The Gratitude Project

Eyes of Gratitude

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Brita, Ingalf, Nicolina: Black Rock City, Nevada.

These three ladies stood out in the crowd around the temple early Wednesday morning. They were all dressed in white and were having, what looked like a jolly good time. We chatted and I learned that they are long-time burners from (Denmark? Copenhagen? Sorry, I don’t remember). They were such long-time burners that they were lamenting about the lost tradition: dressing in all white for White Wednesday. They were a delightful group of ladies. I asked them what they were most grateful for.

Nicolina: I’m grateful for life in general. Nothing specific, just grateful for my life. And for this particular moment.

Brita: I’m grateful for being here, traveling across the world. Being in a position where I can afford to travel to be with all of these lovely people. It’s all very nice.

Ingalf: Having just visited the temple, I’m so happy and grateful for the health of my boys.

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Shannon: Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m grateful to be here on this planet, experiencing the things I get to experience, seeing the things I get to see. Traveling. Meeting people from all over the world. Playing with fire, walking on fire, dancing with fire. Traveling around the US, seeing different cultures and eating different foods. It’s good to experience life. Life is beautiful.

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Ruby: Black Rock City, Nevada

When you asked me about gratitude, I thought about community. Why? It’s because community breeds connection. Connection is what keeps me grounded in this world. It’s so important.

I’m so grateful for people here that I feel that same resonance with in my heart. It definitely popped into my mind because I lost my partner last year. She did not feel connected to our community on this planet anymore. Now it’s my mission to make sure that anyone who feels that way, can feel included and understand that there is a common thread that runs thru us all.

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Randy: Black Rock City, Nevada

I can’t tell you what I’m grateful for, it’s a secret. I’m grateful that I had the strength to make it thru this burn.

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Martin: Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m grateful for my grandchildren. They are sixteen months old. I’m happy that they exist and that I’m their grandfather.

(I stopped my recording and thanked Martin. Then Martin asked if he could add some more to his story.)

My daughter had a very bad accident before she had the children. She was in a coma for 3 weeks and was in rehab for a year and a half. So I’m grateful that she is still alive and that I have twin grandchildren now. That makes the story special and makes my being here special.

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Lynda: Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m grateful for my son, daughter and two grandkids. And I thought, wow! Here I am on the playa, why does my mind first go to my family? It’s because the thing I’m most grateful for IS my family. They are the highlight, the shining beacon in my life. My granddaughter is 16 so in two years she will come out with me. I’m counting down the years!

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Andrew (Love): Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m grateful for my own strength. I came here by myself. It’s very much out of character for me. If it was a year ago, it wouldn’t have happened. I’ve had a lot of growth and momentum towards something like this. I’m so proud of myself for getting out of my shell. I have truly surrendered to what this place has to offer.

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Love Beard: Black Rock City, Nevada

I was thinking about my chosen family. My community. My polycule of people that I love, and build, and spend my time with. (Me: You said your polycule of people?) Love Beard: Yes, my partners, my partners’ partners, their closest friends. It’s the different types of love and community that we share. About 10 of us are here together from Toronto. We built art and a new regional in our home town in this last year. I’m grateful for all the things that have come from building my family.

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Nick: Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m grateful for experiences like this. Just being at Burning Man and being able to finally go home.

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Farhad: Black Rock City, Nevada

Farhad:  I was thinking how blessed I am to be loved by so many people. I’m thinking about everyone from the past, the present, and I’m looking forward to new people in the future.

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Kyle, Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m grateful for my talent with photography and graphic design. It’s given me a career and a life that I’m really proud of and makes me happy.

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Christine: Black Rock City, Nevada

One of the biggest reasons for me to work on this project at Burning Man, is it forces me to get up before sunrise. I ride my bike for several miles to the temple to find people who are in a more contemplative mood. Often times people make it a goal to stay up all night, so I’m catching them when they are experiencing their second wind before they go to bed. But more often, it’s people like myself who got up early, wanting to start their day with quiet reflection. This seems to be a perfect time to pause and think what one is most grateful for. I met Christine in the courtyard of the temple.

Christine: I’m grateful for my life. I’m really happy for where my life is right now. I’m so grateful for it. And thank you for asking me about this. It could not have been a more reflective time for me to realize that.

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Tori & Ben: Saguaro Man, Arizona

Tori: Grateful to  be here taking a break from regular society, to feel at home in something so big. Ben: Me? Oh my god. I went to a whole ‘nother level last night. Oh, my god. Last night I had this personal revelation out here. It’s too hard to put into words, it was existential.

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Kelsey: Black Rock City, Nevada

Sometimes, often times there is an overtone of sadness at the temple at Burning Man. People go there to say goodby, to release something, to find closure. I could sense that Kelsey was having a somber moment when I saw her, yet she was open to speaking with me. It was as if she was open to talking with someone.

Kelsey: I’m grateful for my capacity to forgive. It makes me feel strong and capable, and I can move forward from the things that happen to me. (I asked her if anything in particular came to mind - she took a big sigh and continued). I just let go of something here. I was able to transform it from a pain to a forgiveness for the first time.

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Jesse “Fire Light”: Black Rock City

I’m grateful that my wife is still with me. She was in a major car accident. Everyone we talked to, all the doctors said she is lucky to be alive. My wife is here also as a Temple Guardian. We got married at the Temple of Joy 15 years ago. I’m so grateful to have her with me today.

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Spencer “S”: Saguaro Man, Arizona

S: First thing, I’m grateful for my friends. And the respect that they have for my difficult situation. And I’m grateful that we can all come together in the same place.

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Jeremy: Black Rock City, Nevada

Jeremy is one of the many people who come to Burning Man from France. Seems like everyone I meet is from Paris! I had a difficult time understanding him with his accent. This is my best attempt at transcribing his answer.

Jérémy: I’m grateful to be at Burning Man. I come from France where there is a festival in Lyon. The imagery there come from Burning Man. One year there was a man disguised as a wolf, with his arm like a cross and a tambourine. I felt freedom seeing this, and I wanted to go there, I discovered about Burning Man then.

I read a lot about the things here, like the Temple. It’s a magical place. We have to build these sorts of places in the world because it can heal a lot of scars. I love this place, I love that I’m meeting a lot of people. It’s cosmopolitan.

I love to travel, and I’ve never seen a place like this in the world. It’s a special emotion. I think it’s difficult to describe this. I had to come here to see that there are two Burning Mans. At daytime, meeting people, talking, discovering a new cocktail. At night there are so many sights and sounds, I don’t know where to go. There are so many things to see. It’s a very special place.

To finish I would say that it’s very important to be at Burning Man and not just participate, but contribute. I think I will cry when the Temple burns.

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