Thankful on Thursdays
Inspiration & Meditation & Travel & Writing
I was born on Thanksgiving, which, in the United States, always falls on a Thursday. Somehow this makes every Thursday feel like my lucky day; and also a reminder in my week to practice gratitude.
Last fall, while every fiber of my being tried to acclimate to living back in this country after so many years of living in Thailand, I hit a round of “mean reds” (à la Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s). And by mean, I mean mean. Not just the kind that come for a day or two and pass, but the ones that linger for days, weeks, months on end.
I felt like no one could relate to anything that I had experienced during the past ten years of my life. Traffic and sidewalks felt too tidy. Storefronts felt too sterile. My body didn’t know what to do with the different foods, different climate, different clothes, or the fact that everyone in this town has white skin and speaks English. I was trading papaya for quinoa, a Honda Wave motorbike for a Ford Focus sedan, flip flops for moccassins. None of these are bad things, necessarily, just different. Very, very different.
One of the main things that helped me through was a nightly gratitude list of at least five things. Even if all that I could think of to put on that list were the bare basics: “I’m breathing,” “The sun felt good on my face this afternoon.”
No matter how high, how low, or how in-between things are, there are always things to be grateful for. And, somehow, that always helps me to put things back where they need to be–in perspective.
So, while it’s past my bedtime on this Thursday evening, here’s my list:
1. It’s 11:11 right now. I love that this reminds me of being a carefree teenager. So, like I did then, I’m making a wish. For all of us.
2. My dad fell yesterday and broke three ribs and punctured a lung. He’s in the hospital now and in a lot of pain. I am grateful that he is OK; and that I had the chance to call him, hear his voice, and say, “I love you.” I’m grateful for the friends who have sent their love and prayers.
3. A great yoga class with Norman Allard at Studio Be today where I felt my breath reach all the way up into my top ribs and lungs. So refreshing.
4. Hot yam & poblano soup at Whole Foods for lunch.
5. Lavender-scented bubble bath, followed by flannel PJ’s, and burrowing in my princess bed on a rare cold, damp, misty night in Boulder.
What’s your list?
Sweet dreams….
Would you like to include any of my writing or advice in your own newsletter or blog?
You can, just be sure to include my by- line:
Sara Avant Stover, Founder/Director of The Way of the Happy Woman™- Yoga, Meditation, and Life Balance for Women. For free tools and resources for women, including a Free Yoga for PMS CD, please visit www.TheWayoftheHappyWoman.com .
2 Comments » 2 Comments »
Alexandra Alvarezon 22 May 2009 at 10:48 am 1Hi Sara,
It is really lovely and touching to my heart to see, read and feel your writings. I love your way of expressing yourself through writing, you way of communicating. I find it fabulous.
I too have felt like no one could relate to anything I have been through in the last 10 years of my life.
Gratitude definitely is a great way to remain connected to everything.
I was drinking a Yogi Ginger Tea the other day that had the message “Gratitude is the open door for abundance” This reminds me of how much I have and how grateful I am for it all, even in the midst of “off” days and confusion.
I went to bed last night feeling down because I am entering into a long distance relationship when I know that ultimately it is not what I want. I still want to give it a chance. Give myself the opportunity, but I struggle with myself between wanting to give it a chance and thinking “what am I doing?”
Today is a rainy day in Miami. Gray skies and windy. I woke up feeling like I didn’t want to wake up(most probably due to the fact that I went to sleep feeling down). Thinking about the list of things I have to do today, I woke up with a struggle. Now as I sit here and read your post I am grateful for your post. I am grateful that although I have a big list of things to do I am not pressured to do them by anyone except myself and the world will not come to an end if I don’t do them all. I am grateful that I get to exercise everyday and practice a little bit of yoga. I am grateful I am able to get infrared therapy for my back and joints. I am grateful I have had the opportunity to start a business. I am grateful I have been able to find friends in Miami that are I can relate to on a deep, honest level. I am grateful I get to breathe, in and out. I am grateful I get to feel my emotions and cry at this very moment.
Please keep on doing such lovely work…
Much Love,
Alexandra
Give Thanks « ONYX: healthy is beautifulon 22 May 2009 at 12:25 pm 2[...] my girl Julia, who writes allaboutthepretty. Today on Facebook her status update was a link to The Way of a Happy Woman by Sara Avant Stover whose post discussed no matter how hard life gets, give thanks. I decided [...]