Last week was……
That sentence alone could literally be the entire post.
This past week I took intentional steps for my mental, physical, and spiritual well-being—unplugging from social media and only paying attention to the weather and traffic updates.
When I woke up last Wednesday to the news, I woke up with so many feelings and emotions.
I had to sit with all of my feelings, resisting the urge to rush through or resolve them quickly.
I needed to allow myself to stew—to let the weight of those emotions simmer, letting them settle without pushing them away or pretending they weren’t there.
I was not going to suppress or conceal them. I was going to sit with all the emotions and allow myself to feel them, There was no need to find a quick fix or a happy ending. As I sat with these feelings, it became clear that gratitude wasn’t something reserved for when everything was resolved or worked through. Gratitude could be found in the raw, unfiltered moments. As I began preparing to speak that night at an event about gratitude, I realized that gratitude can exist right in the middle of the mess—in the midst of the stewing. I found that my perspective on gratitude was brewing.
In essence, stewing is about lingering in unresolved emotions, letting them settle in ways that aren’t yet clear. It’s in that uncomfortable space that something else begins to brew. Brewing is the process of nurturing a new perspective, cultivating clarity, and allowing space for transformation. Even while still holding on to my emotions, I was gradually developing another perspective on what gratitude truly means. Gratitude is not always about waiting for resolution.
Sometimes, gratitude is found in the people and the moments that hold space for you, encouraging you as you work through it all.
As I begin to share my spoken word piece at the event, I shared that even if I wasn’t slated to speak on gratitude, this was exactly where I needed to be. I knew that on this day, it was important for me to be surrounded by community that would hold space for me—just as tea needs time to steep in hot water to brew, I needed time just to be. I needed to feel without the pressure or requirement to perform gratitude or wait for things to resolve. Gratitude lives in those moments, and in the people who hold space for you as you simply stew.
My great grandmother’s tea cup.
As I shared my piece, I was holding a teacup that once belonged to my great-grandmother. It grounded me, as I offered gratitude for her and my ancestors who paved the way for me. They sacrificed, blazed trails and stayed faithful. Their prayers and strength protect me, and remind me that they are the great cloud of witnesses, always present. They remind me who I am.
Sound bath meditation is a relaxing experience where you lie down and listen to calming sounds, These singing bowls, help reduce stress and improve focus.