Grocery shopping Thanksgiving week at the Berkeley Bowl, my local grocery store, is a spiritual npractice all its own. This year I went on Monday because I needed a lighter experience in my hectic week. Some years I’ve gone on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I literally had to return my focus to my breath over and over again to get through the experience without snapping.
While shopping I had to proceed cautiously, doing my best to be aware of the people around me and make way for them. On my way to the produce section I was stopped by a conversion of carts and people that made a traffic jam that could only be cured be someone backing off. Of course other people were the cause of the problem, not me. I was just trying to get to the yams. Okay, so were they. We all wanted the same thing: to buy the best ingredients to make the delicious food for our celebrations with family and friends. A bubble of frustration built in my chest. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Calmed I looked out again; the jam had loosened up. My yams were in sight. Suddenly I was struck by the beautiful mounds of colorful produce ahead of me. Gratitude welled up in my chest. There was so much abundance it literally took my breath away. It didn’t matter in the slightest that I had to wait 20 seconds to get there. All I needed, actually more than I needed, was right in front of me. I floated through my day full of gratitude and joy.
Shopping at the Berkeley Bowl Thanksgiving week is one of my favorite spiritual practices, though I only experience it once a year. Maybe next year I’ll go on Tuesday and Wednesday.
While shopping I had to proceed cautiously, doing my best to be aware of the people around me and make way for them. On my way to the produce section I was stopped by a conversion of carts and people that made a traffic jam that could only be cured be someone backing off. Of course other people were the cause of the problem, not me. I was just trying to get to the yams. Okay, so were they. We all wanted the same thing: to buy the best ingredients to make the delicious food for our celebrations with family and friends. A bubble of frustration built in my chest. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Calmed I looked out again; the jam had loosened up. My yams were in sight. Suddenly I was struck by the beautiful mounds of colorful produce ahead of me. Gratitude welled up in my chest. There was so much abundance it literally took my breath away. It didn’t matter in the slightest that I had to wait 20 seconds to get there. All I needed, actually more than I needed, was right in front of me. I floated through my day full of gratitude and joy.
Shopping at the Berkeley Bowl Thanksgiving week is one of my favorite spiritual practices, though I only experience it once a year. Maybe next year I’ll go on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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