With thanks

Today I had a wonderful lie in, which is testament to how this virus has knocked me! I’m usually up at the crack of dawn!

I did my formal meditation practice once the children were taken care off and spent most of the day just at home, doing a bit of writing, and then went to the gym and spent some time in the steam room to help shift this congestion. I feel a lot better this evening.

Part of my daily practice is to walk mindfully, and I have been trying to do this everyday wherever I am walking. Today I practiced this walking from the car to the gym and through to the wet area. It’s quite lovely actually - having a sense of your body moving instead of being caught up in thoughts.

My random act of kindness today was to send this card. A couple of weeks ago a stranger on a bus was very kind to me and offered me a tissue because I was crying (I won’t go into why). Once I was ok, we started chatted and he told me his name and where he works. His kindness really stayed with me and so today I sent a thank you card to him. I don’t know for sure if he will get it but I really hope so.

I also sent a card to my friend and ex-colleague who has just moved abroad and I will miss terribly at work when I am back next week!

Another daily practice is the ten finger gratification, to think and feel ten things to be grateful for each day. I found this quite a challenge to start with, only thinking about grand things like my family, my home etc but I see so many more things to be grateful for each day. Today I am grateful for:
1. The gentleman who helped me in the supermarket
2. The cashier who made my shopping experience pleasant
3. The warmth inside my car when I have been driving around
4. That I am fortunate enough to be fully mobile and in good health
5. Being able to enjoy the sounds of music in my car
6. Spending some time with my children today
7. My husband who has been painting the kitchen nearly all day
8. To have my friend Jo who I bumped into at the supermarket
9. The man who served me a cup of tea at the gym
10. Being able to have food and a warm home

I hope you have all had a wonderful Friday!