Gransnet forums

Chat

Would you like to join a kindness and gratitude thread?

(180 Posts)
Applegran Fri 10-Oct-25 19:51:11

I think we all know that loving kindness given and received makes us happy. And gratitude makes us happier too. There is plenty of research evidence to confirm this – but all we have to do is pay attention to our instinctive knowledge to know it is true.

So I have the idea of a thread where we share examples of true loving kindness, and of gratitude for things in our lives, some of which we might otherwise take for granted.

We could grow a shared positive life thread. This is not to deny that we all have painful times – just to say we can have happier lives if we allow ourselves to pay attention to kindness and gratitude, and this will help us in the hard times too.

On this thread you can tell us about kindnesses done and received, and if you are shy about telling something kind you have done, in this thread its ok to say “someone I know/a relation/a friend…..’ or whatever you like. And of course it is ok to tell us directly of kindnesses you have done yourself. We could use the thread to express gratitude for kindness received too.

We can learn from each other and be uplifted by the loving kindness of others.

Gratitude is about paying attention to the good things in our lives and being grateful. Some people keep a daily gratitude diary and write about three things they are grateful for that day, with a word or two about why they are grateful. This thread might become a shared gratitude diary – if others join in, I would aim to add at least a short post about something I am grateful for every day. And kindnesses too but not necessarily daily. We could be cheered by each other and it could become part of the day for any of us who chose to join. What do you think?

I will start with something I am grateful for today: seeing beautiful tall trees beginning to turn to autumn colours. This took me beyond myself to enjoy and feel connected with nature.

And a kindness which springs to mind: I stopped in the street to rearrange a lot of bags and parcels I was carrying, and then walked on. A minute or two later a passerby caught me up – and gave me my handbag which I had left in the middle of the pavement.

Sending you loving thoughts for whatever difficulties you may have and wishing you good things.

Susieq62 Mon 13-Oct-25 20:21:24

Fried green tomatoes I know we never see eye to eye but want to say that your post moved me! I wish you and your husband well . Cancer is dreadful , I know!
Hang in there

Sheian57 Mon 13-Oct-25 19:49:32

Thank you for this thread. I have so much gratitude following a recent cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery. The care from all the NHS professional experts, the prayers and kindness of friends and acquaintances and my lovely supportive husband and family.

I often take life for granted and until we get a curve ball like a health issue, it puts the meaning of our precious life into perspective and whilst our world can seem hard at times, love and care from others, when times are tough, changes the focus. I am overwhelmingly grateful.

Harris27 Mon 13-Oct-25 18:30:14

Life is precious and I’m grateful for everything. X

Wyllow3 Mon 13-Oct-25 18:26:23

Me too on that, foxie.

MooM00 you have indeed done so well in the face of the very complex grief you were left with - KOKO x

foxie48 Mon 13-Oct-25 18:07:37

I feel huge gratitude to the NHS for giving me back my energy and love of life and to all my family and friends who have looked after me and now are helping me to live life to the full again. I wake up every morning looking forward to what the day brings. I am so fortunate.

MooM00 Mon 13-Oct-25 17:37:05

Thankyou Crazygranmda I feel very lucky to have achieved this amount of sobriety, especially over these last 3 years when my husband took his own life back in 2022.

Grandmabatty Mon 13-Oct-25 17:36:42

I am grateful that my biopsy results were clear, although aware that some women today would have received bad news.

Redhead56 Mon 13-Oct-25 16:49:04

I had my share of heartache but the gratitude I feel for kindness out numbers the heartache.
FGT you do deserve a hug ( ) and Magenta8 you was ill treated by the purse owner.
Our postal worker delivered a small parcel to ours by mistake it was meant for someone around the corner from ours. It was damaged because it was wet from the rain. I promptly took it to the correct address the woman who opened the door actually accused me of opening it! Putting it mildly we had words I now put mail not meant for us back into the post box

LovesBach Mon 13-Oct-25 16:25:00

So much to be glad about and grateful for in my own life; my OH, we are still together after so many years, my children who fill my heart with joy, and GC who are the light of my life. How easily I could be the mother in Gaza, going 'home' with two small children to a pile of rubble in a destroyed street, her only possessions two water cans. An accident of birth has made me so lucky, and nowdays, with the sorry state of our beautiful world, I am mindful daily.

crazygranmda Mon 13-Oct-25 16:06:54

Congratulations MooMoo That is an amazing achievement! flowers

Oreo Mon 13-Oct-25 15:35:49

Nice thread😃
A really joyous day to wake up and have breakfast and find out that the Israeli hostages were being released, all 20 of the ones still alive! Saw the footage in Hostages Square and the relatives, and the wonderful image of the Berman twins embracing.
Hardly dared hope it would really happen, it was so emotional just watching.The love and the warmth and relief so uplifting.
Had some celebratory lunch with Mum and a couple of her friends and they all laughed and cried at the same time which set me off too.It was just a light lunch but we had a large glass of wine each.We hugged afterwards and then returned home.

Wyllow3 Mon 13-Oct-25 15:20:20

I am grateful for the love I have from my DS, DiL and 4 grandchildren. they dont live near, maybe it makes it all the more precious.
But this is party because after my abusivemarriage ended I went into the sort of depression that nothing can reach;

but found, at the end of it, that although I had not spoken nor seen the grandchildren and hardly all to the parents:

They had talked of me a lot, I was alive in their minds all that time, so when they came it was "Hi grandma" as if only a month had passed and matters resumed as per

What a homecoming, just 6 weeks ago,

Never to be forgotten..

loopylindy Mon 13-Oct-25 15:17:47

DH had an incident with the car which rendered it undrivable. He went into a local chemist to phone for a taxi and no less than two others offered to drive him home. One suggested a garage that could help - instantly (more or less). So he was back home and mended before the jungle drums spread the message to me in hospital.

MooM00 Mon 13-Oct-25 15:09:43

I am grateful for 27 years of sobriety a day at a time.

Gogo84 Mon 13-Oct-25 15:09:24

Like many of the posters on here, I too have wonderful caring offspring, and when I recently had an 85th birthday party for all the family and some friends, my 4 grandchildren took over in my (small) kitchen warmed up any food that needed it, arranged it all beautifully on various plates, and my grandson dealt with the bubbly, although he did say that opening one of the bottles nearly put his eye out. I didn't have to worry about a thing, and my son made a lovely speech, which, to everyone's amusement, my 7 year old great nephew joined in with. Happy day.

BluebellBlue Mon 13-Oct-25 15:00:41

What a lovely thread! I give daily gratitude in my nightly prayers. A recent rather lovely act of kindness I received recently was when someone left me a jar of honey from their own bees on my doorstep 🍯. Those kind of things always bring a tear to my eye. I try to practice kindness when the opportunity arises x

Applegran Mon 13-Oct-25 13:02:55

henetha I am so glad you had that visit from both your sons together. I think our grown up children often do not realise fully how much they matter to us, while we still move on and have our own lives. My daughter said to me she only understood when she had her own children. I am so grateful for my family, though geography means I do not see them often.

AGAA4 Mon 13-Oct-25 11:56:17

I woke up feeling a bit down this morning but got up put my boots on and went out for a bit walk. After mist all day yesterday we have lovely sunshine. I met 3 people I know for a chat and now feel so much better.
So grateful for the lovely countryside I live in and the friendly people I meet.

Applegran Mon 13-Oct-25 10:56:45

I am about to go for a walk and am hugely grateful to the surgeon and all the other staff who looked after me when I had a hip replacement earlier this year.

Parsley3 Mon 13-Oct-25 08:34:24

This is a lovely thread and I am enjoying reading about all your positive slants on very difficult challenges. Right now I am grateful to be on a city break with the old boy who I met at school and later married. We are both crocked with various issues but can still make each other laugh.

henetha Mon 13-Oct-25 00:04:16

I actually had both of my sons visit me at the same time this evening. A very rare event indeed. I hardly ever see them together.
It was absolutely wonderful.

Scottishthistle Sun 12-Oct-25 20:38:11

For a start
grateful to Applegran for this lovely thread, made me smile 😃

Also, Grateful to Evie whom introduced herself while both in hospital. (2 yrs ago) If you are reading this Evie 'just to let you know i think of you often, and wonder'.. i still have the poem/letter you kindly wrote for me. I let you know then that you are an inspiration ✨️
Sending you gentle hugs & smiles. You are an Angel. Take it easy (stubborn wee bugger).🩷🤍🩷🙏 x

Applegran Sun 12-Oct-25 17:42:56

A grey morning has given way to a sunny afternoon, with trees silhouetted in the autumn mist - I'm grateful for seeing it all.

lixy Sun 12-Oct-25 17:27:09

Today I made an apple and pear pie with apples from a friend's tree. So grateful for the friendship - not to mention the apples of course.

Great idea for an enduring thread applegran, long may it last.

teabagwoman Sun 12-Oct-25 17:17:30

I am so grateful that my dd and family live only half an hour away from me. I’m just three weeks in after a THR and they’ve been over again today to weed my front paving, pick up the windfalls and keep the drainage gully clear so I don’t end up with a flooded garage. I know so many don’t have family living locally and it’s something I will always be grateful for.