Today is Thanksgiving here in the United States, one of my favorite holidays.

We may not be gathering around the same tables with the same people as we have in the past. Or we may.

There may be more family drama because of this. Or perhaps less.

We might be alone, or in smaller groups. Or we might be ordering in, or cooking simply.

Let us not forget that some are hungry, moreso than last year.
(Feeding America does beautiful work addressing hunger and food insecurity, in case you're looking to give).

I’ve received so many messages from individuals and businesses of all kinds, acknowledging the holiday, offering a giving of thanks, in spite of all that humanity is moving through.

And certainly, gratitude, even (especially) in difficult times, is essential and nourishing, healing and mind-changing.

Gratitude practices are incredibly powerful. And the research shows it.

Today, though, after days of sitting with the question of what to write, I want to offer a different spin on the giving of thanks.

I want to touch on this idea of not DOING the thanksgiving, but BEING thanksgiving.

This theme of BEING rather than DOING is a big theme these days, isn't it?

What would it be to like to inhabit the energy of thanksgiving – to feel it and experience it, in your body, in your heart, in your mind?

Here’s a simple invitation to try if you should like to find a quiet spot and pause for 5 minutes…

Close your eyes and deepen your breath.
Play with visiting stillness, listening in to the quiet (or the noise asking for your attention) inside.
Honor whatever shows up, see it, acknowledge it.
Sit with what is inside of you for 1-3 minutes, just listening to what is there.
Now focus on breathing in and out through your heart center, long deep inhales and exhales (aim for a slow count of 5-6 in and 5-6 out).
Breathe in gratitude. Breathe out gratitude.
Notice what it feels like, if it has a shape, a particular sensation. Notice where it’s located. What does it look like? Can you sense its texture and size?
Now imagine it becoming you, imagine the energy of gratitude merging with your cells, informing all of you of this way of BEing.
Feel into this STATE of thanksgiving. What is it to BE that? To know it in your body? How would you like to carry this with you?
Breathe it in, breathe it out. How does this shift the way you might walk in the world, the way you engage with others, the way you think of your life and the world right now? Just noticing, no judgment :).

And by the way, as you notice what’s there, I invite you to feel into how we can inhabit any and all of these states – joy, hope, grief, anger, beauty, and LOVE, along with many others.

We can BECOME them, and wow, is that a powerful thing.

What do you want to BE today?

I’d love to hear how this goes for you.

And with that, I’m off to make my favorite… sweet potatoes!

Happy Thanksgiving, and happy BEING the state of giving thanks!

With love and gratitude to you, my friend.

Many blessings, for connectedness, quiet, joy and love.
Kelly

Kelly Lubeck, MPH, RYT