Would you like to join a kindness and gratitude thread?

Ah, I am glad you have such lovely memories of your mum.

Just on impulse Mr A and I had the day out in a lovely cathedral city - instead of eating at our favourite cafe we bought healthy and delicious street food and ate it sitting in the sun near the cathedral. A good day - I am grateful.

That sounds like my and my late husband’s idea of heaven, Applegran. We used to do the same in France too when we had a house there. Small pleasures, but such precious memories.

Just saw a rainbow! I know physics explains rainbows but that does not take away how special and beautiful they are. In the past, befoer science explained how they come about, a rainbow must have looked like a message or a sign - and full of meaning.

I am in Norfolk and this afternoon saw a lovely rainbow over the sea. I don’t think it had rained today so was a little surprised. In a nice way. This was followed by a stunning sunset. 🌇 . Weather forecast was poor this weekend but has been much better than expected.

Gratitude turns what we have into enough
Love that one.

Glowing sunrise this morning, to wake me up. 🌄

Such a glorious view from my bedroom windows over the sunny Yorkshire Dales and the nearby wood with its glorious autumn colours, and all that while I'm reading gransnet and having a morning mug of mocha (just nescafe with a half tsp cocao!)

Thank you. It is so lovely to hear from others who are enjoying the beauty of seeing rainbows, sunsets, and autumn colours in the trees.
Maremia I too love those words 'Gratitude turns what we have into enough' and here is another one I like - I hope you like it too: Happiness isn’t getting what you want—it’s loving what you’ve got.”
I have some challenges in my life - as so many poeple do - and I find it really helps to remember the good things I have too. Right now I'm looking at sunshine and some birds flying high. Do you think they enjoy swooping freely in the air? It looks so joyful!

I love that Maremia. I’m currently stressing about having 9 round for lunch, half wishing I could just relax. But goodness me - it’s my children and lovely 3 GC. I rarely get them in the same house. And a special little one is a little boy who we never saw, but my son went to court earlier this year and now he’s part of our family. I’ve also got 5 step GC who mean just as much to me. Of course like all families there are problems galore, but we’re all in it together. And my eldest D is staying over tonight, the first time in ages, so we’ll enjoy her favourite- some crisps, dips and chilled white wine while we chat. How grateful am I now I’ve stopped and thought about it. A lovely thread.

It does Applgran. They probably laugh at us paying for it at fairgrounds.

I don't know if anyone has been reading the Guardian "Kindness of Strangers" little articles.

This week it was by a lady who had cancer and how she valued the warmth and understanding of the lady in the next bed.
I think some of you may like to know about them.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/27/kindness-strangers-cancer-spread-woman-next-bed-reached-out

Thank you NotSpaghetti - I followed the link and it is a really moving article. Even small kindnesses can make a big difference - and the article is about a huge kindness, with someone sharing and listening.

A beautiful sunrise this morning, then I saw a robin and heard some geese. I’m happy.

Applegran there are others in this vein. You need to go here and scroll down.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/series/kindness-of-strangers

Going back to my earlier post, it would be so nice if the lady in the next bed saw the article.

Such a lovely idea to share acts of kindness by strangers. Here is a small one which stays with me. Long ago, queuing to get to the desk in a library, a woman ahead of me and at the front of the queue found out she had to pay a small fine on an overdue book before she could take out another one. She did not have her purse with her - and the person next to her in the queue paid the fine. A small act of kindness but very good to see.

Just had a visit from an old friend and we talked non stop for 2 hours about a huge range of things as it got darker outside. So good to share thoughts.

My cleaner.

Come for some time, and saw me through a profound depression by just coming and changing the bed and cleaning a long time. Then when I begun to get better she had a crisis and I just listened and asked apparently the right questions and didn't impose advice as I understood.

Then one day she said I want to be your friend too.

Recently after I was abused in an attack by a bloke in a religious setting on Oct 12th she has been a carer for a bit. She packed my bags to go away today and bossed me around what to do "go to bed after I go!" then shared worries about the side effects of meds I knew about and she was afraid of.

And I realised that I have just gained a daughter. It's a fit. she didn't have a great mum and I care about her a lot.

I'm blessed.

At Vauxhall station the other day, a long flight of steps reminded me of a few years ago when I was at the bottom of them with a heavy suitcase - having already come all the way by train from Dijon.
So I’m still so grateful to the lovely man who picked my case up without a word, and carried it up for me.

And always, such grateful thanks to dh, who was an absolute star when I was in hospital for 3 weeks. Plus of course to the NHS, for the excellent care I received.

Wyllow3 I love your cleaner because she is obviously my mother-in-law's cleaner too!

She is truly (like yours) the most amazing woman - and has become like another daughter to my mother-in-law. They are now very close and really care for each other. I love her for her kindness, and the support and friendship she shares with my mother-in-law.

I have been checking in on her this morning as she needs tests at the hospital and i know she is anxious. I'm doing it because my mother-in-law won't remember to do this now (as she's had a stroke a few months ago and her memory isn't quite the same)... she feels like family now.

Hugs for her lovely cleaner. I am SO grateful to her for the happiness and her morale boosting friendship and the "can do" attitude she spreads around.

Amelia Earhart was a trailblazing aviator and one of the most celebrated pioneers in aviation history. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Here is something she said about life that is very relevant to this thread:
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees"
I love this idea - an act of kindness to one person can lead to more kindness and create a kind of chain reaction, or ripples which spread far beyond that first act of kindness.

For the last week each morning when I go out to my garage I think to myself that I must sweep up all the leaves, or the drive will become slippery.When I went out this morning all the leaves are gone! I don’t know who removed them,I will find out tomorrow when I’m back.I am so grateful, I will tell them so.

I was coming back from meeting a dear friend and in front of me there was suddenly the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. Unfortunately, as it was a country road with nowhere to pull in so I had to carry on driving. Unusually the road was right in the middle of it. It made me feel as though I was driving through this most magnificent coloured arch. It really brightened up my day, nature is so wonderful.

I am so grateful for kind words that have been spoken to me this week as my boss’ released the news I was retiring at Christmas. The parents kindness will still be with me forever. I will miss the children too and take their lovely smiles and hugs with me as I close the door.

Harris27 how lovely to have all those kind words - and I am sure you have been kind with the children. Kindness to children is kindness which can stay with them for a lifetime. Happy retirement!