Happy Thanksgiving: Embody the Attitude of Gratitude!

Back in the 60’s, Ram Das, critically acclaimed yogi and author of “Be Here Now,” said, (and I paraphrase), “If you think you’re enlightened, just go home for Thanksgiving!”

Thanksgiving can be an overwhelming and stressful time for many people, especially when it comes to dealing with family dynamics.

What’s a yogi to do?

Gratitude has one of the highest frequencies. It’s up there with love and appreciation. When you feel grateful for who you are, for what you have, and for the people in your life, it opens the gateway for happiness to arise. 

But most of the time our mind and heart are full of negative emotions and fears, laced with anxiety and worry about the future, or heavy with regret or resentment about the past. These negative emotions completely squelch gratitude. These negative feelings can be heightened during the holidays.

For me, I’ve always looked forward to Thanksgiving because it’s been a time for me to relax, kick back, and reflect. I usually don’t teach a workshop, except for a special Thanksgiving Sadhana, so I’m officially off the clock for the whole weekend!

I also enjoy taking time to catch up with friends and family and have some quality, long sadhana time! This year, since I’ve been traveling every weekend, I still haven’t raked up the leaves nor put my lawn mowers away for the winter. I’m hoping it stops snowing and raining long enough for the leaves to dry out so I can finish up the yard before winter sets in for real! 

One more thing I enjoy about the holiday is that my birthday is on the 25^th! This usually adds to the festivities, and I enjoy celebrating the anniversary of another lap around the sun. 

All in all, I’m grateful for what I have, for you, for my students, teachers, for Hallie, and for all of my extended family.

When your heart is open, your mind peaceful, and your body aligned, you experience a direct connection to the infinite universal energy that pulses with gratitude. The veils of conditioning and negativity that naturally get in the way begin to lift and you tap into a higher vibration of stillness and joy, Ananda.

May you cultivate the heart virtue of gratitude and recognize that you are the crystallization of the Divine’s desire to know itself.

As you accept and appreciate the unique, one of a kind, weird, and radiant expression of the divine that you are, gratitude will pour forth naturally and effortlessly. 

From the bottom of my deep heart, Happy Thanksgiving!

Namaste,

Todd

Join me this Thanksgiving morning (11/27/25) from 7:15-9 am ET for a very special Thanksgiving Morning Sadhana! It's free to members, and only $27 to drop in.

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