This Thanksgiving try slowing down in the true spirit of the holiday and use it as a laboratory for play.  How can you be mindful and grateful in each moment?

Try a few of these tips during the day to embody the holiday:

1. Remember to breathe.  Be mindful and grateful for the way that breath moves through your body providing nourishment and life. 
2. Be mindful of your senses. (Taste, touch, smell, sight, sound)  *Especially doing this while eating will help you to not over indulge in calories, but rather the decadence of each morsel :)  
3. Connect with your heart in each interaction.  Could you choose to open it more in any moments? 
4. Give thanks and be mindful for what went into each food on the table.  Be mindful of the entire cycle of planting, growing, harvesting, and preparation.
5. Practice the art of kindness to not only others but to yourself.  This means notice any negative self talk and choose to be kind and grateful to yourself as well.  Can you tell yourself somethings you like, and that you are grateful for about yourself? 
6. See if you and your family could come up with 10 things each that you are grateful for. Write them down, and read them aloud to each other.
7. Show gratitude for your body.  If possible include some physical activity in your day.  Be aware of what it is like to be alive! Feeling movement, your heart beat, your skin...   
8. When you touch, or hug someone else can you open to truly give and receive your and their support? 
9. Can you be present in each conversation.  Notice if your mind wanders when someone else is speaking.  Just notice WHERE your mind has a tendency to wander.  The past?  The future? And invite it back to the present.  
10. SLOW DOWN.  It is really tricky to do the suggestions above if you don't! 

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." - Denis Waitley

 Happy Thanksgiving!