A Simple Practice to Feel Joy and Gratitude

Photograph taken at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, October 2025.

Recently I have been reading a book about indigenous peoples’ wisdom called, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It begins with an origin story, Skywoman Falling. The story changed my perspective of how I think about the world, my presence in it, and increased my joy and gratitude for my life on this planet.

Skywoman Falling tells the story of a woman who fell out of a hole in the Skyworld clutching a bundle of fruits and seeds in her hand. The world toward which she fell was only water. A pair of geese saw her as she fell and knew that she would not survive if they didn’t do something. Together they flew up to the sky and spread their wings to catch her. The geese knew they couldn’t hold the woman above the water for long, so they called a great council of animals to determine how to care for her. From among the gathered animals, Turtle offered his back upon which she could rest. The council of animals further discussed Skywoman’s need for land, a permanent home. They devised a plan whereby individual animals would attempt to dive to the bottom of the ocean and bring up a handful of mud.

Many animals attempted the journey to the bottom of the ocean but returned empty-handed; some did not return at all. The last hope was little Muskrat. The other animals did not hold much hope that he would be successful but down he went. Muskrat was gone for such a long time that the animals thought he was forever lost. Then suddenly his limp body floated to the top and in his fist, he held a handful of mud.

Skywoman spread the mud on the back of Turtle’s shell and was so “moved by the extraordinary gifts of the animals, she sang a song of thanksgiving” and “began to dance, her feet caressing the earth” (p. 4). The land grew “as she danced her thanks” (p. 4), until the whole earth was made. Kimmerer points out that Skywoman did not create the earth alone, it was a community effort; Skywoman with the animals working together to create a place for her among them. As a guest from another world, Skywoman brought with her a gift of fruits and seeds which she planted, carefully tending them until “wild grasses, flowers, trees, and medicines” grew everywhere. With more food available, many of the animals came to live with her on the land.

Like other creation stories, there is much to learn. The water and animals were first and Skywoman was an accidental guest, but she didn’t arrive empty-handed. The animals welcomed her, cared for her, and in some cases, sacrificed their life so she could live.  In return, the Skywoman gave thanks and contributed her own gift that fed and housed the animals.

The story of Skywoman reminds me of how I too, am a guest on this planet. Much of Nature has lived on this planet longer than I have. Nature can teach us profound lessons about living in harmony with others, resiliency, using only what is necessary to sustain life, and on and on. We have only to look to Nature to find the lessons. When I look, I see that everything I am surrounded by comes from the earth in one way or another. I am filled with gratitude and awe for the beauty that surrounds me, shelters me, feeds me, and protects me and those I love.

This month’s tool aligns with embodiment, living in alignment with your true inner self. The tool is gratitude. Gratitude softens the heart, calms the nervous system, and increases happiness.

Several months ago, I ran across a simple practice for increasing gratitude and joy. It is a mantra shared by Martha Beck, a well known life coach. I don’t know which of her many books it came from, but it stuck with me and when I use it, it fills me with gratitude and joy and reminds me of how the earth holds me. The following is my adaptation of the mantra.

There is beauty in front of me.

There is beauty behind me.

There is beauty on my left.

There is beauty on my right.

There is beauty below me.

There is beauty above me.

There is beauty all around me.

There is beauty within me.

If you would like to try it the mantra, I recommend finding a comfortable, quiet place. It could be indoors or outdoors. Take 2-3 deep breaths and relax your mind and body. When you are ready silently say the first sentence to yourself, “There is beauty in front of me.” Then pause and picture beauty before you. As I do this, I picture the beauty I find in front of me, whether it is in the form of physical items, future events on the horizon, or anything else that comes to mind. If I’m in a room in my house, I find joy in remembering the trees that line the walls of my home to provide structure and shelter and give gratitude to them. Then I move onto the next sentence and repeat the process. I give thanks for the soil that supports the foundation of my home, the insects that keep the soil healthy and provide food for other living organisms. I think of my loved ones who live in my home with me, those who I will see in the future, and those who have passed on and give thanks for the honor of knowing and loving each of them.

This practice is a small way to give thanks for this beautiful world of which we are all a part.

May your heart be filled with joy and gratitude too.