Hump day gratitude

the gift of freedom

some of my favorite flowers on our deck

This week I’m feeling grateful for my freedom to choose how I spend my days, who I befriend, my religion or lack thereof, and yes, I’ll say it just this once, my political views.

How many of us take freedom for granted, especially if we were born and raised in the United States? Yet freedom ranks right up there, probably next to health in terms of one’s ability to live life to the fullest. 

Earlier this week, I read a post from Dan Masoliver in his Substack newsletter, The Earthworm. Dan sends out two weekly newsletters, which include “a magical mixture of interesting, intriguing, insightful or downright inspirational content from the wide world of greenery and growing, straight to their most intimate of personal spaces: their inbox.”

This week Dan wrote about a panel discussion he participated in regarding the healing power of plants. In Dan’s words, 

 “You know that plants can improve your life. But did you know that plants can change your life? This was the theme of the panel discussion that I hosted last week for the UK-based charity Freedom from Torture (FFT). If you’re unfamiliar with FFT, it’s an incredible organisation that provides support (therapeutic, financial and legal) for asylum seekers and refugees who are survivors of torture. The charity also campaigns to raise awareness across the world about torture and its impact.”

Gosh, not exactly what I anticipated reading first thing in the morning still comfortable under the covers sipping my morning coffee. 

Having been a landscaper for years, I have always believed that nature is healing. I decided to read on to learn how plants could change my life, or perhaps more accurately, had already changed my life. And though it was a bit of a long post (even I, as a writer, can lose interest if a newsletter or blog is too long), I couldn’t pull myself away from this one. 

I learned a few things about myself, for instance, why I constantly forget to put on my gloves or, in the alternative, pull them off halfway through my gardening. Rick always smiles at me and suggests I put them back on. I rarely listen making flimsy excuses. 

Reading Dan’s words helped me understand that I love feeling the dirt and the plants between my fingers, even if that means I ruin most of my nails. I also typically sit on the ground to prune my plants, unless it’s a tree and I need to stand to reach the branches.

But what I particularly appreciated learning about was the FFT and their work with torture victims. Ever since, I've been contemplating the gift of freedom.

Thank you, Dan, for this remarkable post. Keep up the great writing.

Click here if you’d like to read Dan’s post in its entirety. 

I know this is a heavy gratitude which might create the feeling that a small gratitude isn’t important or worth mentioning. EVERY gratitude is important.

And I want to thank you for sending along your gratitudes or considering them on your own. It’s important, these small efforts of ours, in a much bigger picture.