A Tradition of Gratitude
Photo credit: Megan Watson
“Practicing gratitude is a mindful act because it shifts your attention from what you don’t have, to all the gifts that you do have.” ~ Kate Matsudaira, founder of Ink Volt
Over the month of October I’m writing about mindfulness practices in my musings blogs. Last week I explored journaling as a tool to expand awareness, and in the coming weeks my posts will be about yoga, meditation, and sensory experiences in nature. It’s Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday, so today I’m delving into how gratitude, when it becomes a habit, has the possibility to shift your consciousness to a higher level.
Mindfulness is a state of present moment awareness. When you stop the constant train of thoughts that run through your mind and focus on your blessings, your attention is taken away from everything else. You can make a mental list or write the things you are grateful for down on paper. It becomes a practice when you make a commitment to set time aside for thankfulness on a regular, consistent basis.
I find it helpful to set aside a specific time of day, and for me, that’s first thing in the morning, when I write in my journal. It doesn’t take me more than a few minutes, so it's easy to stick with and has become a habit. It sets the tone for the day and creates a shift of perspective. I find myself noticing more things that I’m grateful for throughout the day than before I committed to this practice.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of starting a gratitude practice, there are books written specifically on this topic you might want to read. 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik describes his transformative experience. He was in a challenging season of life when he decided to handwrite daily thank you notes for gifts of kindness he’d received from family, friends, coworkers, and neighbours. During the process, he achieved greater financial success, made new friends, lost weight, and found inner peace.
Gratitude by Oliver Sacks honestly and eloquently captures the medical and human side of illness. Written during the last few months of the author’s life as he came to terms with his death, it is a heartfelt story. Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy by Nancy Leigh DeMoss challenges and equips readers to live a life of intention. It is a Christian-based book with a focus on thanking God for the gifts and blessings in your life.
As I mentioned, the inspiration for this post comes from Canadian Thanksgiving. It is my favourite holiday even though it is only a weekend celebration because it hasn’t become commercialized and it’s all about gratitude. When I was young, Thanksgiving simply meant a day off school and the indulgence of turkey, dressing, and gravy—with a large piece of pumpkin pie for dessert. But when my consciousness began to shift in my early thirties, so did my perception of what Thanksgiving really means.
When Mister and I lived abroad, the traditions of most holidays shifted. In Saudi Arabia, there was a large group of Canadians on our compound, and we would get together to share a meal, but sometimes we couldn’t find a turkey at the supermarkets and we had to adapt our menus. In Panama we were invited to a Thanksgiving dinner at one of the restaurants in Coronado, with more than thirty people in attendance.
Since returning to Canada two years ago, my focus during Thanksgiving is thinking about and expressing appreciation for the blessings in my life. I’m not fussed about cooking a huge turkey anymore, and in fact, Mister and I often joke, our only tradition is no tradition. Last year we hosted two Thanksgiving dinners. The first was with Mister’s brother and partner and the menu was whiskey ribs, autumn vegetables, and pumpkin pie. The second was with his parent’s and a nephew visiting from out of town and we served Chateaubriand and chocolate soufflé.
This year Mister and I are in Ontario visiting our daughter and her partner. We still don’t have a plan to celebrate Thanksgiving, but what I know for sure is that I will be writing a long list of gratitude. It always starts with Mister, followed by family and close friends. The rest changes over time, but this year I’m especially grateful for two new grandchildren. I feel fortunate for the exemplary healthcare both Mister and I received as residents of Manitoba. My resilience and endurance came from the strength of my spiritual connection with God. It was a long, hard journey of searching to get here, but here I am, and my cup of gratitude is flowing over.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
· I am still determined, pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.
· Watch The Holding trailer.
· Watch The Healing trailer.