Some unknown impulse came over me the other week. I felt like connecting with an acquaintance who I met during a Thanksgiving weekend many years ago.

She was the plus-one guest of a regular at my sister’s yearly food fest. We occasionally checked out each other’s Facebook feeds but didn’t have regular phone calls. I liked her spirit  I admired many of the photos she posted.

From a part of the country I rarely think of for its beauty, she had an uncanny knack for capturing the magnificence of a tree standing alone or a flower witnessing its own unfolding.

We shared details of our respective challenges and our instincts for finding solace in gratitude. Following our conversation, she forwarded a wonderful quote someone sent to her, words that I’ve been unable to source.

If you thank your mind, it will relax.

If you thank your heart it will open.

If you thank your past, it will integrate.

If you thank your symptoms, they will heal.

If you thank your shadow, it will vanish.

If you thank your life, it will transform.

If you thank yourself, the light will dawn.

These words touched me in so many ways, and I pulled out my journal and poured a cup of tea.  Every line was worthy of contemplation.

I thought about different things I could thank my mind for. I scrawled them on the lined pages of my notebook. I thanked my mind for thinking of friends to call when I felt blue, for acting decisively in recent situations, for considering my options in other circumstances, and more —

I thought about what I could thank my heart for. I thanked it for remembering birthdays and for taking compliments, for graciously receiving gifts, for honoring my longings, for moments when I felt included, and more —

I thought about different things I could thank my past for. I thanked times when I felt bullied or dismissed, recognizing the experience may have provided challenges I needed in order to understand speaking up as an accomplishment. I thanked various disappointments for reminding me that I had to carve my own path, and more —

I thanked my symptoms that resulted in me not feeling completely healthy or at ease, for reminding me to pursue ideas that come from my inner knowing in order to feel better.

I thanked my shadow for how often I have thought of myself as unlovable and realized that, like everyone, the impulse simply showed me how much I want to be loved.

I filled pages. My pen did not hesitate.

I thanked my life for the challenges I’ve faced, for my talents which helped me overcome them, for being resilient, maybe for inspiring others, for thinking of my life as bringing a unique energy to the world, and more —

When I came to thanking myself, I paused. Not that I couldn’t think of anything to thank myself for. I’m thankful for my sense of discernment and my desire to keep learning. I’m thankful for my capacity for empathy.

The exercise led me to reflect on what a wonderful mirror, what a friend, my journal is. Being aware of what experiences feel important to me and how taking time to understand my feelings is a great way to tell myself that my feelings ARE important.

I thought about the Thanksgiving holiday coming up in a few days. I thought about what types of things my family will be thankful for,  like my eldest niece moving back to town, her husband landing a new job, and a family friend selling his house for over the asking price.

Being open to receive abundance, good fortune — even grace — like the sun spreading its orange glow out over the horizon, can be seen in the pages of my journal, in the way I work things out. Spending time with my journal is an exercise in learning how to trust and honor myself.

Remembering to thank yourself is no small thing.