Make Room for Gratitude
I started a practice of moon bathing and I committed to doing it for at least one week. (You can too! Join us in the Moonbathers group.) This started in part because I have found that some of my best memories of solitude involve sitting outside at night alone under the moon light. These moments are rich in gratitude. I feel grounded, fulfilled, present, introspective, and open-hearted. It reminds me of this quote:
When I am silent, I fall into the place where everything is music. ~Rumi
My moon baths have been all about silence and yes, everything is music: the insects, the wind and even the faraway hum of traffic. Moments like this gratitude shows up without even calling it into presence. I make room in my life and it just shows up. Uninvited but always welcome. The funny thing is that ever since I began this challenge on Friday, the moon has eluded me. I have literally not seen the moon since I committed to daily moon bathing! I can’t help but learn from this.
Lesson learned number one: Be Present.
I can’t just declare that I will be grateful for something at some point in the future. It reminds me of that phrase we use when we want someone to do something: I’d appreciate it if you would … There’s a level of falseness there to say we will be grateful then instead of saying that we are grateful now. So the lesson I learned from this is that I can set my intention to be grateful but I can’t control the circumstances.
Lesson learned number two: Be Open.
Just because I have great memories about finding gratitude under the moon light doesn’t mean that is the only way I can be grateful. All weekend I found lots of gratitude outside even though the moon was not there. Being open to whatever shows up, noticing it, and accepting it is part of gratitude.
Lesson learned number three: Do What Brings You Joy.
I love quiet moments of solitude. I already knew this to some degree but this experience has helped me see it even more clearly.
Lesson learned number four: Don’t Give Up.
I shouldn’t give up when things don’t go my way. No moon doesn’t mean that I stop doing it. I set my intention and show up and by doing my part the moon bath is just as beneficial whether I can see the moon or not.
Lesson learned number five: Trust.
I know and trust that the moon is there even though I can’t see it. That type of trust is important in my life because I can get caught up in proof-searching. Not everything needs that proof. Not everything is that tangible. Trusting the unknown is a beautiful thing and I can practice with the moon.
Commit to seven nights of moon bathing and see how it shapes your gratitude practice. Visit the Moonbathers group to make your commitment and share your experiences.
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This Week’s Gratitude Question
[su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/activity/” background=”#178fb3″]What do you appreciate because it nourishes you and brings you joy?[/su_button]
My Gratitude Experience Last Week
I had a terrible night on Monday. I don’t want to give any details but I was feeling sad and questioning everything. I kept going through waves of wanting to run away from the reality and anxiously trying to control it. My gratitude shows what a state I was in. I began typing my gratitude and then it just wasn’t working so I stepped away from the phone and did some meditative self-healing work. It worked really well. Afterward I was grounded and present and returned to love. I almost deleted the gratitude I started with but I decided to share it so everyone could see my process when things aren’t going well. Sometimes gratitude doesn’t show the pain and negativity. But on Monday I let it all hang out. I accepted it and loved it.
Forgotten Gratitude
Last week I was also grateful for being able to rest when I needed to; my body has been out of sorts for about a week now and needing a lot more rest … Finding the perfect bed frame on Craigslist … Feeling strong and accomplished.
A New eCard
Image by Antonia Montoya
The Gratitude I Shared Last Week
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| Sun | 8/2/2015 | I’m grateful for the opportunity to help my sister … Reviving old songs … A generous essential oil gift from the sweetest friend and gratitude supporter, served with discussions about Turkey and about embracing a loving exchange of currency and value … The adorable sounds of Paolo … Eva Lucia’s smile and laugh. |
| Sat | 8/1/2015 | Full of appreciation for shaking it on the dance floor dress up fun, watching skilled dancers throw themselves fully into their moves … Working smarter not harder and also working really hard too … Healthy steel cut oats and coffee followed by a carne adovada breakfast burrito … Finding my songwriting recordings that I thought were lost. |
| Fri | 7/31/2015 | I’m grateful for a haircut, just what I needed to feel better about myself … A perfect poppy seed bagel from our only Jewish bakery, chewy and toasted perfectly … Inspiration to commit to one week of moon baths … I’m not feeling so good and I’m grateful for being able to do my work and play music with my natural rhythms. |
| Thu | 7/30/2015 | I’m grateful for clarity about something I’m ready to let go of … Working together well … Coming home to a delicious dinner with just the right touch of vinegar to make my tastebuds dance. |
| Wed | 7/29/2015 | I’m grateful my lady thoroughly enjoyed a movie that I’ve been pushing her to watch, it was also wonderful to see it again myself … I’m grateful for strong coffee in the morning and finally getting caught up on my water intake … I’m grateful for another productive day. |
| Tue | 7/28/2015 | I am so very grateful for finding wild cota and for knowing the honoring and respectful way to harvest, asking and thanking the plants … One on one time with @heather and Finn, sharing a meal, spending time, catching up … Having someone to talk to at just the right time … I’m grateful for sleep in my own bed, feeling at home. |
| Mon | 7/27/2015 | Thank you breath … Cable TV distraction. I’m feeling very out of sorts. I’m going to do some self treatments of reiki to try to get grounded … That worked really well. I’m grateful for my own healing touch … Quiet … Space … Self-awareness, calling myself out on my shit … Loving myself as I am right now, no matter what. Sigh. I feel a lot better. |
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[su_note note_color=”#e7e7e7″ text_color=”#686767″ radius=”0″] My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it! A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide. My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can too. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336. [/su_note]