Prepared by Michelle Molle-Krowiak, Ed.S., LCSW, a mom of 4 and a woman who practices what she blogs about!
As we embrace the cooler weather and prepare for the season, this article, Gratitude Wheel” Art Project by Betsy Hanger
published in Mindful Schools, resonated with me.
I am eager to weave in mindfulness into my daily life for my personal self and both my professionals roles, at a private school and at Psychological and Educational Consulting. I thought this would be a perfect December activity.
Create an “I Am Grateful For…” Wheel
Betsy Hanger guides with the following instructions of putting in a center circle filled with the words “I am grateful for…”. Next, divide the wheel with spokes making pie sections. Record what you are grateful for. Finally, Betsy Hanger encourages reflection of self by taking notice of our feelings by the following: “….slow down and notice if they feel their gratitude growing as they make the wheel.”
Live In the Moment
So my challenge and hope is to provide opportunities of mindfulness for our families. As I will be doing, I ask you to make your own gratitude wheel. Reflect. Make one for yourself and then make one with the whole family. I know I will be incorporating this into my holiday festivities for myself and my family helping my children not to center on the materialistic aspects of the holidays but the true meaning! However, no holiday is needed; just a few moments in a day, any day can be used to help center ourselves.
Make Wishes for Another
In the end, Betsy Hanger concludes, “to end, send three kind wishes to someone on your wheel.” What an amazing way to truly practice and manifest that gratitude – send positive wishes and energy to another person! That may be the boost that person needs to get through a tough moment, situation, or day.
So in closing, on behalf of Psychological and Educational consulting, I wish you and your family:
~ An abundance of love and support.
~ The ability to be in the present moment allowing the worries of yesterday to fade and the fears of tomorrow to be at bay.
~ To relish the connection with your child and soak in the joyful moments.
I would like to express our gratitude for the support, ideas and materials provided by Mindful Schools for being our reference in this blog and for the inspiration. We would also like to thank our families who enrich our lives daily and allow us to to be part of their special journey.