The dictionary defines gratitude as: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

I remember the first time I sat at a Thanksgiving table and people went around and shared what they were thankful for. I was surprised. I was a young adult and my family was not given to much in the way of ritual. I was really uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed at first, as were the sharers, and then someone shared a beautiful memory, fully described and heartfelt. I was deeply moved. It made me wonder what I was deeply thankful for.

These days, people talk a lot about the benefits of a gratitude practice. It is often recommended to write a list of 3 things that we are grateful for, daily. This can be a good start, but for gratitude practice to truly enhance our life, it needs to be experiential and embodied.

Here’s an example:

You could sit at the Thanksgiving table or your notebook, and say or write that you are grateful for your garden; that would be nice, gardens are nice.

Or you could say it, and then imagine your garden in your mind. You could see the vibrant colors of your favorite flower and imagine exactly how it smells. You could remember the song of a bird and begin to feel how peaceful your garden makes you feel. You might describe all of this to your companions, or if you are by yourself, you could just hold the visual and the fragrance in your mind until you can really savor it. Gratitude practiced this way, changes your physiology and your state.

Regardless of how you spend this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, consider making gratitude a part of your practice this week.

Here are a few words from David Whyte’s, “Consolations” to inspire you:

Gratitude

Is not a passive response to something we have been given, gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us. Gratitude is not necessarily something that is shown after the event, it is the deep a priori state of attention that shows we understand and are equal to the gifted nature of life…

Thanksgiving happens when our sense of presence meets all other presences. Being unappreciative might mean we are simply not paying attention.