Gratitude
I won’t lie, this has been a rough year. Trump (no need to elaborate), the enormous loss of my dear friend Shelly Kerchner who died unexpectedly on January 10th, the kidney failure of my love bug dog Little Man, now 13, deaf and in a diaper, the increasing pain from fibromyalgia and my right hip which now has a completely disintegrated femur head and no cartilage at all in the joint. It has taken just about every ounce of energy to exist and work. I find myself now the night before my hip replacement surgery reflecting on both the mourning of the loss of playing and cavorting with my grandchildren, dancing, walking, hiking, gardening, going to summer music festivals and outings, teaching at Rhythm Revival, having ease and comfort in my body at all, AND being grateful for my community and for how some folx are showing up in these times.
Shelly, a paraplegic who faced many challenges, lived a practice of gratitude everyday. Inspired by her, I focus my energy here right now.
My Gratitude List
- My family-My husband (who I know would rather be fishing), who selflessly holds it all together right now without a complaint, my daughter who teaches me about agency and resilience, my son, a father of 4, a pastor and community leader along with his amazing wife always make time and space for us. My 4 grandchildren who are my inspiration to reclaim my life, my sisters who are my heart, my mom and my larger extended family.
- My community-From so many walks of my life- the Tuesday and Saturday Yoga Sanghas, the Studio 404 Yoga Sangha, Dynamic Gentle Yogis, friends, friends who are family, the Harris Connections crew, neighbors, Rhythm Revival tribe, musician, artist and activist community, writing and poetry community, Facebook friends. I am literally crying typing this at the kindness and support shown to me and my family.
- My faith community– Stahl Mennonite is an open hearted, open minded community of faith lived out in action, in loving supportive community. I have never before experienced such a humble, blessed group that walks the walk of the Gospel.
- Teachings that provide a framework for navigating ebbs and flows of life BEYOND HYPER INDIVIDUALIZED WELLNESS- Gospel, Yoga Sutras, the Work That Reconnects (the body of work from recent ancestor, eco-Buddhist scholar Joanna Macy), adrienne maree brown’s work of collective liberation.
- Music, Books & Poetry that have carried me through these times– Song circles w/School for the Great Turning, song circles I have led, poetry of Mary Oliver, We-Moon, Andrea Gibson, words of Sophie Strand, Joanna Macy, Michelle Cassandra Johnson and more.
- Little Man- our 13 year old Japanese Chin who is a Love Bug.
- Practices-Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, Mudras, Mantras, Prayer, Chant, Journaling, Reiki.
- Aspirational People/Groups Showing Up on behalf of Humanity and the Planet– Mennonite Action, Jewish Voices for Peace, Christians for a Free Palestine, Standing Together, Nikita Gill, Aine Tyrell, Ms Rachel, Lydia Violet Hartoonian, Rising Appalachia.
- The Living Breathing Earth herself and the MOON-who shows us a different face each night!
This is but a fraction of how gratitude opens my heart even now, how about you?
