the morning after the ice storm
The surest way for me to not do something, is to tell me to do it.
I’m not talking about when people are being demanding–no one likes that–but even in a “Look what I did! It made me so happy, maybe you should try it too!” sort of way. I don’t know why, but I have a natural resistance and skepticism to these sort of declarations.
Sometime in the mid 90’s Oprah started declaring virtues of gratitude journaling. Suddenly everyone had a gratitude journal. (Not my peers of course–we were still Gen X-ing our little hearts out.) Over the years it’s been Ted talks, blogs, books, influencers, Oprah (again), church, everywhere proclaiming the benefits of practicing gratitude.
Don’t get me wrong I have long since jumped on the gratitude train. I believe in gratitude wholeheartedly. WITH MY WHOLE HEART.
I do, I do, I really, really do.
But what I don’t do–haven’t done, have resisted even–is a gratitude practice. A daily (or near daily) practice of actively writing, meditation, saying, practicing gratitude.
For some reason I have finally felt that internal nudge to start a practice. A gratitude practice is different than simply including gratitude in your daily prayers (although I think that helps) or living an attitude of gratitude (again, helpful). A gratitude practice is more active, more intentional. Which is actually what I believe this is really all about–this gratitude practice is part of a bigger nudge to set goals, make plans, to live intentionally.
The fact that this urge for regular gratitude practice happened to coincide with this time of year–ahem, Thanksgiving–wasn’t something I planned. (But perhaps the Universe did… I really can’t say.) However, it might have started with our power outage last week where were left with 2 days and 1 night without power and it seems like our family hasn’t stopped talking about warmth and indoor heating since then.
How do I envision my practice? Today it was listening to a gratitude meditation while I walked. The past couple of days before I took a moment and wrote 3 things down, stretching my brain to really think of things I am grateful for that fall outside of my typical thoughts of thanksgiving. I’m also getting a new planner that will help me goals, planning and the writing of gratitudes. (Who am I?)
Obviously I’m not going to tell you to start a gratitude practice. I’m not going to tell you to watch Ted talks or to listen to mother Oprah or even to pray about it. Just like I sometimes offer myself or my children permission to do something different, maybe even drastically different than what they and others expect of them, I would simply tell you to watch for those internal and external signs of permission you need to change your course or start something new. You’ll know when the time is right, just make sure you take the leap while the door is open. It doesn’t stay open (internally or externally) forever.
I’m grateful for your love and support on this space for over a decade.
I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced through writing.
I’m grateful for the people I’ve met (and not met) through this platform and the influence you’ve had on my life and the lives of others.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I hope you have a great weekend.
XO,
Miggy
