This is a gratitude practice,
Inviting you to take your seat in the posture that you wish to practice,
Whether you're sitting in a chair or in a cushion,
Wherever you are comfortable.
Taking a moment to check in with yourself.
And as we invite in gratitude into our practice this morning,
Reflecting on what it is around you and within you,
And we'll start with bringing awareness to the air around us,
To the air that allows us to have breath,
The breath of life.
Remember reflecting on this for yourself,
The elements that you're grateful for,
The sunshine on your face,
The warmth,
The rays that reflect through the trees and the flowers in your garden.
So noticing the sounds of the birds,
The raindrops that feed the earth,
And then savoring the practices in your day as you go about your day that you relish and that nourish you.
Is it sitting with a warm cup of tea,
Cup of coffee,
Whatever drink you prefer?
Or is it that moment that you can find to read the book that you're currently reading,
Or a poem that feeds your heart and soul,
The words that just seem to touch that place in your heart?
Perhaps it's puttering in the garden,
Picking flowers and preparing the ground for planting seedlings,
Perhaps it's watering your garden,
Bringing gratitude to these moments,
Being aware of your senses,
Taking in your moments through the sense of sight and sound,
Touch,
Taste,
Smell,
How we can enjoy our day through our senses.
What are you grateful for?
Then bringing awareness to the people in your life.
So who comes to mind,
Perhaps from your past,
Your early days,
People who have provided strength and encouragement,
Helped you grow and thrive?
Can even be the people that you've struggled with and that have helped you strengthen and grow in different ways,
Lessons that you've learnt,
Things about yourself that you've discovered?
And who is in your life now,
The people you appreciate,
Those who give you encouragement,
Express kindness?
It can be those you know well or those that you see from time to time.
Perhaps you're appreciating pets in your life,
Animals that you love and care for,
Perhaps past,
Perhaps present.
Just noticing how you express gratitude for their presence in your life.
Then inviting gratitude for this body,
For this heart and mind that is part of your existence.
Appreciating yourself for the ways you show up in your life,
And the healthy practices that you partake in every day.
And as we come to the close of this gratitude practice,
I invite you as you move from here to take this into the next moment of your life,
For the rest of your day or your evening.
