Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

As we near the end of year that has been challenging, uncertain, and even terrifying for so many people, I realize that it may not be so easy to feel thankful.

It’s said that gratitude is the quickest route to the heart. It’s the perfect day to try it out and see if it works. 

Take a few minutes today to look around, to look within, and see what you can feel thankful for. Here's my partial list:
 

• My health and the health of my family
• Nourishing food
• A safe living environment
• My spiritual path
• An astoundingly beautiful planet
• All the wonderful people I get to teach yoga to
• The ability to make a living doing what I love
• My daughter's teachers and school administrators who care so much about what they do and the children they teach
• The doctors, nurses, public health workers, ambulance, bus, and truck drivers, food delivery people, grocery store workers, and all the other front-line workers who have put their health and the health of their families on the line to fulfill their responsibilities during this pandemic.
• The volunteers of all kinds including those who support food pantries, shelters, counselling services, and a myriad of other helping initiatives, and those who donate money to support them.

And that's just after a few minutes of adopting this perspective. 

I think what’s most impactful about the conscious practice of gratitude is the residue of contentment that lingers. It’s the acceptance of and appreciation for life as it is, the realization that what we have is enough, that we are enough.

I think I'll continue to wear the glasses of gratitude today and see where it takes me. How about you?