Hi, Thinking out loud here.
Welcome to Mindful Monday, week 5
Gratitude
Please, if you haven't already gotten a drink, get one, maybe even a snack, and find a comfy seat so you can relax. Let all worries go for the next little while; let yourself get ready for taking in five deep breaths. If you have any problems with breathing, please take an extra mindful moment here. For those joining me in the breathing exercise, please get ready.
Breath out all the way, time for your first deep breath, take in one deep breath through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. Hold for 1.. breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. breathe in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. and hold for 1..2.. breath out for five through your mouth 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. two more to go breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. and hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. last one deep breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. now go back to your regular breathing pattern. I hope you feel calm and relaxed.
I was going to save this one for November, but given that I am currently writing this on the 25th of November 2021. I can't get the word gratitude out of my head. So I think now is the time to write it, and although I know when this is uploaded, it won't be November, I still think it's good to have gratitude and be grateful all year round, no matter the month or the date. So I hope you can think back on the year that has gone by and the beginning of this year and already have gratitude for things that have happened.
I'm grateful to have been able to have made it back home to NZ when I did way back at the end of 2020. I'm sorry for families who haven't been as fortunate as mine, as I know how hard it has been for them. It is heartbreaking to imagine how I would have felt had I not made it home when I did.
I'm grateful for the year ahead no matter what happens that I yet don't know about; I'm grateful for any opportunities I have and allow myself to take. I'm grateful for growing, learning and adapting to anything I do, especially with my writing. I'm grateful for every day I get with my dog; she is eleven and will be twelve in April. I'm grateful for technology, for being able to keep in touch with family who are both near and far; it makes those who are far away seem that little bit closer even if I still can't hug them just yet.
I'm grateful for all of you reading this blog post, and I'm grateful for all of the opportunities you are given and that you take this year. Don't be scared to take those opportunities, whatever they may be; I've been hearing this quote a lot recently, so I would like to share it with you. 'If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough.' By Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; alternatively, to that quote, If your dreams do scare you, then you are on the right path.
Take today to think about what you are grateful for or who you are grateful for; maybe if it's a person or people let them know, you might just make their day that little bit better, perhaps even ask your friends and family what they are grateful for.
When I was living in Australia, my cousins had this beautiful thing they did every day at 7 pm an alarm would go off, letting us know that it was grateful moment. We would all sit together and take it in turn for what we were grateful for during the day; if it had been a hard day, then you had to really think and pick out the positive that you got from the day. Of course, some days were easier than others, but I like that you could always find that one little or, in some cases, big grateful moment every day. Sometimes we even had more than one, which I like. It always made me think and reflect on my day; it made me grateful for who and what I had and still have around me. Maybe you could try this today with your family; set aside five minutes for you all to say something you are grateful for.
Let's finish with a little three deep breath breather.
Take one breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. final breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. final breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. no hold here you can now go back to your regular breathing pattern.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this blog post; I really am grateful to anyone who is reading them. Leave a comment below, letting me know what you are grateful for today.
Love always Thinking out loud xx :D
