The Surprises Abound
When you start to focus on them
Thanks to you who have recently subscribed. We are grateful for your support of the publication & the authors highlighted.
I never dreamed it possible that so many people would take time to follow along with our ✿Indie Maker✿ journey. Now over 180 on Substack & 1.7 k readers on Medium.
However, I feel it’s necessary to let readers know, I’m struggling physically & mentally to keep this newsletter weekly. It’s a bit overwhelming, really, the amount of guilt & pressure I’m allowing myself to feel for missing a self-imposed deadline.
My daughters’ health is not stable enough to commit to an always weekly, never miss type of publication. She will always be my first priority.
If this is unacceptable, I will graciously refund any subscriptions & upgrade you to an honorary founding member at no charge for your loving support from the beginning of #GratitudeInBloom
The subscription model here, built into Substack, isn’t something I can yet know how to intertwine perfectly into the publication. However, I feel it’s necessary to allow those who support the theme & the growth of gratitude, they should have the ability to do so if they choose.
The vision for Gratitude in Bloom & #Grateful4 are expansive. We are hoping to study with the organization "Grateful Living" to participate in their arrangement of local gratitude gatherings.
This mission is part of a bigger picture we are praying for & manifesting to be able to spend more time caring for my adult daughter full-time, while teaching others how to grow this grateful space.
In coordination with Postcard Whisperer & Navigating Schizophrenia, it will allow a modest lifestyle business where my Divina [Shade] will be able to be comforted, fulfilling her wish of riding thru the countryside of the Americas.
How does this help you???
Well, the intentions are to roadtrip to visit YOU to help you build other local chapters in your area, of Gratitude Gatherings, while side hustling our other projects, Postcard Fest network & documenting Divina’s diagnosis journey.
We want to help you build your local chapters to grow them at a grassroots level, growing a gratitude practice route of unity.
It seems like a wild dream, in a fury of emotions to build this greater good. IDK if it’s plausible, or possible. But one has to envision it before creating it. Sharing the dream while utterly in the making, allows validation to grow or pivot. Perhaps the path will direct us to a better use of our energies. But right now this is the direction for these publications.
Along the way, we’re looking for reputable charities to partner with to donate a good portion, growing to 50%, of all profits. Places like LVIM, who did not hesitate to medically treat Divina with a Volunteer staff of Doctors, & staff. Peace River, who daily take walk in patients with serious mental health diagnosis who need medicines & counseling.
None of Divina’s recovery would be possible without these first stepping stones. We are in total appreciation and gratitude of these organizations, for helping us when there was no idea of where to turn. They were the first to step out and help us. We want to return that favor to allow others the help.
Our gratitude practice starts here, at home, with generations of love & support from family. It continues with our JOB, allowing us to care for our families around challenging circumstances. We pray for the blessings of the healthcare workers who helped us find mental and physical health solutions.
I’ve written too much… But felt it necessary to share the motivation for growing a practice of #GratitudeInPublic. It’s time to feel appreciation.
To BE grateful!
I am truly Grateful!
Quote of the week
I loved this because the last quotation in the screenshot, shows use of grateful, includes my daughter’s name “Shade”
It’s something socials, for the last decade, have been throwing around in a negative tone. Shade’s name, was always meant to be a term of gratefulness, like the subtle difference in the hue between the skin tone of her parents, a Shade lighter than her father, & a Shade darker than her mother.
Also, being part of a tree hugger family, Shade is a cool & refreshing feeling when the sun or heat of day becomes too much. To see this example of “enjoying the grateful shade” well, these are the types of synchronicities that tell someone, continue on the path.
-Source Google via Oxford Languages
Substack Shoutout
From
Thank you for expressing your kind appreciation. It was cool of Jason to mention his new subscribers in the note by name. Maybe that is something to consider while growing on Substack. It’s a kind gesture.
From #Grateful4
Since I missed a week, there were so many articles added to #Grateful4. My hope is you will check out all the authors who contribute to the publications.
More… So many prolific writers practicing #GratitudeInPublic
Every week there are wonderful articles added to the publication by writers who gift their stories. Thank you for reading!
From Medium
Gratitude Was a Gift I Gave Away—James Lloyd
I’ll let you know a little secret…
I just do random searches on Medium for articles outside #G4. It is the greatest place to find WONDERFUL articles regarding gratitude.
Just look at the photography in James’ article. Invigorating!
Gratitude on the WEB
I’ve found a community project online that also hosts Grateful Gatherings.
These are the gatherings I spoke about in the personal message at the outset of this week’s newsletter. I shared it last issue, too. I want to leave it here again this week, now that there is a frame of reference to the project.
It is not my project, it is just something I want to contribute to in ACTION. We are so often passive in our personal gratitude practice, and this allows us to expand outward.
The classes are from “Grateful Living” Please check out their website for more information.
You are always invited
Share your articles on #Grateful4 on Medium. Everyone has something they can be grateful for.
There are plenty of wonderful ways to reminders of Gratitude!
On Substack, drop your articles, posts, or notes on gratitude into the Chat. If you create gratitude journals, share a selective link in the chat for others to get started too.
If you were uplifted by any part of this newsletter, please share the love!
Stay Positive | Be Blessed | Share Often
with gratitude,
LaLa 👋
I find that people here are really supportive of a flexible, find your rhythm kind of schedule- that we'd rather read something given by the heart rather than forced out by an expectation of schedule.
Amazing to see you built such such a big viewership on medium- I could never figure it out. Anywho: Family is first and always first! Sending your family a big hug and Lots of healing