The Practice of Gratitude

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the US, and as I prepare to go celebrate with my closest friends, I wanted to share some thoughts on gratitude. Gratitude is not a thought or a feeling, but a practice. As I struggle to get most of my limbs to function correctly on any given day, as just getting up out of bed in the morning hurts every time, as I prepare for a knee surgery next Monday which will require me to be non-weight bearing for eight weeks, as I see multiple friends and family struggling with their own mental and physical illnesses, and as the world generally seems to be burning around us, it is very difficult to maintain a practice of gratitude.

But of course, times of struggle are when gratitude is a very powerful tool. I was first introduced to the idea of gratitude as a practice by Brené Brown, and in a book recommended by my therapist, I learned how gratitude is actually a proven weapon against anxiety. It’s not a magic bullet, but I found that when I made the effort to do a mindfulness gratitude practice each day or just when I was feeling down, it actually did give me a sense of calm, and centeredness.

In an effort to dig deep and practice gratitude on this day of Thankfulness, here is a brief list of things I am grateful for that I will be meditating on today. Please share with me what your experience has been with gratitude practice and what you are grateful for today.

My Gratitude List

1. First of all, I am grateful to the indigenous peoples, scholars, and activists who work to re-educate Americans on the true violent colonist history of this holiday and how we can do better.
   
2. I am grateful to my husband, who despite having his own struggles, is thoughtfully working to make sure I have everything I will need to be cared for, physically and emotionally, during my recovery.
   
3. I am grateful for the beloved friends I am going to be spending this holiday with, who bring joy and love into my life all year round, and will also be there to care for me while my biological family is too far away to be able to.
   
4. I am also grateful for my biological family, to have parents and siblings who love me, who are proud of me, and I am proud of them. Though we don’t get to see each other as often as I would like, I am grateful that modern technology makes it possible to still feel connected.
   
5. I am grateful to have a good job with medical benefits that let me get the care that I need, and I am grateful to have a supportive boss and team who give me and others the resources and time off when needed to care for myself and others. Not everyone has this, and I am grateful for the activists who are working to expand access to basic human needs like health care for all.
   
6. I am grateful to be able to take the time to share these thoughts with you and to have access to supportive online communities.