Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, a holiday centered around food, family both biological and chosen, and food (and shopping and football and Christmas, with a veneer of remembering our indigenous cultures, and more food). I am cynical and critical about many aspects of holiday celebrating in the US, but I’m thankful that we have a holiday centered around the idea of gratitude, even if just in name.

Over here in Wales, we’ll be celebrating by eating left over shepherd’s pie and chicken soup, and consoling a very ill little boy. It’s a Thursday like any other. But I still want to take a moment to be grateful.

Gratitude is an important part of any spiritual practice, in my opinion. Many religions have some kind of holiday recognizing the ways we are blessed and allowing space for us to give some of our abundance to others. We are moving back to the United States in 5 weeks, so we’ll be giving away most of what we own. It’s really hard to let go of some of this stuff – baby clothes, children’s books, the very nice wine glasses we finally purchased, et al. Letting go of this stuff is hard, but if my experience of moving over here is anything to go by, I will feel relieved when we’ve finally pared down.

And so: I am grateful for the opportunity to pass along my belongings. I am grateful to be stepping into the in-between spaces of homes, stuff, certainty, spiritual practice, and friendships. I’m grateful for what comes next. Our time in Wales has been challenging, and yet it has been a period that I already look back on as transformative. I think I’ve matured here. If my life is divided along ‘maiden-mother-crone’ lines, I feel like I finally entered (or accepted that I’ve entered) the Mother part of life.

Part of the process of Becoming that I feel took hold here is thanks to this blog/project. I’m grateful for everyone who reads this and comments, because in doing so you are helping hone me and you spur me on in my journey.

So thank you.

No matter where you are or what you are eating today, may you be warm, safe, nourished and happy.