Mindfulness and Gratitude in Times of Challenge

Earlier in August, I participated in a mindfulness and gratitude exercise with about 60 businesswomen during a breakfast club meeting. I had practiced these “tools” off and on for many years but not that much in the past couple of years.

I turned my thoughts during this exercise to the people that Magnificat Houses serves every day – the homeless and how they live dealing with their daily challenges. And the work that we do every day here to provide as much support as possible to them.

Imagine that you are at the top of the Willis Tower in Chicago. It is 110 stories tall which is about 1,450 feet high. The observation area is glass where you can see just how high up you are. Now, close your eyes. Imagine that the glass bottom is cracking and soon, you will be cascading at a high rate of speed toward the ground. Is your heart racing? Are you short of breath?

Now, open your eyes. The Magnificat support services team was skydiving at the very time the glass broke. They are now surrounding you to stop you from the free fall. You will take the ride with them to the ground below. You are now safe. You are full of gratitude to them for being saved. Your heart is no longer racing. You are no longer short of breath.

We all have daily challenges that we face within our lives even if we have a safe place to live and people that care for us. Magnify your challenges and you may begin to understand those of the homeless. Begin to fill your heart with gratitude around all those things that you have been blessed with.

Then, come expand that gratitude by giving back and volunteering at Magnificat. That’s why I am here, and I challenge you to come experience it too.

Maureen Sanders, Executive Director