My gratitude overflows...
I wanted to take this Monday to remind myself and maybe you, how important it is to seek gratitude. Now I used to be a person who was pretty mindful around my gratitudes in life. When I pray, the words are mostly directed towards thankfulness. But then I started a more serious gratitude practice. I do not pick up my phone or do anything in the morning before speaking at least five gratitudes aloud. I set positive intentions for my day- especially when I know I have a lot on my plate or situations that will trigger me or stress me out. I try to send calming energy into those moments before they happen. I spend time at the end of the day writing about what made me grateful or showed me positive ways I’ve changed for the better.
And unexpectedly, now a lot of my negative moments are turned into grateful moments. For example, last week I totally freaked out at a car rental person (long story and I was in the right but definitely not ok to yell at anyone) and normally I would feel shame surrounding my behavior that would then turn defensive and self-righteous but instead, I realized where my mind would go and so I sat for a few minutes, deep breathing in my rental car and begin to list the positive benefits from that interaction. Instead of stewing in my anger, I looked at the lessons I had just learned about myself, what my triggers were, how I could change them in the future and then I went back and apologized for my reaction and moved on with my day. Normally I would sit and stew and it would ruin my entire day. But I’ve found that my morning gratitude practice has spilled over into my every day life.
My gratitude practice has changed my life for the better. I highly suggest you start doing this. Even if its not first thing in the morning. When you’re in the shower or working out or in your car- just spend one minute saying things that make you grateful or feel hopeful or feel loved or any positive emotion. It will shift the way you interact with the world. It gets even more difficult aka more beneficial when you have to look at your negative actions and find the positive lessons in them. All I know is that it makes me a better person overall, so what is stopping you from trying?
With Thanksgiving this week, I thought I’d share some of my daily gratitudes with you.
I am so incredibly grateful to YOU. I started Maikana with a baby dream, just an idea, a way to get me back into the kitchen and honestly, to stop my sadness around leaving my life in Costa Rica. I had a dream of getting people feeling better through food and love- which is a major lesson I personally learned in Costa. It has now been four years this month that I took the risk and not a single day of that would have existed without you. I do not get to live my dream every day without you as a client. So thank you, thank you, thank you.
My family and friends. I love my family with my whole heart. I am so grateful to them but they sorta have to love me and put up with me. Hah! But the tribe of beautiful humans I have built over my lifetime: the men and women who stand by me and support me through this crazy rollercoaster of life without blood ties- and do it in such a way that I feel seen and heard and truly cared for. Holy moly, I would not be here or who I am without them and I am so grateful every day that I have a solid community around me.
Now this is a funny one but it has been incredibly important to my personal growth. I am so thankful to all my ex-boyfriends. There is something about really intimate relationships that tend to dig deep into my shadows and push me into uncomfortable and shameful moments. This past year alone with my most recent ex- took me down to my bare studs, but it gave me the opportunity to rebuild in such a way that I feel a deep pride for who I am today. I would not have gotten to this point without my relationship with him. And I would not have found therapy or spirituality or deeper levels of myself without all my exes shining a light into the darker parts of me. I am so grateful to them.
I am grateful to all the American basics in life. We take for granted that we have running water, a roof over our heads, multiple grocery stores and food options, heat, internet, cars, toilets, medical care, etc. The rest of the world do not have these luxuries that we get the privilege of calling basic amenities. Growing up in Fiji, a third world nation at the time, I feel extreme gratitude around these things. I still thank God for hot water every single time I shower. You may think not having hot water on a tropical island would be totally fine but I promise it is not. Not having toilet paper or paper towels is not the end of the world. Not having clean water or food is. Please be mindful of this. I am so grateful for these luxury amenities we all have access to.
Therapy. Talk therapy specifically. Thank you. You have gotten me to question and understand my past, present and have made me a better human for the future. I cannot recommend therapy enough. I wish we could normalize therapy and make it a part of our society rather than a last-ditch resort. If you are debating therapy or have any questions for me, please come from a place of yes and go or email me and I’ll happily chat therapy options with you.
My dog. She’s super lovable and yet super annoying. She takes after me. Hah! I love her and am so grateful for that little gremlin.
All the doors that have been opened for me. Thank you. You know those moments in life when you’re just done, like give me a fork, I’m done with my work, emails, toxic relationships, feeling like I’m drowning all the time, the struggle, the loss- whatever it is, you’re just done. Thank you universe, but I’m over it. And that exact moment you begin shutting the doors or building your walls is the exact moment that a door opens or something shifts in a beautiful way. I live for these moments. I have a few doors opening now and I am so excited about them. This world wants to give you want you deserve, allow for it. You will hit rock bottom and you will face horrible demons throughout life but I promise you doors will open. I am so grateful for those glimpses of hope that push us forward.
The modalities of healing and spirituality that get me through each day. I practice a lot of things that are outside of the “norm”, I guess. I meditate. I speak to my spirit guides and angels. I see spiritual intuitives, energy healers, reiki practitioners, astrologists, tarot cards readers, shamans, doctors who have left their practices to seek other forms of healing, etc. I do not take my existence on this planet lightly. I am here to learn and to grow. I am a seeker and part of my journey of self-care is to uncover the deeper parts of myself through rituals that channel source for me. I honor everyone’s journey and how they seek to feel connected to source- whether through Christianity, church, prayer, nature, etc.- whatever makes you feel more whole and worthy, I am here for it. I actually get to see my favorite healer on Thanksgiving and I am so excited for what will come of it.
My ability to see my flaws, own them, apologize and forgive. It's not easy seeing the trauma we carry daily, maneuvering around our triggers, and then owning all of our crap on top of it. I am proud to say that I try to keep my side of the street clean aka if I make a mess, I clean it up. I see what I bring to the table and I own it. I apologize wholeheartedly and hope for forgiveness. But the harder part is forgiving myself. We all probably say sorry at least once or twice a day. Usually its trivial stuff but I find that the most difficult person to forgive is usually myself. I am my harshest critic, as we all probably are, and it took me a long time (and a lot of therapy) to really see my flaws, own them and then forgive myself for past mistakes and fully accept myself at present. That being said, it works externally also. I used to hold grudges and hold people to the narrative I had built for them. But my ability to see past the pain or hurt or anger or current situation is a pretty gratitude-filled characteristic now. I see my flaws in neon lights and I can proudly say that I admit to my flaws, I can apologize for my reactions and I can fully accept and give forgiveness when needed. This is not easy but it has created a softness to my harsher edges and for that I am grateful. Ownership and acceptance of our more shameful parts requires an open heart and self-love. Both characteristics I am grateful to encompass.
Love. I am so grateful for the incredible amount of love I am honored to receive and to share. I say this a lot but our entire community purpose on this planet is to connect and to do so through love. I say “I love you” at least 10 to 20 times a day and I mean it deeply. I saw a shaman in Mexico once and he said to me “you are only here to be love and to share love- that is all” and it resonated with me on such a deep level. Maikana shares love through food. I share love through practice and caring for others. And I hope that this email finds you a little more love today. Love is always the way.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words. Thank you, as always, for supporting Maikana and my dreams. Thank you for being exactly who you are and showing up each day to a world that feels really heavy at the moment. As tough as this year has been, please keep in mind that you would not be where you are if you didn’t trudge through some mud.
Holidays are not easy on everyone, please know that I am personally here for anyone who needs more love during this time. Reply to this email and I will gladly send you my phone number to talk.
My gratitude abounds. I love you all. Be kind and share your love.
Jamiesonxo