Exploring Gratitude

November & December are difficult months for many due to the holidays, and this is especially true for those who struggle day to day on the streets of Grand Rapids.

​Everyday our homeless in GR face challenges of basic needs survival, yet at the holidays there is an added element of isolation and stress.

Though I cannot personally change their situations, I  offer them tools each week that assist them in coping with daily life.

​One tool is gratitude. We discussed its importance as a practice and that is how we opened our circle each week.  I asked every participant over 2 months for what or whom they are grateful which they then shared with the group.

The answers were similar:

‘I am grateful I woke up and took a breath.’

“Grateful for my relationship with God.’

‘Grateful for hot coffee.’

​Simple, yet profound gratitude that unites people. From a place of gratitude, everyone was able to take a deeper breath in and a longer exhale out. People found a way to access inner peace amidst a chaotic outer environment.  I taught them a meditation taught to me by Gabby Bernstein “peace begins with me.”

​Utilizing the practices of gratitude, breath, mantra meditation, and simple movement people softened their edges, relaxed the furrow from their brow, and found a sense of ease in their bodies if only for a few moments. All participants reported feeling better. One man came out of meditation exclaiming “I am clean of mind and spirit.”