The worship theme for the month of November is Nurturing Gratitude. For me, November is the beginning of a season of change. The weather changes, the value of the morning light is dim, and the days are short. I appreciate these natural changes as a chance to slow and manage my needs. I appreciate the quiet gathering around me. November changes are personal too – mostly managing how to show up for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays, and all the […] The post Season of Gratitude appeared first on Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church.
The worship theme for the month of November is Nurturing Gratitude. For me, November is the beginning of a season of change. The weather changes, the value of the morning light is dim, and the days are short. I appreciate these natural changes as a chance to slow and manage my needs. I appreciate the quiet gathering around me.
November changes are personal too – mostly managing how to show up for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays, and all the birthday celebrations through mid-January (we are a family of Winter babies). I've learned to start early and use this time to practice gratitude in the form of extra self-care, to teach myself to take care of my own needs first, to honor my own choices. A few years ago, I think the year my mother died, I wasn't up to celebrating Thanksgiving. It was hard but I learned to say "no thank you" to the family invitation, and to build new traditions for myself. And these years later, though not perfect, self-care is an awareness that comes with greater ease. I am grateful that my self-care practice lets me remain present in each moment, allowing me greater ease and joy.
I wish for you a gratitude practice includes self-care, and that you treat yourself with loving kindness during this season of change.
Kellie Kinsman is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's intern minister. She may be reached at [email protected].
The post Season of Gratitude appeared first on Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church.
