Gratitude Season
November has always been one of my favorite months! It’s the month that my son was born. It’s the month that seasons really show their change; and we just follow suit. It’s also the month that we show gratitude without the pressure of a gift.
Yesterday, I taught mindfulness to my students. After a lot of grumbling at first from my students, this weekly class has turned into something they value.They even tell me now they wish they had mindfulness class every day. It was in the middle of frisbee class, I actually heard them say, “I wish I were in mindfulness class right now!”
This, of course, shocks the pants off of me, but I got to tell you, I couldn’t be more pleased. You see it’s working.They are recognizing the need and welcoming the results.
The other day, we had our first snow, changing fall to winter.., I live for first snow days because growing up in California, our winters consisted of a frost if we were lucky and 50° temperatures.. I was restless. I longed for the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Christmas shows that included snowflakes. I longed for the four seasons.Although I love the ocean breeze and the smell of the sea of my childhood, it was the seasonal change that pulled me to the mountains.
The snow didn’t really stick but that didn’t matter. It was the excitement of change, the frenetic energy of rain turning into white flakes falling from the sky. The kids arrived to class wet and drenched and happy and bubbly, and so excited for the natural miracle that was occurring outside the classroom.
This year Michael’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving. His mother tells stories of eating aThanksgiving meal in the hospital bed after delivering her fourth child. Michael is one of those people filled with gratitude. I sometimes wonder if that’s what they were actually serving on that hospital cafeteria tray, pure gratitude.
Last night we celebrated my son’s 25th birthday. A quarter of a century ago he arrived two weeks early on his own time. My water broke while Michael was on duty at the fire station. It was four in the morning when the call came in at the station. Fortunately, they had just come back from a call so when the captain announced over the PA system“Michael Conn, your wife is having a baby!” he got cheers from his peers, relieved by the timing.
There are many things that I am grateful for. I’m grateful for the text messages congratulating me on my BIRTH day. I’m grateful for the dinner that was prepared honoring Benjamin with all his favorite foods. I’m grateful that his sister helped me take down all the Halloween decorations and set up all the Thanksgiving decorations. And I am grateful that at the end of the day, Michael took the time to sit down with all of us, and talk about each candidate, providing each one’s history and reviews to help guide us in making an informed decision for the upcoming election.
And to top it off, Benjamin suggested we watch a show , that was making him laugh. I was so grateful to snuggle up with my family to watch the 20 minute Netflix show called Derry Girls (with captions so we could understand the heavy Irish accents and dialect!)
Gratitude never needs to be expensive or big or planned or requested. Gratitude just is. It’s acknowledging the present moment and being grateful for its arrival, but perhaps even more so, being grateful to feel and sense the gratitude and joy in change. to feel it to sense it.
MINDFULNESS RESOURCES FOR TEENS!
In many ways, I feel my cumulative years in teaching children has led me to this point in my career. This January, I mark my 33rd year as a school teacher, tutor, yoga instructor and believer in the power behind the mind of creative children.
Tragically, over the past 4 years I’ve attended 5 memorials of former students for whom I miss dearly. As a consummate teacher, I’m always adding to my toolbelt of useful and meaningful skills that can assist Tweens, Teens and Young Adults. One of these tools is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction-Teens (MBSR-T) training and certification.
MBSR-T is an incredible tool that can provide assistive outlets, methodologies and practices to help our young people find the resources necessary to deal with the stress of being a Tween and Teen in today’s society.
Details:
This workshop is designed for mature 10-year olds thru 18-year olds. Intro MBSR-T is 5 weeks, 4 weeks with JUST students and the 5th week is with both students and parents.
Definition: "Mindfulness is noticing your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in the present moment without harmful judgment."
Purpose: We will use mindfulness-based strategies and interventions to assist with managing stressors. Exercises are not limited to anxiety, depressions, problems with relationships, difficulties with attention and focus.
We will focus on Positive Neuroplasticity. "This is the process by which the brain changes in response to experiences, particular with regard to positive or pleasurable ones. By tilting toward the positive, you help positive neural connections grow"
Dates/Time
Offering begins Jan 7 (Dates: Jan 7, 21, 28, Feb 4 and Feb 11. Feb 11 is Family day)
Saturdays 2–4 pm
Where:
The Local Co-Op 1991 South 1100 East, SLC, UT 84105 (Mosaic Yoga)
What will we be doing?
Mindfulness and the Five Senses·
Mindful Eating; Taking a Mindful Bite Practice
Dropping-In Mindfulness Practice
Body Scan Mindfulness Practice
Sitting Mindfulness Practice
Mindful Walking and Movement
Yoga and/or Mindful Movement Practice
Heartfulness Mindfulness Practice
