Leaning into the light
and the practice of gratitude
“Some days you will be the light for others. And some days you will need some light from them. As long as there is light, there is hope and there is a way.” ~ Jennifer Gale
About three weeks ago I started using a free app called Gratitude Plus.
The concept of the app is simple. It’s mission is to improve the world’s happiness using social media.
This concept intrigued me. Honestly the words “social media” and “improving happiness” don’t seem to belong together in the same sentence.
But I thought…well, it’s free and maybe it will be a positive addition to my day.
The free version includes core features like a gratitude journal, daily inspiration, and the ability to track your mood. You can also create gratitude circles with friends and family.
Each evening it prompts me by asking me to list three things that I am grateful for from that day’s experiences.
Some days the list comes easily and others…well…it’s more of a struggle. But something I really enjoy is the experience itself of focusing on my day, looking for the blessings and recording them.
Periodically it brings up what I wrote from a week earlier and it is fun to read and remember…Even the smallest of moments can really make a positive difference in your day.
According to the app’s about page, “The Gratitude Plus app was inspired by founder Daniel Shaffer's personal experience with grief after tragically losing a family member.
Shaffer found himself frustrated with existing wellness apps that didn't provide the level of support and community he needed to cope with his loss and manage his mental health. This frustration led him to develop a platform combining gratitude journaling, mood tracking, and a community feature.”
In essence, the app was created out of a desire to make mental health resources more accessible and effective for everyone, while building positive habits and creating meaningful connections through the practice of gratitude.
I also enjoy reading the comments of other users in the wider community and seeing how the world is filled with people who are all looking for many of the same things.
Taking the time to reflect, to see the good that surrounds them and remembering the little things that turn out to not be so little after all…
What do you think?
For information about why I started this newsletter, please go to the about section.
Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:
This week’s Smile video…
I used to watch this video before heading back to work in the fall as a teacher and librarian. It not only resonates with educators but with anyone who works in careers or jobs that deal with helping others. Human connections are so vital…
#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove
Photo memories…
“We take photographs as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone…”
I love this Facebook memory from ten years ago that popped up this week. A great reminder of my wonderful mother and some of the memories we shared together.
What I am reading…
This past week I reread Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, a book I read many moons ago in high school. It was much more complex than I originally remembered but I enjoyed the challenge. Here is the Amazon description:
“Hesse's famous and influential novel, Siddhartha, is perhaps the most important and compelling moral allegory our troubled century has produced.
Integrating Eastern and Western spiritual traditions with psychoanalysis and philosophy, this strangely simple tale, written with a deep and moving empathy for humanity, has touched the lives of millions since its original publication in 1922.
Set in India, Siddhartha is the story of a young Brahmin's search for ultimate reality after meeting with the Buddha. His quest takes him from a life of decadence to asceticism, through the illusory joys of sensual love with a beautiful courtesan, and of wealth and fame, to the painful struggles with his son and the ultimate wisdom of renunciation. This new translation by award-winning translator Joachim Neugroschel includes an introduction by Hesse biographer Ralph Freedman.”
Mind/Body connections…
These gentle chair yoga stretches are an accessible yoga practice to help with morning stiffness, joint pain relief, and arthritis pain.
Comedy Lift…
I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here's James Taylor and Carole King singing You’ve Got a Friend….Enjoy!
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….
The Kindness Boomerang newsletter is a 2025 recipient of the Sunshine Blogger Award.
Thank you Sheila. Gratitude (or I tend to resonate a little more with the word appreciation) is something I too end each day with. When I click the light off, I lie there for a few minutes, reflect on my day, and focus in on the various experiences for which I have appreciation. And, nice to hear from a fellow reader of Hesse's Siddhartha. I have long considered this my "desert island" book. I also first read it toward the end of high school and have re-read it many times since, over the past 45+ years. Thanks for pointing out which edition you read - maybe it's time for me to read a new edition / translation; mine is an old Bantam paperback from 1981 that is still holding together. Wishing you a good week, 😊
The app sounds great! I'll have to check it out!