Gratitude List by Sarah Crabtree

1. I am on my knees, heart bursting with gratitude every single day that in this lifetime I get to be a Mommy to my two little boys.  Whether it is a good day with them full of smiles and laughter, or a tough day with them, more full of tears and troubles, they are hands down the best things that ever happened to me and getting to be their Mother, I feel as though I have won the lottery every single day.  They have truly taught me what LOVE is, what it means to love another selflessly.  They have given me a reason to want to live more fully in the present moment, in every single moment I am lucky enough to be in their presence.  For Luke and Charlie, I am grateful.

2. I am grateful for my group of friends, some of whom I have known since I was a teenager, some of whom I have known since I became a Mother, some even more recent than that.  The group of women that I am lucky enough to call my closest friends, are the most loving, supportive and giving women and they have carried me through some very difficult times.  The emotional support, understanding, encouragement and love that they have given me are immeasurable.  For each of them, I am grateful.

3. I am grateful for my yoga family whom I count as friends, coworkers and family.  I marvel almost daily at how I managed to be so blessed as to find the teacher that I did, the studio that I did, the sangha that I did and how I am somehow lucky enough to be a part of it all, to be one of them.  Without these people, the studio(s) we call home, the students we are blessed enough to have, I do not have a clue where I would be or how I would be surviving.  The scenario that most often enters my head is one where I am involved in some sort of Breaking Bad type lifestyle.  This is obviously so much better, for so many reasons.  ;-)  The people that I have met through yoga, and not just at The Yoga Bar I might add, but throughout our city and a couple people beyond, are the most open minded, accepting, giving, deeply spiritual and thoughtful people that I have ever known.  They are my kind of people, my tribe.  They make me feel like I belong.  Like I am not a freak.  Like I count and matter.  They have and continue to raise me up and inspire me every single day.  For each of them, I am grateful.                  

4. I am grateful for my yoga practice.  It has saved my life.  It has made me believe in myself.  It has brought me clarity that I never thought I would have.  It has helped me to go from troubled and broken, to calm (er) and together.  It has helped me to see that I am strong and capable.  It has made me healthier and stronger in mind, body and spirit.  It has made me a better Mother, a better friend, a better person.  It has given me the tools to begin and continue on a spiritual journey that I will walk whole heartedly until the last breath I take on this earth.  It has given me the tools to survive and not only that to thrive.  To weather the ups and downs of life with a little bit of grace and balance.  I don’t always succeed at this of course.  Some days I am still more bull in a china shop than graceful zen like yogi, but you get my drift.  Yoga has saved my life and for that I am grateful.