It’s the Little Things

We had a new moon this week on August 16th. The new moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, a new month, setting the stage for new intentions. We have the chance to focus on what we’d like to see, change or improve in our selves and our lives. I love thinking about that. How does this sit with you? When you ask yourself those questions, what pops up for you?

Philip and I have been talking a lot about gratitude. We’ve come to the shared determination that we need to practice more of it, particularly when life seems to get more challenging. We know that the practice of gratitude strengthens our faith in the Universe and in ourselves, which in turn strengthens our resilience. Did you follow that? Gratitude gives us grit.

I’m laughing as I write this, thinking of that scene in the movie My Cousin Vinny where Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei are seated in a diner, looking at grits for the first time: “What is a grit?!” No, we’re not talking about THAT grit. I’m talking about the kind that doesn’t let us stay down when we fall off of our horse. I’m talking about the grit that means perseverance and conscientiousness.

So how do we harness the actual power of gratitude for this month? I believe we start with something small. I know it’s tempting to go for the big things first: “I’m grateful for my family,” or “I’m grateful I live in a time when there are both donuts and Doordash.”

The more specific we are in our expression of gratitude, the more powerful it is. For instance, I’m grateful that our dog Max is still with us, still what that sparkle in his eye and that wag in his tail. I’m grateful for the guy in the big truck who let me into his lane last night as I was trying to get home.

Philip is grateful that our coffee place had just enough of the beans we like when he stopped by yesterday. He’s also grateful that the dogs’ bed was dry this morning. Actually, we both are (dogs with kidney failure—this can be a thing).

We’re both grateful for the beautiful dappled sunlight that comes into our home through a big tree behind our house in the morning.

Yes, by all means be grateful for the big things. But notice and be grateful for the little things as well. This brings our attention into this present moment, into the ways we are blessed on a daily or even a minute-by-minute basis. This is a really powerful acknowledgement.

Take a second and think—what was something big or small that happened in the last twenty-four hours that you’re grateful for?.

I find gratitude to be a bit of a landslide, honestly. Thankfulness for one tiny thing leads to another, then to another, then to another and all of the sudden, my whole experience is just better. I start with that one little thing — first thing this morning it was the beauty in my dark cottage that was illuminated as I turned on my salt lamps. It was as if the heartbeat of my sanctuary started to beat. I paused to notice it and felt glad. I felt gratitude for the warmth of the light, the glow in the darkness, the sacredness of the moment. I thought to myself, “I’m here. I can do this and have another day. Thank you.”

Then, it was natural to experience a swell of additional appreciation for the warm bodies of my dogs sleeping together in their bed, their sleepy yawns as I petted them, burying my hands in their soft fur, waking them so we could go out into the predawn for a walk. From there it was the stars and the planets dotting the inky sky and the softness of the air. We are in our hottest part of the year down here in Florida so any ounce of freshness is like a fabulous blessing. Gratitude? Oh yes.

You see how this works? One thing leads to another and on and on and we upgrade our entire life experience.

Sanctuary, that sacred, personal space of peace around us, is one that can support us in a daily practice of gratitude. Especially when we fill it with things that delight us, reminding us of good times and people and things that we love, connecting us to the healing power of the natural world. The sanctuary space, the daily practice of gratitude in that space—it all works together to bring beauty, resilience, and the utter sweetness of life into our daily experience.

In kicking off this renewed focus on gratitude, we decided to make ourselves a mini Thanksgiving dinner this week, complete with a roasted turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, and some cranberry sauce. We even have lots of leftovers for turkey and stuffing sandwiches.

There’s one more thing I’m grateful for—being able to share these thoughts with you. I appreciate your reading my email this morning. I love being a part of this growing sanctuary community, and hope you’ll share your thoughts with me on sanctuary, on gratitude, or on the intention you are setting for yourself with the new moon.

With love and very specific gratitude for you,

Lisa