Congratulations on pressing play today and on your commitment to creating a regular meditation practice.
As we reach day eight of this gratitude challenge,
Perhaps you are noticing a change within you.
A softening of expectations or ideas of right and wrong,
Or a gentle shift towards a sense of thankfulness for the big and small blessings of your life.
Or maybe you're just feeling proud of yourself for sticking with your meditation practice even amidst the curveballs life is throwing at you.
Whatever your experience,
I'm so glad you're here.
Feeling at home and grateful for our breath,
Body,
Heart,
Family and friends allows us to feel safe in the world.
So does feeling at home in our physical environment and the neighborhood in which we live.
So today's practice offers you the opportunity to explore and feel thankful for where you live.
So when you're ready,
Inviting your eyes to close.
And beginning as always with an awareness of your breath.
Rolling in,
Rolling out.
Our breath,
Our wise teacher.
An immediate invitation into our bodies and the present moment.
And as your awareness rests on each cycle of breath,
Perhaps you are noticing it shift.
Becoming deeper,
Smoother.
It's amazing how with the power of our awareness,
Our body can regulate so perfectly.
Each full cycle of breath,
A reminder that you are alive.
And that right here,
Right now,
You are safe.
Imagining now that it's just before sunrise.
Your neighborhood is dark and quiet.
And you decide to take a walk.
You aren't afraid.
You feel safe and at ease.
In fact,
There is something almost magical about being out in your neighborhood at this time.
Seeing,
Sensing or imagining walking the streets or other areas of your community.
What do you notice?
You look up and see the moon in the sky.
You take a few deep breaths into the energy of the moon.
It feels calm and peaceful.
Wise and powerful.
The cool air greets your skin.
The light of the moon sparks something within you.
How would you describe it?
You continue to explore your neighborhood.
You feel grateful as you walk.
You enjoy details you have not noticed before.
The stars begin to fade.
For a moment,
The sky turns from black to luminous deep blue.
As the sky changes,
You can feel the energy of the morning beginning to build.
Your neighborhood begins to stir.
You can sense a gentle wakening.
On the horizon line,
Hues of yellow,
Apricot and dusty pink begin to appear.
The sun is peeking just above the horizon line,
Painting the sky like a canvas.
You breathe deep into the energy of the sun.
You let this sun energy,
This warmth,
Color and vitality fill your body,
Mind and heart.
You feel grateful for the sense of possibility that this new day brings.
And you ask yourself,
What would I like to invite in today?
Can you breathe this deep into your being?
As you head home,
Ready for the day,
You remind yourself of the words of Buddha,
Three things cannot be long hidden,
The sun,
The moon and the truth.
One foot in front of the other,
Held in your own truth.
Taking a nice deep breath,
Offering your body some gentle movement if you like.
Awareness coming back into the space you are in.
May you move through today more able to notice and feel grateful for the different features of your neighborhood.
