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Encouragement as an Antidote to Chaos: Thanksgiving and Thanksreceiving November 30, 2025 13:50
I was driving to school a few days before Thanksgiving. It was early in the morning, it was dark, and the streets were wet from rain. The traffic lights in the distance turned green, and those green lights reflected on the wet road and stretched out along the street toward my car in long, narrow, blurry points, encouraging me along the way.
Encouragement is a practice, and it can be an antidote to chaos and uncertainty.
My husband and I went to the grocery store last Saturday afternoon—the Saturday before Thanksgiving. As we pulled into the crowded parking lot, we slowed down and stopped at the sign in front of the store. A woman pushing a cart loaded with groceries crossed in front of us. To us, it was a commonsense gesture—to stop for her…at a stop sign—to let her cross; obviously, it meant more to her, though. She smiled, waved, and blew kisses at us as she crossed and pushed her cart toward her car. We weren’t doing anything exceptional; however, sometimes it feels good to be enthusiastically, and sincerely acknowledged for doing what you’re supposed to do.
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The following Saturday (post-Thanksgiving), Jim and I went to the same grocery store several hours earlier than usual in order to beat a forecasted winter storm. Traffic was very light at 7:00AM. We had no trouble finding a parking spot, and the few shoppers in the store were outnumbered by workers stocking shelves.
The produce section was already fully stocked, which was a pleasant surprise, and we didn’t have to wait in a long checkout line.
I asked our cashier, Bri, if she had a good Thanksgiving.
“I was here,” she said, “and…I was here yesterday,” which was Black Friday.
Bri looked fatigued and discouraged as she scanned our groceries.
“I hope you had had kind and patient customers,” I offered, while bagging our groceries and placing them in our cart.
She shrugged her shoulders and added, “It was pretty crazy yesterday.”
Another cashier stopped by her register and announced that they were going to be understaffed…again. Bri was concerned that her manager would forget about her break as a result.
As Bri handed us our receipt, I said, “We won’t forget you, Bri, and we appreciate your dedication and hard work.”
Bri’s face lit up when she heard me say her name. She smiled and encouraged us to “stay warm.”
Empathy and kind words may not be enough to alleviate fatigue and frustration, but for a moment, at least, I hope that Bri felt seen and appreciated.
Sometimes, a kind word from a stranger at 7:30 in the morning on a snowy Saturday after the biggest shopping day of the year can help make the day flow a little more smoothly. I certainly hope that was the case for Bri.
***
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, and later that day I purchased a beautiful, hand-knitted blanket from a friend’s wife who is exceptionally creative, and who is also on the verge of starting her own small business.
This blanket is circular with small, knitted roses at the edges so that when it’s folded and rolled, it resembles a bouquet of red roses. It will make a lovely gift for a special friend this Holiday Season, and it felt good to support another friend on her entrepreneurial journey.
Encouragement doesn’t only benefit those who receive it; it also benefits those who give it.
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Earlier this month, I met with one of my regular tutoring students, David. David has been struggling in his English class for much of this semester—not because he found the work of writing essays intellectually challenging, but because of procrastination. Delay, delay, delay is David’s downfall.
David would come to my office each week and stand in front of my desk. I have several chairs in my office, and most of the students I work with choose to sit in them during our meetings. David, however, prefers to stand.
He was guarded, stoic, and standoffish during many of our sessions. He was often eager to leave and rarely offered details and information without being prompted.
As the semester progressed, I’d ask him about the topics that he chose for his essays. I learned that he had an interest and an in-depth knowledge about Afro-Cuban music. He also was curious about civil rights leaders. I responded with interest and encouragement, and he continued to write and turn in his assignments.
At this point, we have a few weeks remaining in the semester, and David is very close to earning a B in his English class. The last time he came to my office, he stood in front of my desk, as usual. However, at the end of our brief meeting, he walked around my desk and gave me a hug and said, “Thank you.”
Keep in mind, I work part-time at a high school, and I often feel invisible in this role. I’m lucky if students make eye contact with me in the hallway, or smile, or even say, “Hello.”
High school kids aren’t big on hugging, so this was significant.
Encouragement inspired David to work to his potential, and his sincere gesture of appreciation encouraged me to realize that what I do does matter. It was a win-win.
***
Encouragement is an antidote. It uplifts, acknowledges, comforts, inspires, and reassures. It also propels us forward and fosters meaningful connections with others, especially during times when we are feeling vulnerable, uncertain, or afraid in a crazy, chaotic world.
Encouragement is a meaningful practice, and I encourage you to incorporate it in your own life in whatever ways resonate with you.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s offering. I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones.
Please check out the current Middle Moon Malas collection. These hand-knotted, one-of-a-kind designs make thoughtful gifts for meditators and wellness enthusiasts. Know that I also offer restringing services and create custom designs upon request. Simply send me a message via the Contact Us page.
I am grateful for all of you, and I hope the month of December treats you well.
In the meantime, keep practicing.
The Subtle Side-Effects of a Chanting Practice March 2, 2016 15:00
Everything we are, and everything that is, is vibration. All sentient beings and all inanimate objects in the cosmos are teeming expressions of vibrational flow. When this flow is disturbed or disrupted, disharmony is the result. A mantra or chanting practice can help restore harmony and balance again by kneading the cells of the body with sound. One of the best ways to recalibrate and reboot your own system is through a regular practice of chanting Sanskrit mantra.
I've been practicing forty-day sadhanas with various mantras over the course of the last two years, and upon reflecting on this practice, I've noticed some interesting side-effects.
* Increased Presence
I'm finding it's much easier to stay in the present moment. This can be both a blessing and a curse. For example, I'm not writing nearly as many lists on Post-it notes, and I'm not as caught up in the trance of future thinking--the endless streams of "I have to do this," and "I have to do that," etc.
However, I'm finding that I immerse myself completely in the most mundane tasks. I'm totally engaged in loading the dishwasher or flossing my teeth, and time slips away from me. Last week, I spent twenty minutes in the produce section at Target--totally mesmerized by the colors, shapes, and smells of fruits and veggies, as if it were an art exhibit at the IMA.
*Managing Difficult Emotions
When anger, frustration, fear, resentment, and general crankiness rise to the surface, I'm able to stay with these unpleasant feelings for longer periods of time without casting judgment or pushing them away. I can sit (stand, walk, or drive) with them with an objective heart and mind--simply noticing and holding space for these feelings--until they dissipate on their own.
This morning as I was driving to school, a man in an old pick-up truck tailgated me all the way down Morgantown Rd. Every time I glanced in my rear view mirror, he made various aggressive hand gestures, clearly indicating his disapproval of me driving the speed limit. Instead of responding with equal and opposite frustration, though, I remained calm and focused, and when he barreled past me across the double line, I didn't take it personally, and I didn't feel the need to speed up and chase after him, which is evidence of significant growth for me.
*New Teachers and Adventures
One of the most pleasant side-effects of my mantra practice is that it has been sending new teachers and adventures my way. I've met amazingly creative,supportive,and nourishing people outside my usual circles who have helped me learn and grow in so many ways. They've helped me stretch beyond my comfort zones, offering guidance and encouragement at just the right time.
For a long time, I've wanted to visit the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana, and in the last few months, I've visited several times, attending various pujas, lectures, and events there.The monks have been very kind and warm-hearted, and their welcoming and open spirits have been both inspirational and refreshing.
In addition to honoring the Divine that dwells within, I've found that the heart of a regular mantra practice also includes elevating your vibrational frequencies. Each forty-day sadhana brings new experiences and insights, and each spiritual formula has its own unique lessons to teach. I'm looking forward to exploring the treasures that dwell in the next Sanskrit mantra.