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Today’s self-care idea is another gratitude practice. I hope it does not seem redundant; I believe we cannot spend too much effort reminding ourselves the beauty that surrounds us; doing so is an important aspect of nourishing, enriching, and healing our souls. Each weekend, as our family routines slow down and I have more space in my day for intention, my mind turns to appreciating the gifts around me.
I multiply the power of this focus with a mealtime ritual inspired by the words of Thich Nhat Hanh. In the book Inter-Being, Hanh describes the process of linking together all of the historic events which have led to the moment that you are experiencing. Being nurtured by eating is a perfect opportunity to recognize the farmers, truck drivers, store owners, sun and rain and soil, the parents of all the workers and their grandparents throughout time, all of the relationships and resources that nurtured each of them, the legacy of plant biology necessary to produce the seeds, the crafters or factory laborers who created the tools, furniture, and fabrics that you are using to eat, all of those individual’s ancestors and everything and everyone who contributed to those lives; the materials, equipment, and human work needed to build all of the structures and transportation infrastructure involved.
When sharing this fullness with my younger child, I often simplify enormity to three or five key elements, while in my own brain I hold the expansive version.
Contemplating these factors ignites a sense of wonder at my place in the universe – even the geology and astronomic forces that have impacted the formation of our planet play a part. Considering all this, there is very little chance that any piece of the entire world going backward infinitely has not somehow influenced the current state of my reality. It also brings into my awareness my role in the future of humanity and global ecology. That is an awesome, magical feeling. I hope you can find time to realize the same sensation.
With Love and Kindness,
Anne