Gratitude for the Non-cough

I’ve been a bit out of sorts lately, with a nasty cough that’s turned in to bronchitis. A quick trip to urgent care, some prescribed meds and I think I’m on the mend. No big deal, and I’m reminded of something that Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh shared often:

“When we’re having a toothache, we know that not having a toothache is a wonderful thing. Yet when we don’t have a toothache, we’re still not happy. A non-toothache is very pleasant.”

Right now, I know that a non-cough is very pleasant. I have gratitude for the non-cough and I’m looking forward to it. But how do I bring a bit of that into my everyday life, once the cough is over?

I invite you in right now to one of my meditations on gratitude. So put aside anything you have to do for a few moments and follow the meditation below. Take time to pause and really feel the intention of the words and phrases.

Just give gratitude the chance to come up naturally. And when it comes up let yourself sink into the feeling, surrender to it. Notice how it feels in your body, how your energy feels. And if it doesn’t come up that’s ok, you don’t need to try to make yourself feel it. Just surrender to your heart not your head.

Now lets flash through all aspects of your life that you might be grateful for.

First, bring your awareness to your breath, as you inhale and as you exhale and the fact that each of these breaths gives you life. Give gratitude for your breath.

Then, be aware of your heart beating, pulsing, filling with love and compassion and peace, and flowing that back out. Give gratitude for your heart.

Bring your awareness to your eyes, that let you see color, faces, smiles, nature, the sunrise, the sunset, the rainbow, the moon and the stars, yourself in the mirror. Give gratitude for your eyes.

Bring your awareness to your ears, that beam in sound, music, laughter, the voices of those you love, the silence, the beautiful sounds of life. Give gratitude for your ears.

Bring your awareness to your nose, that smells the ocean breeze, the aroma of sweet perfume, the flowers, the trees, newly cut grass, the wafting smells that come from the kitchen, cupcakes in the oven. Give gratitude for your nose.

Bring your awareness to your lips and mouth, that tastes and savors and nourishes, kisses and speaks, that whispers, and sings. Give gratitude for your lips and mouth.

Bring your awareness to your hands that hold and touch, and caress, and open and close, and applaud, and squeeze. The arms and shoulders that carry and hug and lift and stretch. Give gratitude for your hands.

Bring your awareness to your feet, your toes, the gift to wiggle them, transport you, walk, run, dangle, dance, kick, fold, leap and point. Give gratitude for your feet and toes.

What about your tears, your sorrows, in the strength that you seem to be able to muster, to make it through each day. Give gratitude for your sorrows and your strength.

Bring your awareness to your abundance, your expansion, your evolution, your perspective shifts, the affluence and flow and empathy and love and light, and your ability to see growth, and potential in every moment. Give gratitude to all.

Now just breathe and feel more grace, and ease.

And now experience the warmth, love and compassion that gratitude brings into your heart.

Drift your awareness to nurturing relationships in your life, the new ones and the older ones.

Remember the material things that came to you unexpectedly, things that flow to you with great effort and commitment, hard work.

Think of love in your life, and your connection to those things that are sweet, and loving and honorable, and just feel right.

When we no longer take life for granted, we become grateful for everything that we have.

Just breathe and feel this flow.