Greetings!
A while back I brought a mini-Oasis to our local library. The intent was to acknowledge the stresses that many people feel during holidays, and to try to find something that – even in the midst of the stresses – they can be truly thankful for.
I began by asking What are your current stressors – personal and “cosmic”?
The list varied from health, family members, money troubles, bad drivers, electronics to politics, racism, rise of anti-Semitism, world poverty, pace of life, police brutality, fear of future for us and our children.
Then we talked about our power to make personal choices each moment.
I invited them to use these words: When you feel burdened, touch a blessing.
Without denying the reality of the stressors, make a choice to “change your channel.” Right now, find one thing you are thankful for about each of the following
– even though there may be “crummy” things about each - your health / neighborhood / family / “heritage” / your core self.
They wrote, then chose a colored paper to put one “blessing” on the common board.
Many of them surprised me by putting long lists. Some answers:
my family - my kids - I have a place to live - my faith - a job that I love -
my neighbors - I am able to exercise as an outlet - ability to hear and listen -
enough food to eat - my daughter’s good health report today: a benign tumor -
books and the education I have received that enables me to enjoy them -
I don’t have to work 40 hours a week at a tedious job -
friends in a writing group - living where I can walk to stores.
What would you put? Try the OASIS Sanity Tip to identify your own.
With thanks for our lives,