Are You Flourishing from 5 Good Things

In my e-mail just now, I read the 5 Good Things newsletter and two items struck me: Neighborhoods, and Are You Flourishing. The first was a response to a criticism that no one has friendly neighborhoods anymore. The writer begged to differ and mentioned several kinds of friendly interactions she experienced lately. I too, have a friendly neighborhood and I wanted to add my experiences. One of my neighbors walks my dog for me every morning. He walks further and faster than I can which is better for my dog who is a big husky/lab mix and needs a good walk. Another neighbor takes my recycle and trash cans to the curb for me on recycle and trash days. My corner auto repair is a blessing, the mechanic is kind, talented, and reasonable and he has saved me many times with car emergencies! i do try to reciprocate in my own small ways with gifts of small paintings, or baskets of fruit, or for my mechanic in the summer, a gallon of lemonade and some cookies. Good friends are a blessing. I also have a neighbor with whom I walk from time to time. I met her when I was walking my dog and her husband was painting their fence. Dogs are a great way to make friends!

From 5 Good Things: "'Are you Flourishing? It’s not the same as being happy. “Flourishing” more broadly describes what it means to live a good, full life, bolstered by good health, financial security and strong relationships, among other criteria, says the Global Flourishing Study, which polled residents of more than 20 countries to see whether they were really thriving. Indonesia has the highest rate of flourishing, researchers found. (The US ranked 15th."

After a fortunate experience yesterday, I would say I am definitely flourishing! With the approval and help of my Friends from Woodbury Friends Meeting, the reception area of one of our buildings which is now sadly abandoned, has been turned into a gallery. I had a solo retrospective there in December and a Friend, Diana Brose is having one there now. A small group of artists dropped by yesterday to see the building and Diana's show. The two from South Jersey Artists' Collaborative are interested in doing something with the now empty Underwood Building. An Art Show and good works in the future is plenty to make my life feel as though it is flourishing. My own solo-retrospective was so inspiriing to me that I wrote a book from it. Each painting represented a series of other paintings from a part of my life and seeing the works all up on the wall brought back so many memories.

I am having the challenges of my age, knees, back, eyesight, difficulty getting around, but, I am also recently engaged in going to the local gym and working out and that too is inspiring and helps me feel as though I am flourishing. Hope you are flourishing too, and if not at present, I hope you get some inspiration to do something that makes you feel as though you are flourishing! Happy Trails, Jo Ann wrightj45@yahoo.com