How To Give Thanks: Gratitude Cards

This is a post by fellow LoaTree blogger “Tree Carpsian” who will be joining us a regular blogger….

Gratitude Cards

It only takes five minutes and a stamp.
And it guarantees a smile every time.

My wife has started writing and sending one card every week to a different person in her life.
In our technologically based society of cell phones and email we are so readily in contact with people, but at a much more surface level.
The idea of handwritten correspondence even seems archaic at times. It is too rare that we get to enjoy the satisfying feeling of receiving a handwritten letter from our mailbox.
The entire process of handwriting a letter is intentionalized: from the card that you choose, to the pen that you write with, to the style of your handwriting.

The first person she chose to write to is someone that she interacts with daily, but her handwritten letter allowed her to appreciate her friend with words and intentions that too often go unspoken.
Its not often enough that we take the time to appreciate people through intentionalized handwritten correspondence for the roles that they play in our lives-from the past through the present.
After watching her glow when writing and finishing the letter, I realize that she is as stoked as her friend will be.

Just one card a week.
It only takes five minutes and a stamp.
And it guarantees a smile every time.

I love my wife…

 

Have a beautiful new year….

Hope you spend your New Year with people you love…

 

All I want for Christmas is… (you know the song)

The holidays are here as is the the inevitable time for reflection. Like you, I’m busy trying to suppress my obligatory urges to buy gifts for people while making sure all the important people in my life are recognized and appreciated.

I have to tell you, the best gifts to offer someone or receive from another is the gift of inspiration. Does this sound cheesy? Sure. But think about it. The people and experiences in my life that really mean something to me are those that inspired me.

People chasing their dreams, people offering random acts of kindness, positivity, passion and enthusiasm for life. Those ‘traits’ if you will, are really gifts to the rest of us.

So thanks to all of you who are stoked on life and spreading your energy near and far.

And yes, I would still appreciate a new wetsuit for the Christmas in case you MUST buy something!

peace

David

 

Health and Healing

Terra and I were sitting down with my daughter Talia tonight for dinner tonight when Terra got a call.

I was chewing away on my food and messing around with Talia when I heard Terra’s voice change and turn somber. She had just heard that a friend had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and was starting treatment in the morning.

This woman, who shall go unnamed for now, had come into our lives after Talia very premature birth. Assigned to us by Social Services to watch over Talia development after leaving the hospital, she’s remained part of our weekly lives for almost two years. More than a simple client, we’ve all become friends.

I’ve known her wonderful husband for many years as well. This is going to be a challenging time for their family, and our larger community.

The news is hitting us hard. As I’ve gotten older and seen friends and family afflicted with life threatening sickness, I’ve learned to stop and give thanks for our healthy days on this planet.

Now we must turn our attention to our dear friend and make sure she and her family know that we are silently placing our hands underneath them and lifting them up during this trying time.

Our community is amazing. Food Trees will sprout to nourish the family, love and healing energy will be sent daily from all directions, family and moral support will flow freely.

Gives thanks for the healing in your life! Much love to all of you living with health challenges. Much love to those of you supporting those in need.

 

Kid Stuff Holiday Gift Exchange: Success!

Saturday, LoaTree held a “Kid Stuff” Holiday Gift exchange in Goleta.

What a great event.  We probably had about 20 families show up with excess kids clothing, books and toys.  The parents were excited to rummage through high quality items and give away items that were no longer useful to their families.

To have an event like this where money didn’t change hands, no one had to buy anything and everyone left with ‘new’ used items that their kids will be STOKED on!  All of the leftover items were taken to Santa Barbara’s Transition House, a local shelter for people transitioning from homelessness.

Given the amount of stuff and the enthusiasm of the participants, I think LoaTree will probably hold this event at least two times per year.

What a great way to avoid purchasing new items, avoid the stores and mass consumerism.  This Kid Stuff Exchange was a success on so many levels.

Special thanks to Jenn and John Ja Birchim who spearheaded this event.

 

Miniature Earth

Hi all:

Please take a look at this: Miniature Earth

This is a great reminder to give thanks everyday and work for a more just planet.

Lots of love

 

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a pretty cool holiday. There is no obligatory gift giving and the focus is primarily on cooking, eating, conversing..and giving thanks.

For me, giving thanks is something I’ve really grown to appreciate these last few years. I live an utterly blessed life, and I have learned to celebrate it everyday. We all have so much to be thankful for but spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on the negative. Once you start living the life of gratitude, you quickly notice others who live in gratitude. You feel a natural attraction to these people as they tend to smile more, laugh more, and focus on the positive more often.

Raised a catholic, but no longer practicing, I did appreciate the concept of ‘praying’ before going to bed. This practice ingrained in me long ago has transformed into taking just a few minutes before I drift off to sleep, to think about all those things in the day that I was thankful for…the great conversation with a friend, the great wave I caught, the health and happiness of my family or whatever comes to mind.

I even encourage my daughter Talia who is only 2 years old, to think about what she is thankful for before I lay her in bed. I’m not totally sure she understands what I’m talking about yet, but she will soon enough.

Today I give thanks for the family who has traveled from as far away as London to join us here in Santa Barbara, to my wife who is my light, to my daughter and unborn child who are my hope, to my health, and for an amazing group of friends who surround me with love and positivity everyday.

Lots of love on this holiday! Give thanks….

-David