Gratitude-It Lives in Your Body

“If the only prayer you would say in your life is “thank you” that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart
At this time of the year, itʼs a good idea to focus on what we have to be thankful for and to let go of any resentments and bitterness. Take a moment and think about a time you felt touched by Life…a smile, an act of kindness, a moment of vulnerability. Recall all the sensory rich details of this moment, when you felt touched by Life. Where were you? Who else was there? What were you doing? Were there sounds? What were the sensations and feelings in your body?
Implicit in being touched by life, often lies the feeling of gratitude. Moreover when we feel connected to ourselves, we often feel connected to others around us. What would happen if we consciously practiced gratitude?
At a workshop I was in recently, we practiced this exercise. I recalled how it “felt” in my body when I remembered being greeted by a fellow participant. I hadnʼt met her yet or exchanged words, and she greeted me warmly, when I stepped inside the dorms we were staying in. She said “oh youʼre Ed” having heard my name mentioned before. And proceeded to engage me in lively conversation. I felt at once seen and comforted by her warmhearted attention. Later in recalling the scene, I felt once again the tingle in my body and good feeling spreading throughout myself. Another words recalling the event that touched me and the sensations and feelings in my body, brought on another dose of gratitude and a smile to my face.