Today, the first day of my 45th year, feels like the perfect day to share my new name with my larger community. I now am going by Saumyā [s-aw-m-y -ah], which feels like a birth day as well!
One of the countless things I learned from my yoga therapy teacher, Molly Lannon Kenny, is the beauty of gratitude. In honor of having the privilege to be on this earth for 45 years and the opportunity to live into this new name here are 45 things I am thankful for:
- The breath
- My guru
- The body
- All my practices (physical, mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual) that support knowing myself more authentically every day
- My partner
- My parents
- Sangha
- The Śrī Cakra
- Mountains
- WTA work parties
- Running water
- Lakes to swim in
- My senses
- Sunshine
- Rain
- The work I get to do in the world
- The Renegade Method
- Bats
- My home
- Farmers’ markets
- Birds
- Backpacks
- Dinacarya
- Sandals
- Exploring (inside and out)
- The Himalayas
- Dahlias
- Books (currently reading Fractals of Reality by Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by Swami Nikhilananda)
- The resources I have that provide shelter, food and fun
- Curiosity
- Wonder
- Inchworms
- My health
- Travel
- All the challenges I’ve experienced in life that have encouraged growth, resilience, refinement and a deeper understanding of myself
- My internal organs working hard without me even paying attention
- Trekking
- The mind
- Poetry
- Seward Park
- Incense
- Ponytail holders
- Tea kettle
- Cooking
- Writing
A gratitude list can be a great practice to do on particular days of the year, but it can also be a wonderful practice every day. Enjoy this embodied gratitude meditation as my birthday gift to you.
Yesterday I was grateful to be in the woods on my birthday enjoying the sounds, sensations, tastes, smells and sights of the world through the trees, waterfalls, birds, bugs, butterflies, dal and beloved companionship.