This Thanksgiving, Deep Listening in Action

This holiday, naturally, is a time for listening, a time for reflection, a time for prayer, gratitude, and blessings.

Of course this Thanksgiving will feel different for most of us. Yes, we are dealing with challenges that the pandemic imposes—separation and isolation, health and safety considerations, and economic struggles.

But we are also experiencing a collective awakening to our national reckoning with social and racial justice. An awakening to our country’s origin story. An awakening to our humanity.

As I meet with others through zoom in my yoga and meditation gatherings, I am finding that so many of us want to show up. To listen more deeply. To learn, open, understand, contribute, change, and evolve. There is widespread heartache, a profound yearning, and an urgency to heal ourselves, our communities, our country, and our world.

Long before the Pilgrims, Native Americans stewarding this land had an intricate connection with nature. And this time of year—the turn of the seasons, the harvest, the bounty, the beauty—was always a natural time of prayer, blessings, gratitude, gathering, listening, and togetherness.

As we take time to pause, receive, and offer our care, love, and compassion... we can also dedicate our attention and goodwill to learning more, contributing more, and sharing resources with those who need them.

As we enter this week, I wish for you time and space for deep listening. I wish for you to be caring and present with yourself, with however you may feel at this time.

We can be grateful in a genuine manner. We can let our gratitude flow from our deep commitment to healing, connecting, and contributing.

May our gratitude grow from the opportunities we have to be together authentically—whether virtually or in person.

May it be a time to reflect and find meaning in how our listening connects us.

May we pause to accept our history, honor our Indigenous ancestors, and reimagine this day from a place of truth, presence, and listening (again and again).