This is sage advice….Consider this: ‘When you are angry with your partner, observe what dominates your attention. Is it their “infraction” or the richness they bring to your life? …I get angry for small/trivial issues at my wife rather than acknowledging her many attributes and contributions on my behalf. Happy Thanksgiving Barry
One of the things I am truly grateful for is I have the opportunity to regularly read the thoughts and ideas of Barry Brownstein, a true mensch who is filled with so much wisdom. It doesn’t get much better than that. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Thank you for another powerful essay Prof Brownstein.
I am not familiar with Naikan therapy but I love those questions and am not surprised that it has come from Japan. Gratitude is such a strong present throughout their culture.
Can you tell me where the Maria Montessori quotes are from? (I'm assuming from one of her several books....I'm wondering which one....)
David Reynolds has combined the Naikan and Morita therapies into what he calls Constructive Living. In 2025, we will work with one of Reynolds's books.
enjoyed this lots--brought back a memory--we hadda favorite postman that "follered us" somehow from the E. Village ta Chinatown when we moved (couple year gap 'fore he resurfaced) but we'd'a never fergotten him cuz he was such a sweet kind guy....the kinda guy that's stop what he was doin' ta help ya up yer steps with a stroller... to let'cha know if there was a signed package he left with yer neighbor ruther than stickin' a note on the door so's ya'd have ta make a trip ta the post office ta pick it up... old school mailman!
just 'bout a week ago, not even thinkin' 'bout Thanksgiving I hadda good chat in the "comments" section with Karen Hunt (she writes a great stack!)--she had some velly ungrateful readers unsubscribe in a huff due ta what I'd call "entitled" expectations in spite'a her givin' all her content free... (they wanted somethin' more???) an' it recalled somethin' similar with me, that I never used ta see 'fore all the school kids invaded the homeschoolin' community in NYC after they rescinded the jab exemptions... totally different attitude an' I see it now too--most ungrateful kids, actin' kinda entitled in a not-so-great way makes me wonder WHO are their parents????
I teach a few homeschool classes up here, organize field trips, events an' such every so often--an' here in our new rural settin' ta my surprise NONE of the kids say thanks! (okay--two did--in 18 months of teachin' / organizin'--only 2)
Oddly, no parents come up ta me at the end of a field trip ta say "thanks fer organizin'"--costs nothin' ta say thanks! Bein' a parent yerself ya likely know how teachin' classes & organizin' field trips is still a lotta work--all volunteer stuff--never collect a penny fer myself. These kids (lol "these kids today...") seem ta foller the example set by their grown-ups an' just take off an' remain silent.
My own kid (my younger daughter in this case) always sez "thanks ma" at the end of a class--no other kids even take notice 'er chime in--no monkey see monkey do even. An' mind ya, I never forced thanks from my kids--just always kept pluggin' away like yer example (we enjoyed some modified Montessori + Waldorf so familiar...) of remindin' 'em of what we gotta be grateful FOR!
Heck, we even thank the trees when we forage! I know that may seem a mite woo ta some, tee hee but I'm a firm believe nature "hears us" (energy-wise at very least!)
With my kiddos, I alway shared who invented the thing, who made this 'er that possible... It's a natural way ta understand yer world anywayz. Now doggies (I'mma huge fan) express grattyude without nary a word... but us? We gots the woids, an' should use 'em!
So, as Gertrude Stein said:
“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone."
(makes me smile...this had ta come from a "chew" lol)
Happy Thanksgivin' Barry--I'll end with an'nuther quote from a fave writer:
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -Marcel Proust
How nice re Waldorf! We cherry picked all the "good stuff" from Waldorf (no Anthroposophy an' a lot more room fer creative license w/ the art stuff...but we stuck with some've it 'til recently--an' from Montessori the "kids sized" stuff made outta real materials--straw brooms, baskets, mini pitchers... an' the hand-skills eg. lacin', countin' sortin' were all "da beans" -- our kiddos were lucky ta have this stuff as "littles!")
We had a Swiss anthroposophical MD for a while who avoided the fate of Tom Cowan (who you probably know from Weston-Price). I met Tom, too, when he practiced in New Hampshire.
wow, interestin'--never heard of an anthroposophical MD (tho' artist Hilma af Klint was big on anthroposophy an' made some fairly esoteric art 'round some'a the themes--all "Greek to me!" ha ha--but good stuff anyway ;-).
Oh my, I thought Tom just retired--he did the Weston Price conference with Andy Kaufman in '22--what awful fate? (hope nothin' bad). Unless it was "CovidCon" license stuff... too many got slapped that way ... true insanity in which case retirin' early makes sense. I heard he's back in NY after quite a while in NH...as ya likely know the top brass here haven't done right by holistic docs (or their patients!)...it's been a mess since 2020 so I keep watchin' where the wind is blowin'!
Yes, Tom lost (forced to surrender) his license while living in California.
There are anthroposophical remedies. Weleda used to have a dispensing pharmacy. There are others https://iaap-pharma.org/. They are amazing products when prescribed properly. We were lucky to have had our Baltimore physician.
oh no! that's SO sad, I hadn't heard... it's quite vicious what they're doin' to wipe out all the GOOD holistic practitioners... same happened to our first pediatrician (license yanked) an' Meryl Nass I think is still in legal battles over prescribin' IVM (figger ya know a lott've got "suicided"--Erin Elizabeth used ta keep track... Jeff Bradstreet is one'a the more well-know ones...)
We always LOVED Weleda products, still have some! (I had no idear they were once dispensin' nor that this branch of Steiner-influenced medicine even existed--golly!)
Yes y'all were lucky ta find such a practitioner (Doc Jeff Wright's dispensary in Seattle was real good--tho' not anthroposophical--an' allowed orders by-mail--he's passed away--"they" gave him troubles galore too!)
methinks were in a race now ta save the "alt" healers while we're tryin' simultaneously ta resurrect what's left of the country... "heal the world" takes on new meanin' the more we "see" of what's lost (oy)
This is sage advice….Consider this: ‘When you are angry with your partner, observe what dominates your attention. Is it their “infraction” or the richness they bring to your life? …I get angry for small/trivial issues at my wife rather than acknowledging her many attributes and contributions on my behalf. Happy Thanksgiving Barry
Thanks, Mike. Awareness is the healing balm.
Happy Thanksgiving!
One of the things I am truly grateful for is I have the opportunity to regularly read the thoughts and ideas of Barry Brownstein, a true mensch who is filled with so much wisdom. It doesn’t get much better than that. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I am touched by your kind note, Martin. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for another powerful essay Prof Brownstein.
I am not familiar with Naikan therapy but I love those questions and am not surprised that it has come from Japan. Gratitude is such a strong present throughout their culture.
Can you tell me where the Maria Montessori quotes are from? (I'm assuming from one of her several books....I'm wondering which one....)
Thank you, Kylee.
David Reynolds has combined the Naikan and Morita therapies into what he calls Constructive Living. In 2025, we will work with one of Reynolds's books.
I got the quotes from https://www.vrukshamontessori.com/. The specific page or essay has moved. I wrote the original essay years ago.
One possibility is her book To Educate the Human Potential: https://pc.blogspot.com/2020/11/heroes-everywhere.html
Thank you Prof Brownstein. I will take a look!
I look forward to studying one of David Reynolds' books in 2025. Sounds very interesting!
enjoyed this lots--brought back a memory--we hadda favorite postman that "follered us" somehow from the E. Village ta Chinatown when we moved (couple year gap 'fore he resurfaced) but we'd'a never fergotten him cuz he was such a sweet kind guy....the kinda guy that's stop what he was doin' ta help ya up yer steps with a stroller... to let'cha know if there was a signed package he left with yer neighbor ruther than stickin' a note on the door so's ya'd have ta make a trip ta the post office ta pick it up... old school mailman!
just 'bout a week ago, not even thinkin' 'bout Thanksgiving I hadda good chat in the "comments" section with Karen Hunt (she writes a great stack!)--she had some velly ungrateful readers unsubscribe in a huff due ta what I'd call "entitled" expectations in spite'a her givin' all her content free... (they wanted somethin' more???) an' it recalled somethin' similar with me, that I never used ta see 'fore all the school kids invaded the homeschoolin' community in NYC after they rescinded the jab exemptions... totally different attitude an' I see it now too--most ungrateful kids, actin' kinda entitled in a not-so-great way makes me wonder WHO are their parents????
I teach a few homeschool classes up here, organize field trips, events an' such every so often--an' here in our new rural settin' ta my surprise NONE of the kids say thanks! (okay--two did--in 18 months of teachin' / organizin'--only 2)
Oddly, no parents come up ta me at the end of a field trip ta say "thanks fer organizin'"--costs nothin' ta say thanks! Bein' a parent yerself ya likely know how teachin' classes & organizin' field trips is still a lotta work--all volunteer stuff--never collect a penny fer myself. These kids (lol "these kids today...") seem ta foller the example set by their grown-ups an' just take off an' remain silent.
My own kid (my younger daughter in this case) always sez "thanks ma" at the end of a class--no other kids even take notice 'er chime in--no monkey see monkey do even. An' mind ya, I never forced thanks from my kids--just always kept pluggin' away like yer example (we enjoyed some modified Montessori + Waldorf so familiar...) of remindin' 'em of what we gotta be grateful FOR!
Heck, we even thank the trees when we forage! I know that may seem a mite woo ta some, tee hee but I'm a firm believe nature "hears us" (energy-wise at very least!)
With my kiddos, I alway shared who invented the thing, who made this 'er that possible... It's a natural way ta understand yer world anywayz. Now doggies (I'mma huge fan) express grattyude without nary a word... but us? We gots the woids, an' should use 'em!
So, as Gertrude Stein said:
“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone."
(makes me smile...this had ta come from a "chew" lol)
Happy Thanksgivin' Barry--I'll end with an'nuther quote from a fave writer:
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -Marcel Proust
(ain't that a lovely quote?)
That is a great Proust quote, Daisy! Thank you for that and the meaningful reflections.
This is a wonderful book on reflecting how much we owe others but often forget: https://www.amazon.com/Naikan-Gratitude-Japanese-Self-Reflection-Anniversary/dp/1611720796/
Agreed, Karen Hunt's Stack is great.
(We did Waldorf preschool before homeschooling.)
Happy Thanksgiving!
glad ta share a few thoughts, yup, a great quote indeedy happy ye liked it.
Thanks fer the book rec--I'll check it out ;-)
Got one back fer ya: Marcia Falk's Blessin's are lovely--included are many of gratitude!
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blessings-Weekdays-Sabbath-Festival/dp/0060623403
How nice re Waldorf! We cherry picked all the "good stuff" from Waldorf (no Anthroposophy an' a lot more room fer creative license w/ the art stuff...but we stuck with some've it 'til recently--an' from Montessori the "kids sized" stuff made outta real materials--straw brooms, baskets, mini pitchers... an' the hand-skills eg. lacin', countin' sortin' were all "da beans" -- our kiddos were lucky ta have this stuff as "littles!")
Happy Thanksgivin'! (back ta my green beans ;-)
ps great re Karen, glad yer a fan too!
Thanks for the book recommendation.
Yes, the Waldorf art materials are wonderful.
We had a Swiss anthroposophical MD for a while who avoided the fate of Tom Cowan (who you probably know from Weston-Price). I met Tom, too, when he practiced in New Hampshire.
wow, interestin'--never heard of an anthroposophical MD (tho' artist Hilma af Klint was big on anthroposophy an' made some fairly esoteric art 'round some'a the themes--all "Greek to me!" ha ha--but good stuff anyway ;-).
Oh my, I thought Tom just retired--he did the Weston Price conference with Andy Kaufman in '22--what awful fate? (hope nothin' bad). Unless it was "CovidCon" license stuff... too many got slapped that way ... true insanity in which case retirin' early makes sense. I heard he's back in NY after quite a while in NH...as ya likely know the top brass here haven't done right by holistic docs (or their patients!)...it's been a mess since 2020 so I keep watchin' where the wind is blowin'!
Yes, Tom lost (forced to surrender) his license while living in California.
There are anthroposophical remedies. Weleda used to have a dispensing pharmacy. There are others https://iaap-pharma.org/. They are amazing products when prescribed properly. We were lucky to have had our Baltimore physician.
oh no! that's SO sad, I hadn't heard... it's quite vicious what they're doin' to wipe out all the GOOD holistic practitioners... same happened to our first pediatrician (license yanked) an' Meryl Nass I think is still in legal battles over prescribin' IVM (figger ya know a lott've got "suicided"--Erin Elizabeth used ta keep track... Jeff Bradstreet is one'a the more well-know ones...)
We always LOVED Weleda products, still have some! (I had no idear they were once dispensin' nor that this branch of Steiner-influenced medicine even existed--golly!)
Yes y'all were lucky ta find such a practitioner (Doc Jeff Wright's dispensary in Seattle was real good--tho' not anthroposophical--an' allowed orders by-mail--he's passed away--"they" gave him troubles galore too!)
methinks were in a race now ta save the "alt" healers while we're tryin' simultaneously ta resurrect what's left of the country... "heal the world" takes on new meanin' the more we "see" of what's lost (oy)