Appreciate
by Elyse Brogdon, Citizen Instructor and Director of People + Processes
If you want to know how to fall in love with anything, begin by practicing appreciation. In winter, I am grateful for:
Hot beverages
Back-to-back holidays that help me connect with loved ones
Reading a good book next to a cozy fireplace
Scarves the size of blankets
It is through the lens of gratitude that we can better understand, embrace, and even come to love any season. When we actively appreciate the call to rest, introspect, and reflect, we are more present in those practices and, in turn, more present when we step back out into the world. Likewise, when we understand the cycles of the seasons, our preferences lose their intensity and whether or not we love a season becomes less relevant. There’s no need to feel despair in winter when we trust that spring comes next. There’s no need to dread any time of year when we trust that its qualities and purpose are part of a greater whole.
To kick off the challenge with some appreciation for winter, find your way onto your mat AND choose one other seasonal practice below:
Take a walk outside.
Brew a cup of hot tea and cozy up in a blanket.
Invite friends over for nourishing connection.
Leave a comment to share what you’re grateful for this season.
