Dear Jana:

Thank you so much for your kind replies! 🌼☀️ I loved the image you painted of birds singing, the sun shining, and flowers waking up—it’s such a beautiful reminder to appreciate the simple joys around us. I completely understand that you weren’t—or aren’t—in the mood for intellectualizing, and that’s perfectly okay.

What you shared about us learning from each other really resonates with me. I’m realizing that part of this process is about meeting each other where we are. I want to be more mindful, when posting to you, of sharing in a simpler, more conversational way that emphasizes connection rather than intellectualizing.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and perspective—it’s always such a pleasure to read your posts. Wishing you a wonderful weekend filled with sunshine, birdsong, and blooming flowers! 🌸😊

anita

Dear Jana:

On the day you started this thread, Feb 14, 2025, you posted: “For me self-compassion is all about forigiving and accepting, which is not easy but it brings a wonderful sense of self-liberation.

I find self-acceptance more challenging because for many years I have lived believing that what others say about me (criticism) is true. It takes a lot of mental and emotional effort to reprogram these beliefs.

I will continue on Monday. Meanwhile, feel free to share your thoughts on self-compassion and please communicate with each other – this is not only about me.”-

– it is only in the last couple of days that I am perceiving the shame and guilt that followed me from an early age- not as enemies, but as friends. To be more accurate, I perceive the emotions involved in my early-life shame and guilt as friends because the motivation behind these emotions was to lead me to fixing myself and my behaviors so that I can be loved. In other words, these emotions wanted love for me. This is a very friendly motivation.

On the other hand, the thinking (cognitive processing) involved in shame and guilt were untrue, wrongly telling me that I was born terribly faulty and inferior to others (shame), and that I brought about my mother’s suffering (guilt)- these thoughts were untrue, and they were indeed my enemies.

I can’t help but hope, Jana, that you too see all your emotions as your friends and correct- not the emotions- but the thinking involved.

anita

Dear Jana:

No worries at all about the missed post—I can imagine how frustrating it must be when the website layout makes it difficult to see everything properly.

It’s good to hear you’re doing fine! That little dog sounds determined—getting bitten once and still coming back! 😅 Nature really does have its own logic sometimes.

It has been warm here, but also rainy, so I’ve been stuck waiting for dry weather. My mower is broken, so I haven’t been able to cut the tall spring grass. Hopefully, I can get back to it soon!

Sounds like you have a busy season ahead with building storage and preparing your garden. Wishing you smooth progress with everything! 😊

anita