The fortitude of gratitude🏰

It’s November, which means gratitude is about to have its annual moment in the spotlight. And rightly so! There is so much to be thankful for. But lately, I’ve found myself getting curious about the word itself. What does gratitude even mean?

Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a word nerd. 🤓 And I’ve been thinking about the -tude of it all. Gratitude, fortitude, attitude…what do these words have in common, and what makes each one different?

That little ending, -tude, comes from a Latin suffix referring to a state or condition. A way of being. But when I started looking into the beginnings of these words, things got even more interesting.

Gratitude comes from the Latin gratus, meaning pleasing, thankful, or welcome. I love that last bit. The idea that gratitude might involve not only appreciating what we have, but cultivating a sense of welcoming.

Fortitude comes from fortis, meaning strong or brave. It’s the strength we call upon when things aren’t easy. Not necessarily the strength to change our circumstances, but sometimes simply the courage to meet them.

And then there’s attitude. This one really got me! Its history traces back through words meaning fitness or suitability, and it was once used to describe the physical posture of a figure in art. Over time, it came to describe our mental stance or disposition. Our physical posture and our mental posture, connected through the history of a word! How could a yoga teacher not love that?!

All this wordplay got me thinking about the tides of the -tudes…the different ways we meet the changing circumstances of our lives. Sometimes we meet the moment with gratitude. Sometimes it requires fortitude. Sometimes our attitude could use a little adjusting. 😂

We don’t always get to choose what comes our way, or even how we initially feel about it. But we can practice noticing what’s here, rather than immediately wishing it were something else. And that’s where the idea of welcoming comes back in.

Not that we have to be thankful for every experience. There are plenty of things we’d rather not encounter! But perhaps we can practice receiving the moment we’re actually in, without insisting it be something else before we’re willing to meet it. Sometimes that practice is as simple as acknowledging: This, too, is here. Not necessarily something to celebrate, or even something we know what to do with yet. Just something we can allow ourselves to notice.

And we get to practice this every time we step onto the mat. Each time we allow ourselves to be exactly where we are in a pose, in a breath, or even in a moment of stillness, we strengthen our capacity to meet ourselves with a little more acceptance and a little less resistance.

So, what does gratitude mean? The dictionary can give us a definition, but I'm beginning to think the more interesting question is what it can mean in practice. Perhaps gratitude isn't only about recognizing the things we're thankful for. Perhaps it can also invite us to notice the things we're resisting, and see if we can soften around them, even a little. Not because we have to be grateful for every experience, but because there's something freeing about no longer insisting that the moment be different before we can welcome it.

And sometimes, that takes a little fortitude.

Speaking of practicing acceptance...🐶

I’ve got some exciting news: Berty has officially been given the green light to make her Trilogy yoga debut!

And what better opportunity to practice welcoming whatever arises than inviting a four-month-old puppy into a room full of people attempting to practice yoga?🤣

I can guarantee exactly one thing: a very cute puppy.

I will attempt to deliver a reasonably consistent yoga class. However, I reserve the right to stop teaching altogether to admire said cute puppy. Or to negotiate with her about who's actually in charge.

Either way, we’ll have a wonderful opportunity to practice the kind of acceptance we've been pondering: This, too, is here.😜

I’m hoping to host this special class on Tuesday, November 17, so we don’t disrupt our regular Monday/Wednesday schedule. Since Tuesday isn’t our usual day together, I’d love your input on what time works best:

This Friday we Snack & Chat!

We're getting together this Friday, November 6, from Noon to 2 pm at Mammen Library for our next book club gathering! Join us for a discussion about Whistler by Ann Patchett.

As always, good conversation is even better with good snacks. If you'd like to contribute something to our snack table, click below to sign up.

November is here, too

Take a peek at what's happening this month and make a little space for something that sounds good to you:

And while you've got your calendar handy, here's a little sneak peek into December: Our next Saturday Yoga + Sound Experience with Cherie is December 5! Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for details.

Here's to welcoming whatever arises, finding gratitude along the way, and making room for a little unexpected joy! 🐾

With love,

Monica

(reply to me HERE)