Gratitude Notes · Learning and reflection
How My Time at Humber Polytechnic Deepened My Understanding of Gratitude
How my studies in addictions and mental health changed the way I understand gratitude and practice mindfulness with others.
I loved my eight months in the Addictions and Mental Health program at Humber Polytechnic. I came to the program with years of teaching experience and a gratitude practice that had carried me through difficult times. During placement, I began to reflect on how that practice might be received by someone whose circumstances were different from my own. I still ask myself this question when I teach. When someone is going through a difficult time, what am I asking of them when I invite them to practice gratitude?
Learning to listen
At Humber, I studied trauma informed practice and the responsibility to avoid harm. That learning made me pay closer attention to the language I use, the choices I offer, and how an invitation might feel to the person receiving it.
In yoga or mindfulness, that can be as simple as explaining what we are about to do and offering choices before we begin. Someone might keep their eyes open, change how they are sitting, or pause and listen. I want people to know they can make those choices without having to explain them to the group.
What placement taught me
I completed my placement at a shelter for young mothers and pregnant women. The experience challenged me to reconsider when and how I introduce gratitude. The women I met had their own priorities, and listening helped me recognize when a reflection on gratitude might be welcome and when someone needed space to talk about something else.
I was grateful to be part of their growth and to learn from the women I met. Their stories belong to them. What I can share is how the experience changed the way I listen and the care I bring to my work.
Making room for gratitude and difficulty
Gratitude will always be foremost in my life. My time at Humber reminded me that it can sit alongside grief, frustration, or uncertainty. In my teaching, I offer gratitude as an invitation. I give people time to decide whether the practice feels meaningful to them in that moment.
Sometimes the most helpful thing I can offer is time to think, a choice about how to participate, or a chance to be heard.
Bringing this into my work
As a Yoga and Mindfulness Educator, I bring together breathing, accessible movement, mindfulness, and reflection. I would work with each organization to understand the needs of the people it serves and agree on how a mindfulness program could complement its existing services.
If you work in an addictions or mental health organization and would like to explore a mindfulness program, contact me to begin a conversation. You can also explore my community and group programs.
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