personality. Maybe something I will work on changing someday.

Day 3: I daydream, and I turn my daydreams into stories and worlds. It has helped me through good times and bad, when I felt hopelessly alone and also when I was surrounded by friends and family. To take an idea and imagine something from it is a practice I adore, and I can spend hours simply sitting on the porch, watching the world go by and daydreaming about whatever inspiration strikes my fancy. That said... daydreaming has gotten me into plenty of trouble as well, when my attention wanders away from where it should be. All the same, I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Day 4: I fear, very often, that I don't seem to experience emotions as others do. That things like joy and sorrow don't stick as they should, don't touch my soul like they should. I watch others express emotion so vividly, and yet I worry because I don't experience the same things or the same way that I am somehow wrong.

Thankfully, there are many who have helped me understand that I don't need to feel emotions to the same degree, or in the same way as others. It's helped calm my worries, and it's helped me understand that my family and friends rely on me as an emotional bedrock, someone who they can rely on when they feel overwhelmed. I've learned to enjoy my role in the dynamics of those around me, and I look forward to continuing that role into the future, such as it is.

 

[Azuldrgon]

Days 1, 2 and 3.
I decided to post all three in one post. Answer any or all of these prompts and I’ll post one per day moving forward.
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1. my family.
2. that I deserve to be happy.
3. allow myself grace when needed.

 

[Azuldrgon]

Day 4

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4. I'm afraid of letting others see my pain. It's why I have learned how to allow myself to process it when I can.

 

[sister jenny]

Days 1, 2 and 3.
I decided to post all three in one post. Answer any or all of these prompts and I’ll post one per day moving forward.
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1. My husband and my daughter. My love for them is endless and the reason I am still here.
2. My first longterm relationship, he taught me I can do more than I think. And to take the leap is sometimes enough, if you succeed or fail doesn’t matter.
3. Go to a spa and let myself me pampered and taken care off and that it is ok to think about myself that day. Working on the deserving part, but I have a long way to go.

 

[TomTeacher19]

1) grateful for my health. I'm not super athlete but I've had some rough turns and I'm grateful to be doing as well as I am, because it's kind of a miracle
2) Camille. She taught me a lot and didn't judge me and was very supportive. All of it still is cherished by me and resonates deep in me
3) I look to find ways to be happy even when the normal, "usual" avenues are cut off.
4) I fear rejection. I've had some rough times and dark times. I still do. I want to believe getting through those makes me stronger but I fear sometimes it might not have and something I'm not strong enough for is just waiting out there

 

[sister jenny]

Day 4

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4. Wow, ok. Not going to go into the rejection, but it taught me I am much more fragile than I think. And I am closer to the abyss then I knew.

 

[TXRafe]

Day 4

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losing a friend you care about can be one of the hardest and most humbling things you can go through. its taught me that you can be too honest and too trusting...it also taught me that there are people who can "see" me and will have my back. that there is strength in being your authentic self.

 

[MiaBabe23]

Day 4

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I’ve learned when it comes to friends, that being candid can be condemned, protecting people from things they may not want to hear can be condemned, showing and asking for sensitivity can be condemned…
From which I suppose I learn meeting the person where they are in an individual way is essential

 

[MiaBabe23]

4. I'm afraid of letting others see my pain. It's why I have learned how to allow myself to process it when I can.

But sharing can be good too, there are always people who care

 

[Biggalute]

Day 4. I know I cope with things, manage to find a space in my head for my loss and grief, somehow say 'fuck it', protect myself and carry on.
In my professional life I deal with death and trauma regularly, comforting and supporting the bereft and grieving as well as the staff around me.
My feelings and empathy are genuine, but I have an internal button, protecting myself.
I think unknowingly I use this button on myself, never allowing myself to feel deeply enough, and the older I get I know this isn't healthy or right.
So, I'll be OK but not sure I should be or that it's right to be.
Not sure how much sense this makes.

 

[MiaBabe23]

Day 4. I know I cope with things, manage to find a space in my head for my loss and grief, somehow say 'fuck it', protect myself and carry on.
In my professional life I deal with death and trauma regularly, comforting and supporting the bereft and grieving as well as the staff around me.
My feelings and empathy are genuine, but I have an internal button, protecting myself.
I think unknowingly I use this button on myself, never allowing myself to feel deeply enough, and the older I get I know this isn't healthy or right.
So, I'll be OK but not sure I should be or that it's right to be.
Not sure how much sense this makes.

I think it makes a lotta sense, and thank you for sharing it
It’s difficult to let go when you’re used to being strong?
Hugs are hopefully good for that

 

[MiaBabe23]

4. Wow, ok. Not going to go into the rejection, but it taught me I am much more fragile than I think. And I am closer to the abyss then I knew.

I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’re stronger than you think you are rn. Which I know is perhaps no consolation

 

[sister jenny]

I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’re stronger than you think you are rn. Which I know is perhaps no consolation

Thank you so much