This Mandala Monday is focused on gratitude, often forgotten when life becomes difficult. There are so many mixed emotions the first holiday after you lose a loved one. Although it has been a few months since we said good-bye to my mother-in-law, the rush of the holidays kept our family busy. The loss and sadness appears and disappears, but came strongly during the holiday. There is nothing that can be said or done to alleviate the pain and loss. So we embrace it, with all the other feelings that come up this time of year. We welcome family and friends into our home and connect over the phone and skype those who are far. We nap, eat, cry, laugh, go for bike rides, burn a fire, walk the beach, listen to music, and feel a string of sadness that is woven throughout. Yet, in these moments there is such gratitude. Gratitude for being alive, feeling the sun on my face, the smell of salty air, the fur of my dog, the hug of my mother, the joy of snuggling in bed on a cold night, the heat from the fire, a good book, and a cup of tea. All these moments, all these feelings, I give gratitude and know the blessings of being able to feel and be here and bear witness to my life.
Sarasota Season of Sculpture on the Bay
Tags: art making, art making and healing, Art Therapy, Gratitude, grief, loss, mandala, mandala mondays
