Category Archives: Gratitude

A Key Source of Light

Posted on June 25, 2012 by russtowne

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” -Rumi We all get wounded in many ways. It is part of the experience of life. But in exchange for the the pain we are offered several huge gifts that … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Choices, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Healing, Observations, Quotes I Love | Tagged appreciate, compassion, darkest hours, empathy, gain, gifts, healing, kindness, light, Love, pain, patience, persistence, receive, Rumi, within reach, wounds | 2 Comments

A Warm Heart on a Cold Day

Posted on June 24, 2012 by russtowne

From the time I was a young boy all the way through my most of my thirties I tended not to fit in with most of my peers. I was introverted, socially awkward, lacked confidence, and often felt shunned and … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Love, Making the World a Better Place, Praise, True Stories I've Written | Tagged boy, boys, cocoa, heart, hot chocolate, kids, kind, kindness, polite, share, snow, trip, warm, young | 14 Comments

My Sweeteners

Posted on June 24, 2012 by russtowne

They say that if life gives you lemons make lemonade, but it has been my experience that lemonade made only with lemons is a recipe for a very bitter brew and life–and believe me I’ve tried! I’ve found that adding … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratitude, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Love, Observations, Quotes I Love | Tagged gratitude, kindness, lemonade, lemons, Life, Love | 2 Comments

The Choice

Posted on June 22, 2012 by russtowne

A dear friend of mine named Dave forwarded a story from Ed Bridges to me. It was fairly long, but a pargraph of it really was the gist of the message and stood out to me, so I wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Choices, Gratitude, LIfe Lessons, Observations, Relationship Lessons Learned, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged children, choice, choices, Ed Bridges, Family, what I have, what I need, what I want, wife | 6 Comments

Yucky or Wonderfully Delicious?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by russtowne

A little boy is telling his Grandma how “everything” is going wrong: School, family problems, health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does. “Here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Creativity, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Observations, Optimism, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged boy, cake, delicious, Grandma, grandmotehr, gransdon, son | Leave a comment

I Met My Wife While Playing Hide and Seek In the Dark

Posted on June 20, 2012 by russtowne

I met my wife while playing Hide and Seek in the dark. Perhaps I should explain… But first, some background… When I was a youngster all of our relatives lived out of state, so my family celebrated holidays with another … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Family "Fun", Friendship, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Humor, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged basketball, beloved wife, boys, children, coffee shop, dance, dress, flirt, flirty, Friend, friends, girls, gmes, hide and seek, high school, hoop, hoops, hot cocao, introverted, kids, lemonade, locker, onion rings, party, short dress, shy, Travell All | 17 Comments

What Is That?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by russtowne

A touching reminder to parents and to grown children. For parents who regret how they parented, this could be a wonderful time to begin to build or re-build your relationship with your child/children. For children who grew up and have … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Healing, Parenting, Relationship Lessons Learned, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged bird, child, daughter, father, Love, Mother, parent, son, sparrow, what is that | 6 Comments

Loma Prieta Earthquake: The BIG One (So Far) Part 3 of 3

Posted on June 18, 2012 by russtowne

The aftershocks kept coming, sporadic and of varying intensity. We decided to see if any of the radio stations had come back up so we bundled everyone and went out to my car in the garage and sat in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Family "Fun", Generosity, Gratitude, Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, True Stories I've Written | Tagged earthquake, Family, food, Heroes, home power, house, Loma Prieta | Leave a comment

Family Nights

Posted on June 15, 2012 by russtowne

Picture if you will all the noise and people during rush hour in Grand Central Station, the commotion and energy of a busy dog park, the love and joy of a raucous religious revival, the laughter and entertainment of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Humor, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged circus, daughter, daughter-inlaw, dogs, Family, Family Night, Family Nights, Grand Central Station, king, Love, son | 6 Comments

A Gift To Myself

Posted on June 11, 2012 by russtowne

A quote I just read at Genie Speaks at http://geniespeaks.wordpress.com/ that was attributed to Oprah got me to thinking, and then to writing. The quote was: “True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience.”” That statement … Continue reading →