Katie Donahoo
Sit back in your chair, take a deep breath in and out while let your muscles relax. Remove the tongue from the roof of your mouth, and take a moment to visualize with me……
Think about the people you love. Your spouse, your children, your parents. See their faces in front of you. Picture those who may not be related you but whom you love like family. A friend, a neighbor, a colleague. Feel your heart soften as you think of these loved ones.
Picture the non-human loves in your life; a dog, a cat, a bunny, a reptile. Allow yourself to smile as you picture their face.
Remember the last time someone gave you a heart felt thank you. Words of gratitude or appreciation. A card or a gift. Remember the gratitude you felt in that moment as you were recognized for your efforts.
Visualize the last time you received a warm hug. Who was it from? Feel the gentle but firm squeeze as you think about it. Imagine the smell you inhaled as you returned this person’s hug. The relaxation as you exhaled just before stepping back.
Let you mind keep wander to all the latest comforts you may have forgotten to enjoy. The hot coffee you sip in the mornings. The peaceful silence on the drive to work. The way your breath can been seen in the crisp morning air.
Image the release you feel when removing your shoes at the end of the day. The feeling of laying in your bed as you settle down for the night.
Notice how your body fills with gratefulness for these big and small things. It’s warmth and love and comfort rising within you. Bathe in the richness of this feelings. Allow it to consume you.
Consider for a moment what life would be like if you took small moments like these and enjoyed them while they were happening. Gratitude in the moment rather than an after thought. Intentional gratefulness daily.
As your awareness returns to the present remember this feeling. The warmth, the peace, the contentedness. This is where happiness lies. In the folds of the mundane and the background of the boring. Hiding in plain sight just waiting for you to see it.
Happy Thanksgiving Readers