Good morning.
Are you ready to start this brand new day,
One filled with gratitude?
Let's begin by finding a comfortable posture,
And maybe you're still in bed,
Or you might be sitting with a cup of coffee.
Wherever you are,
Just stop and take a deep breath in through your nose,
Filling your lungs with the fresh morning air,
And slowly and fully exhale through your mouth,
Letting go any leftover energy that you might be holding onto.
Let's do this a few more times.
Breathing in deeply through your nose,
And fully exhaling through your mouth.
Breathing in,
Letting go.
Begin to settle into your body,
Noticing the weight of it on the surface that you're on.
And with each exhale,
Just relaxing all your muscles,
Becoming fully present in your body this morning.
Continue breathing in and out,
Bringing oxygen into your body,
Your blood,
Awakening every cell,
All your organs,
Tissues,
All the muscles and bones.
Allow yourself to open to the awareness that you have opened your eyes on this new day.
We go to sleep every night with the expectation of waking in the morning.
Really allow yourself to be thankful that you are here now,
Truly appreciating this new morning and taking nothing for granted.
Each day is a fresh opportunity to offer appreciation for your life,
For being alive.
By beginning your morning in gratitude,
You soothe your nervous system and nurture your heart before heading into the busyness of life.
To do this,
Bring to mind one person or maybe a pet that really fills your heart with love for being in your life.
Recalling all the details of the specific interaction with this person or pet,
What was the time of day?
Was it morning or evening?
Was it warm or cool?
Were there others with you or was it just the two of you?
Picture as many details as you can and begin to feel the emotion that you experienced.
And as you hold this person or pet in your heart,
Offer the following words silently or out loud,
I am so grateful for having you in my life.
Thank you for being you and for being my friend.
I am truly blessed.
Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly.
Allow this moment of gratitude to move from your heart throughout your entire body with your breath.
Now bring your attention to your body and take another breath in and out.
Begin to feel the air touching your skin.
Understanding the points of contact with the surface that you're on and becoming aware of your environment.
Taking some gentle movement and slowly opening your eyes and looking at the room or the space outside that you are in right here and now.
And offer yourself appreciation for this morning,
For your practice,
And for this wonderful new day.
