My Twenty-Five Favorite Quotes on Thankfulness and Gratitude

My Twenty Five Favorite Quotes on Gratitude and Thankfulness

Last week was my 61 years of experiencing the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the US. It reminded me of my favorite quotes on Thankfulness and Gratitude I am posting today.
 

Here are 25 quotes about gratitude and thankfulness that will not only remind you that what you have is pretty awesome, but will also, I hope, spur you to express that gratitude to the people who deserve it most.

1. "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." William Arthur Ward
2. "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G.K. Chesterton
3. "'Enough' is a feast. Buddhist proverb
4. "If you count all your assets, you always show a profit." Robert Quillen
5. "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Robert Brault
6. "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them." John F. Kennedy
7. "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." Charles Dickens
8. "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." Eckhart Tolle
9. "If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." Frank A. Clark
10. "If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." Gerald Good
11. "Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie
12. "The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it." Michael Josephson
13. "Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy." Fred De Witt Van Amburgh
14. "The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement." Charles Schwab
15. "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." Epictetus
16. "At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer
17. "The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated." William James
18. "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah Winfrey
19. "Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." Buddha
20. "Silent gratitude isn't very much to anyone." Gertrude Stein
21. "Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts." Henri Frederic Amiel
22. "You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late." Ralph Waldo Emerson
23. "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." Willie Nelson
24. "It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment." Naomi Williams
25. "One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay 'in kind' somewhere else in life." Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/40-inspiring-motivational-quotes-about-gratitude.html

Meanwhile enjoy this photo:

 A Thanksgiving Bouquet. It is one week old today, but still look fresh!

 

The Best Streaming Services Available Today

 

I have been enjoying my favorite movies, TV shows, and Documentaries for the last several months with streaming services besides my Comcast Cable Subscription. I have Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video Subscriptions. With my cable subscription I have access to HBO Max, Disney+and Peacock. My favorites are of course Netflix and Hulu. Netflix is currently the most popular streaming service in the world, with around 207 million subscribers.

Bundling subscriptions can save you money. 

Today, TV viewers in the US have more places to watch their favorite movie and shows.  Choosing the right streaming service for your home entertainment setup will depend on a number of factors, including your budget, which exclusive programs you like the most, how many screens you want to watch on, and other factors.

Netflix and Hulu have grown from startups to industry juggernauts, while major studios have entered the market with services like Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, and Paramount Plus. 

Here's a summary to help you decide what to sign up for, rounding up the best streaming services of 2021. These picks are primarily focus on on-demand platforms like Netflix and Hulu , but also includes separate sections for live TV and specialty streaming channels.

Here are the best streaming services as of Today:

• Best on-demand streaming services: Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Amazon Prime Video
• Best live TV streaming services: Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Philo TV, and DirecTV Stream
• Best channel-specific streaming services: Showtime, Starz, and ESPN+

 For Details visit:

https://www.businessinsider.com/best-streaming-service#the-best-deals-on-streaming-services-12 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my cacti and succulents collection.

 and harvested pineapple.

 

Coping Up with the Empty Nest Syndrome-Adopt a Pet Dog

 

Ditas Pets-Leif and Sierra 

I was watching the Macy Parade last Thursday on NBC. After the parade I accidentally did not closed the TV.  The next show was the National Dog Show. For some reason I decided to watch it. It turned out to be an informative show and it reminded me of an article I wrote just recently. The Katague family are dog and cat lovers. I remember when the kids were growing up we have pet dogs and cats. Some of the breeds we have were a Samoyd( Meling), a Chow Chow ( Miko), a German Shepherd( Devil) and a few other mixed breeds. For details on the Dog Show this year read:   

https://tvline.com/gallery/national-dog-show-2021-photos-all-breeds/?ref=https://tvline.com/2021/11/25/national-dog-show-2021-winner-scottish-deerhound-claire-photos/ 

 Experiencing the Empty Nest Syndrome? Adopt a Pet Dog!!

I was messaging a friend in FB recently about her feelings of emptiness, since her last child went to college last month. It reminded me of my article about the empty nest syndrome(ENS) that I wrote a few years ago. In this article I wrote about Macrine (RIP) feelings, when our oldest son left home for college to UC Berkeley. I am posting here excerpts of that article.  In this article there were suggestions in how to cope up with ENS. Today I think one of the ways to cope with ENS is to adopt a pet- a dog specifically. Would you agree?   

I was exchanging messages with a relative in FB recently. In our conversation, she mentioned that all her children have left the house and she misses them. I informed her she is suffering from empty nest syndrome and it is normal or another stage in one's life as we age. Here's her exact words. I am not mentioning her name for the sake of anonymity.

"I was in tears reading your blog (Thank You Lord,I have Thoughtful Relatives). It reminds me of our situation....just me and my husband in a 4,000sq. ft. house and I have to do the cleaning. My health is not good. I miss my children, how happy and busy was our household before and now they are busy in their professions and family. My eldest who has his medical practice in San Antonio, Texas. He calls us every Sunday, the second one calls when he has a chance. His having two kids is hard and my daughter calls when she remembers. They are all in medical field so working night shifts sometimes is hard. I will have them read your blog. Thanks Nong David".

Here's my response:

I appreciate your feedback, I think your feeling is very normal at this stage of your life. You are suffering from-empty nest syndrome. Keep busy and just count your blessings. Are you still working? Keep in touch! Give my regards to the family!

Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents or guardians may feel when their children leave home for the first time, such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university. It is not a clinical condition.

All parents are susceptible to empty nest syndrome, although some factors can create a predisposition to it. Such factors include an unstable or unsatisfactory marriage, a sense of self based primarily on identity as a parent, or difficulty accepting change in general. Full-time parents (stay-at-home mothers or fathers) may be especially vulnerable to empty nest syndrome. Adults who are also dealing with other stressful life events such as menopause, the death of a spouse, or retirement are also more likely to experience the syndrome.

Symptoms of empty nest syndrome can include depression, a sense of loss of purpose, feelings of rejection, or worry, stress, and anxiety over the child's welfare. Parents who experience empty nest syndrome often question whether or not they have prepared adequately for their child to live independently.

Parents going through empty nest syndrome can ease their stress by pursuing their own hobbies and interests in their increased spare time. Discussing their grief with each other, friends, families, or professionals may help them. Experts have advised that overwhelmed parents keep a journal, or go back to work if they were full-time parents.

Our personal experience with empty nest syndrome started when our oldest son, went to college. My wife did cry and I told her he will be back at the end of the week to do his laundry. My wife finally accepted the fact that her oldest child is growing up and let him go. This feeling of loneliness was repeated four times, since we have four children. Their first day away from home always gave us a feeling of sadness. The first one was the hardest and the last one was the easiest.

Finally if you are in the stage of your life when you children has to go to college or live by themselves, do not feel sad, It is part of the stage of life. Keep busy and try to communicate to them as often as you can. Otherwise get a Pet Dog or Cat!

For complete details read:

https://whyretireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/2015/03/coping-up-with-empty-nest-syndrome-ens.html

 

 

This Year Thanksgiving Day Celebration-What Are You Thankful For?

Our First Thanksgiving Day in the US, Danville, Illinois, 1960
 

Tomorrow will be my 61 years of celebrating thanksgiving day here in the US.

This year thanksgiving celebration will be in Palo Alto, CA at the residence of Charo Jambalos Levin. Charo is Macrine's youngest sister. The Jambalos and Katague clan are all invited for a Pot Luck lunch. The last time I heard there are more than 20 coming. David E and I decided not to attend, because I do not want to torture myself with the expected 3-4 hours bumper to bumper traffic from Sacramento to Palo Alto. David and I will have just honey-baked ham, potato salad, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie with ice cream for dessert.  

Thanksgiving Day reminds me of the First Thanksgiving Day in the US that I have experienced. I am reposting my memories of that day as follows: 

Our First Thanksgiving Day in United States, 1960

It was on November, 1960 when Macrine and I and our oldest son,Dodie(who was only 2 years old then) experienced our first Thanksgiving Celebration in the United States. That year, I was a graduate student at the University of Illinois at the Medical Center in Chicago. The Chicago Hospitality Center along with YMCA and CFM invites all Foreign students in the area to spend a Thanksgiving weekend to the homes of volunteers in small towns of Illinois away from the crowded city of Chicago. Some of my foreign student friends were reluctant and did not accept the invitation, but I had an adventurous spirit so with great anticipation, Macrine and I along with Dodie went with 12 other foreign students and their families to Central Illinois. Our host for that weekend was Mrs. Johnston, a widow from Danville, Illinois. She lives alone and her beautiful bungalow house right in downtown Danville. We left Chicago in the morning, had thanksgiving dinner ( turkey and all its trimmings)in late afternoon. This was followed by a program in the evening at a local community center, where all the Hosts met and socialized with other invited students from Korea, Iran, Mexico, Japan, Chile, South Africa, Egypt and the Philippines. Macrine, Dodie and I represented the Philippines.
The next day we had a grand tour of the area, the farms and then to Springfield, the capital of Illinois. The tour of the area and Springfield was the highlight of our 2 days break from our hectic schedules as a graduate students.

So, did I like the roasted turkey? Nope, that was first time I had turkey. In the Philippines we do not celebrate Thanksgiving and I had never tasted turkey before. I did not like the pumpkin pie either. What I enjoyed was the oyster stuffing,ice cream and the cranberries sauce.

So why do I write this post? Well, to thank the Lord for all the good things and the past 49 years (61 years update this year) of Thanksgiving Days, He has given me and my family so far here in US. In addition our visit to the “real” Americans ( not the Ugly ones) that Thanksgiving day in 1960 prompted me to write an article of my impressions of the US at that time and has remained in my memory until today:

Our Impression of America

" During our first year in Chicago, we never received an invitation to participate in the hospitality program. Our name was probably buried in the list of foreign students or perhaps our foreign student adviser was sleeping in her job. During these first year of adjustments to the American way of life, we formed a very wrong impression of Americans. Asides from our daily contacts with fellow students in the school rooms or dormitories, our only other social contacts were people in the streets, subways, buses, department stores, supermarkets and other public places. These were all artificial contacts, giving us an impression that Americans are unfriendly, artificial, insincere, apathetic,intolerant and above all ignorant.The latter adjective was quite true, since the ordinary or typical American does not have the vaguest idea where the Philippines, Japan or even Puerto Rico is located in the map.

" However, in our second year, we began receiving invitation to spend a weekend in suburban homes as well as dinner invitations in city homes. At first, we were reluctant to accept the invitation, however with our adventurous spirit, we said yes.
From then on, "we have the whole world in our hands". We are thankful to CFM, the YWCA and the Hospitality Center of Chicago for making our stay filled with pleasant memories.

"On the other hand what impressions could we have brought back to the Philippines, if our stay was limited to one or two years ( true for exchange visitors). How many visitors and exchange scholars brought home with them the wrong impressions and attitude towards the American people in general? I knew there were a few foreign students in the dormitories who were disillusioned about the United States. One of them was a former dorm mate from Chile. He received an invitation, but never did conquer his apprehension of accepting one.

" At present as couple leader of the first interfaith group in our diocese, we will do our very best to reciprocate, promote, and encourage hospitality programs to foreign students and scholars in our area. We believe that opening our homes and our hearts on weekends and holidays, is one of the best ways of promoting world peace and understanding. Let us then make it possible for foreign students and scholars get the true picture of America and its people. Let us give them the opportunity to share with us our way of life. Let us get busy as a group or perhaps join other groups in order that we can show to the future leaders of the world, how sincere, friendly and aware we are of other human beings in other parts of the world. This is one of the many ways we could be more Christlike, we believe".
 

This letter was published by CFM in their monthly magazine, ACT, for all their members worldwide.

I also would like to dedicate this poem to all my readers in this blog.
Thanksgiving Every Day-By Karl Fuchs
 

The table is brimming with good things to eat;
We're surrounded by family and friends; what a treat.
The feelings that fill us today can’t be beat;
It’s Thanksgiving Day, and it all feels complete.
But other days, sometimes things don’t seem so fine;
Those days are not polished and don’t seem to shine.
It's then in our minds, we forget all the good,
And think of the things we would get, if we could.
On days when our thinking causes us dread,
If we could remember, it’s all in our head,
And not let our minds take our gratitude away,
Then we'd make every day like Thanksgiving Day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! What are you thankful for this year?

Are you fully vaccinated? If not, I hope Covid-19 does not catch you for good! 

Meanwhile enjoy these photos from my garden this week

My Tangerine fruits this year ( harvested one the other day).

Cacti and my rose last bloom for this year

Azaleas starting to bloom on my side yard pathway!

 

Amazing Health Benefits of the Marang Fruit

Here's a short video of the Marang Fruit

 

The other day, I posted a list of popular fruits in the Philippines. This posting is about the Marang Fruit that I have never tasted.

 

The Marang is a fruit that I have never tasted in the Philippines, because it seasonal and rarely available in Metro Manila. However, I have heard of the health benefits of this fruit.   

 

Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus) is a species of flowering plant in the Moraceae family. It is a commonly called marang, madang, timadang, terap, tarap, green pedalai, or johey oak. It belongs to the breadfruit family and grows abundantly in Mindanao, Southern Philippines.

 

 Here's an article from the Philippine News on the Health Benefits of the Marang Fruit  

https://philnews.ph/2017/04/11/amazing-health-benefits-eating-marang-fruit/ 

Marang Fruit Amazing Health Benefits

by Jay Nelz Date: April 11, 2017

Marang is an exotic and delicious fruit that contains numerous vitamins and minerals, which has beneficial effects on the body’s health.

Marang is also known as “Artocarpus Odoratissimus,” a tree came from the mulberry and fig family of Moraceae. This fruit can be usually found in tropical climate countries such as the Philippines, but it is also cultivated all around the world.

It is also quite related to the fruits such as cempedak, jackfruit, and breadfruit trees. This fruit is very popular worldwide, because of its, sweet, unique, juicy, and delicious taste. Most Filipinos love to eat Marang, because of its flavor and health benefits.

It has been also traditionally used by ancient people in treating and preventing numerous types of diseases, because of its medicinal properties. It contains a high nutritional value, which has beneficial effects on the body.

It contains vitamins A, B, C, beta-carotene, dietary fiber, retinol, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and niacin. It contains minerals such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, protein, potassium, calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

It also contains antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains a lot of antioxidants that can help the body to fight free radicals, which can cause harm to the body.

It can be also used as a natural alternative for the expensive treatments and medications in the hospitals and medical clinic. Aside from being an effective remedy, it is also more affordable compared to the high-cost medications.

Here are some of the amazing health benefits of eating marang fruit:

• Prevents cancer
• Controls Diabetes
• Reduce Cholesterol Levels
• Relieves Constipation
• Prevents Heart Diseases
• Prevents Anemia
• Improves Digestion
• Enhances Metabolism
• Improves Vision
• Prevents Stroke
• Relieves Inflammation

Personal Note: I was born and lived in the Philippines until I was 23 years old but have never tasted this fruit.  I am now in my mid-80 and realized that I am still learning new things. I have tasted the durian ( candy but not the fresh one), guayabano( sour sop), atis ( custard apple), Jackfruit and star apple. The taste of marang have been described as a combination of the above fruits. I am longing to taste this marang fruit.  

Meanwhile, see this photo of my potted ampalaya starting to fruit

Ampalaya ( bitter melon) should be planted in the Ground. But my backyard is small, so I planted it in a pot. It is growing, but not as luxuriant if it were planted in the Ground.

I am also proud to show my pineapple harvest in my front porch this year.

Photo Credit: Ditas