06/11/2023
Hi Subscribers,
Happy November. This month we are focusing on being grateful. Per Oxford Dictionary on my google search “is feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.” How do you show being grateful or thankful daily?
I know many families who are not religious but do a moment of gratitude before they share in their family meal. I call this the gratitude muscle. Giving thanks to something beyond ourself, is a practice and it takes just a moment. But when doing so, that gratitude muscle gets worked out. So on those days where the storm clouds hang overhead and it seems like the storm is not going to blow over, the gratitude muscles remind us that getting wet sometimes is okay, maybe even fun. With this idea, I want to go beyond giving thanks for the “things” that we have. For example, if you have the ability to have regularly warm, cooked meals and give thanks for food. THink of the whole line of food. From the earth to the body as it digests.
Here is an example, give thanks to the earth that shared the minerals of the soil to the food and for growing the food. Give thanks to the sun and the water for being the food for our food. Give thanks to the hands and all the people that pick the crops that you used. Give thanks to the animals who had to give their life. Give thanks to the truckers and train engineers who helped transport the food. Then after giving thanks to all the people that helped the food get to you and on to your table, give thanks to your body who took in the nutrients from the food to give you energy to help you do your life work.
How do you show your gratitude? Is this a constant in your life or is it something you have to work at?
Start your Gratitude Practice:
-Before eating, take 3 deep breaths
-Before each meal, say 1 thing you are grateful for
- If you have a daily practice of brushing your teeth, say something you are grateful for before doing your morning routine.
- Before bed, give thanks for BOTH the difficult parts as well as the celebrations of the day.
- When you are with friends and loved ones, let them know that you are grateful for their time and the time you share with them.
Be well, give thanks and stay connected to your loved ones
Suzanne Scholten