Thank you to Rev. Martha Creek for permission to share your write up on Thanks Living!
On Thanksgiving we were reminded of the importance of gratitude, but why limit such a profound practice to just one day? In fact, Thanksgiving offers a perfect moment to deepen our awareness of gratitude and extend it beyond the holiday, making it a part of our daily life. This season, let’s reflect on the many layers of giving thanks and how we can turn Thanksgiving into a sustained practice that uplifts us year-round. Thanks Living!
Gratitude has been a Daily Way of Life for me since my earliest memories. It is truly a spiritual practice, and I have learned in the last couple of years that I must NOT bypass human-hearted sadness, grief, and despair in the name of gratitude. Spiritually, by-passing the pain compounds it exponentially. Dang it!
Living a life infused with gratitude means adopting a mindset that notices the blessings in each moment, no matter how big or small. Whether it’s the warmth of the sunshine on my face, a friend’s encouraging word, a bird on the feeders, a new boom on the mums, or the simple beauty of a tree swaying in the breeze, there are countless moments in our day to acknowledge.
To foster this practice of mindfulness, try keeping a gratitude journal. Each day, joy down three things you are thankful for. These can be as significant as a relationship or as subtle as a cool breeze on a hot day. Over the years, I have received so much inspiration from this practice, including NOT repeating any of the three daily ones. On one occasion several years ago, my sweet friend Laverne joined me in this practice. She brought her list in very single Sunday for two months to show me how much she had found to be grateful for. She had a mop, a broom, running water, toothbrush, and so many other things on her list that I cried reading it. She experienced a revitalization, renewal, and uplift in her spirit.
Over time, I noticed an increase in my sense of well-being and appreciation for life’s moments, even the so-called ordinary ones.
Thanksgiving versus Thanks-Living
Thanksgiving Day invites us to gather with loved ones and reflect on the blessings we share. But wht if we transformed our experience of the holiday into something more continuous – Thanks-Living? This idea involved living from a place of gratitude each day. It doesn’t diminish the importance of the Thanksgiving meal, but rather expands the sentiment beyond a single event. One simple way to practice Thanks-Living is to express your deep gratitude directly to others. Take a moment to tell someone why you appreciate them – whether in person, over the phone, or in a handwritten note. This act not only uplifts the recipient but also deepens the giver’s connection to the present moment and cultivates a cycle of gratitude.
The Everyday Gifts
Thanksgiving is a perfect reminder to notice and celebrate the everyday gifts life offers. We can be thankful for things as simple as clean water, the comfort of our homes, or a friendly smile from a stranger. As we gather with family and friends this season, let’s remember to pause and appreciate the richness of life that exists not just in grand gestures but in everyday experiences that surround us. Whether through conversations around the dinner table or quiet moments of reflection, let’s honor the everyday gifts by consciously recognizing them.
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” Henry David Thoreau
Rev. Dr. Martha Creek – Widely known in New Thought, Martha’s trainings approach deep inner work as an adventure with a sense of curiosity and wonder. A master of the art of right questioning, she calls forth the most stubborn and self-defeating patterns to create a new way of being, literally. Ordained in Religious Science and Divine Science, Martha has served as Great Lakes Unity Consultant, served several years in the Unity Worldwide Institute faculty, and serves in ANTN leadership. She has attended Emerson Theological Seminary (Masters and Doctorate), Byron Katie School for The Work and Hoffman Institute. She is a Healthy Congregations Facilitator and Trainer. See more at https://www.marthacreek.com/.