Nov 25, 20193 min read

Practicing Mindfulness at Thanksgiving! Staying Safe

Updated: Nov 19, 2022

Wow, it's nearly the festive season, coming from India, where festivals happen every month. I would like to share how I started implementing mindfulness on these occasions. And Thanksgiving day is a perfect occasion to celebrate with family and friends and be thankful for everything we have.

Pay Gratitude.

It is very important to show gratitude for what you have and what you want. What else is the best occasion than Thanksgiving dinner? Do it in the morning and the night of the day. Of course, you can do it daily as well. No matter how successful it went or not. Things and situations happen for a reason. And we get to share joys and learn from these experiences.

Mindful Eating

This is a very important practice of mindfulness right. As it’s festive time we take it as a luxury. But be reasonable to what is being consumed. Take the first 3 mouthfuls and check out what ingredients it has got in, what color the food is, how does it smell, etc this will help you to be mindful with all your senses (smell, touch, taste, visual, hear) in the presence and enjoying the occasion. Just pause and see how beautifully the table is decorated with fall colors.

Meditation

Wake a few minutes early to be in the space for a lovely day. Don’t be freaked out OMG mediation when I have got tonnes of things to do. I am a firm believer in little mediations rather an hour-long ones. So even setting the tone for the day to be happier create that space and be in the space for at least 3 minutes and notice how you feel. Helps you in expanding it for the day.

Prayer

“Thank the Lord/Universe/Angels for the wonderful life that has been given to us. Bless us and everyone around us. Thank you for caring and for giving us what’s right.” Keep it simple. Using your words of prayer helps to open your heart.

Listen

If you are catching up with your family and friends after a long time. Give time to them and listen. Take time to respond. Just listen to a Non-judgmental place. This helps us to be less stressed about family politics.

Practice Kindness

Why don’t you take a little card and write a kind note to people you care about. Will be a great surprise than any gifts. Involve children as they have no boundaries in their creativeness. Or leave these notes on the dining table. So it's little surprise to the visitors.

Cleaning up

As Thich Nah Hanh says “There are two ways to wash the dishes. The first is to wash the dishes to have clean dishes and the second is to wash the dishes in order to wash the dishes.”

Ask for help if you need to. Don’t carry on with all the things you have to do.

Create a memory

Rather than just celebrating these occasions create a memory for yourself and your family. Bring in a new ritual on this day. Put on your creative hats!

Forgiveness

Forgive and release the space to create the love around you. Forgive but need to forget it. you are only doing good to yourself and being yourself and creating a new wonderful space.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

As this year is different.. stay safe and being part of the family virtually helps emotionally connected.