Gratitude Practices for Your Body
This is a photograph of a spiral and a pinch pot I created, along with writing prompted by Rumi’s poetry inspired by a practice from Suleika Jaouad's newsletter. I've been feeling incredibly messy lately, so I am oh so grateful for practices that bring me back to my center, invite me to connect with my body, remind me to laugh and play whenever possible. Especially now, with the world’s sorrow and grief, mine and yours, and the mishmash of holiday emotions. It feels essential to remember that I am part of a collective. In that spirit, I am sharing a collection of short, accessible practices that invite you to: • center • connect with your body • cultivate gratitude • create gratitude for your aging body
My typical starting place includes some or all of the following: making myself a cup of tea, lighting a candle, playing some of my favorite music, and reading a poem. Please consider what helps you to feel that you are stepping into more connection with yourself.
This week, I've been reading a stanza from this poem while I'm waiting for the kettle to boil each morning and then rereading the same stanza throughout the day, using the words as a mantra of sorts. I am finding this to be particularly nourishing. I hope you find some nourishment here too.
Your Laughter Turns the World to Paradise by Rumi
Your laughter turns the world to paradise.
It tears through me like fire.
It teaches me.
Reborn in emptiness,
I emerge laughing,
here to learn from Love
new depths of laughter.
I’ve been short on courage,
but I have a heart of sunlight,
straight from the king’s hand.
I stir up laughter even in those who fear joy.
Crack open my shell.
Steal the pearl.
I'll still be laughing.
It's the rookies who laugh only when they win.
Last night, the spirit of dawn came to my room
and gave me a lesson in laughter.
Our blazing roars lit the morning sky.
When I brood like a rain cloud,
laughter flashes through me.
It's the habit of lightning
to laugh through a storm.
Look at the furnace.
Look at the stones.
See the glowing red veins?
Gold-laughing in fire, daring you,
“Prove you’re no fake!
Laugh even when you lose.”
We’re fodder for death
so learn to laugh from the angel of death.
He laughs at the jeweled belts and crowns of kings—
all that splendor’s just on loan.
Treetop blossoms erupt in laughter.
Petals rain down.
Laugh like the bud of a flower,
Hugging the ground.
Its hidden smile opens to a laugh that lasts a lifetime.
Body Gratitude Practices
What is body gratitude? Body gratitude is an appreciation of your body's worthiness, just as you are in this moment.
You may want to cultivate gratitude for your body as a whole or for a particular part of your body that concerns you. It may be helpful to place your hands on the area of your body that you want to focus on, or to imagine you are doing so, or give your whole body a big hug to help you discern what is most helpful before you begin. You can begin with any centering practice that you're already familiar with, such as connecting with your feet or seat, noticing your breath, scanning your body for the places you are holding tension, and try to soften and release.
Body Gratitude Journaling-one of the most common gratitude practices is to simply write about how your body has supported you and provided any aspect of well-being, healing and pleasure in your life.
Body Gratitude Doodles-as you draw any repetitive pattern or spiral, offer your body the gratitude mentioned above.
Body Gratitude Collage-collect photographs and create a collage of images that express your gratitude for your body.
Body Gratitude Crafting-as you knit, mold clay, color or paint, hold a meditation or prayer for body gratitude. The kinetic movement of the art moving through you while you hold thoughts of body gratitude allows the message to take root.
As with all practices, it is the nature of the human mind to wander off and get distracted. When that happens, and it most certainly will, with kindness, notice that you are thinking about other things and bring yourself back. It is in noticing with self-compassion and the return that you are creating new neurological pathways.
Please create some time each day, or at some point during your holiday, to give yourself care. Any little way you can take a minute or two will help!