Gratitude

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of volunteering at Goat Yoga, hosted by the wonderful McCoys of Sage Meadow Farm. Amidst the bleating of baby goats and the laughter of participants, one phrase echoed again and again: “Thank you.”

Gratitude has been on my mind a lot lately. The day before, I celebrated my anniversary and I was struck by a simple truth—it wasn’t just about marking another year with my partner, but about expressing gratitude for every moment that brought us here. As spring takes hold—turning my garden, and my hometown of Holyoke, greener—I’m reminded of how much there is to be grateful for.

And yet, I know that for many, gratitude can feel out of reach. The world is heavy. Prices are soaring, rights are eroding, and fear is real. But perhaps, in the face of all of this, gratitude becomes even more essential. Not to ignore reality, but to anchor ourselves in it. Even in difficult times, the warmth of the sun on our skin, the kindness of a stranger, or the simple joy of movement while baby goats run back and forth, can remind us that joy is never fully out of reach.

Gratitude is not just about what we have—it’s about who we are. Honoring what we are grateful for is a way of honoring ourselves as whole beings, capable of holding pain and joy, fear and hope, all at once.

This season, I invite you to pause and name what you’re grateful for. Personally, I am grateful to Sage Meadow for donating a portion of the money they've raised to allow me to continue to offer classes at the Western Mass Wellness and Recovery Center. I am grateful for new partnerships, like my work with ServiceNet, and for the return to familiar, beloved spaces like Enlace de Familias and Dress for Success. I am grateful for the buds—both literal and metaphorical—that are beginning to sprout from intentional efforts and from seeds carried by the wind.

Most of all, I am grateful for you—for your presence, your support, and your commitment to healing, in all its forms.