The Community You Find at Gratitude Group
A peek inside Slow Mornings for Fast Times with Adam
It’s a cold, crisp winter morning in Elysian Park. The sun is shining and the air is clear from the intense Santa Ana winds.
People of all shapes and sizes meander over from the parking lot to a grassy area tucked behind some bushes, carrying blankets, journals and snacks. Everyone is dressed in what I would call “hip comfy” attire - as is apropos for a Sunday morning.
By 10:30 AM, there’s 100+ beautiful humans gathered under this specific canopy of trees in the park. This is Slow Mornings for Fast Times, aka Gratitude Group.
Born out of isolation and social distancing during the pandemic, Adam Weiss created a safe space for people to gather and reflect on a regular basis.
The concept is simple yet so effective - hey, I’m plopping down at this specific area in a park at this time, bring a blanket and a journal and join me. It’s easy, it’s free, and the nature of the activity curates a special type of community. You feel like you’re contributing to your day and getting out on a Sunday, but it’s in the most zen, easy possible way. Plus, it’s a time you can consciously carve out of your week to journal and reflect, but you have someone else holding the time and space for you - which IMO, creates an added layer of accountability.
A typical Gratitude Group gathering consists of a silent meditation or sound bath, followed by a guided journaling session + group share.
As of recently, Adam has begun playing with the format of his gatherings. Gratitude Group almost always involves a sound bath or meditation component to set the tone, along with a journaling session, but may also include a hike, yoga, or a sober dance party (“Natural High”) depending on the week.
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing 2 different types of GG events over the years - the “OG” format in Elysian Park, and then a gathering that included a hike to a magical hidden gem in Griffith Park (pictured up above).
Everyone is friendly. Random acquaintances exchange hellos as they settle in, Adam bops around saying hello and demanding people take some coffee and a donut. This is a safe space where everyone feels at ease. You are not required to socialize - you can take the space to reflect on an individual, personal level if that’s what you need. It’s a zero pressure environment.
The blend of tones from the sound bath, the breeze dancing through the trees, the sunlight and the birds chirping creates truly a sublime relaxation experience. After the meditation, Adam blasts out an email to the group, sharing 5 journal prompts for the week. Finally, once everyone has had time to reflect, Adam opens up the floor for people to share their responses. People applaud one another for their accomplishments, sympathize and show support for other’s struggles, share laughs, or even establish new bonds based on a common goal or interest. It’s a beautiful thing.
Whether you’re seeking a sense of community in the isolating, large city of Los Angeles, or you’re simply looking for a space to reflect and journal on a regular basis - I cannot recommend Adam’s gatherings enough! If you’re interested in joining in on the fun, shoot him a note at SlowMorningsForFastTimes@gmail.com and you’ll get added to the distro. Adam promises there is a lot more to come in 2024 - including arts & crafts, hikes, board games, and a lot more Gratitude Groups + Natural High dance parties!
ICYMI - I shared my 5 favorite LA experiences in my 2023 wrap report HERE (including Gratitude Group ofc). Comment below (Substack readers) or reply directly to this email (Email readers) with your favorite experiences in 2023 <3
Catch you guys on the flip side… till then, I’ll be on TikTok sharing even more LA content. Byeee!
Ticket to Sarahdise Event Digest - Week of 1/8
Every week, I’m sharing events you should be checking out in LA. Here’s this week’s download!
Mario Kart & Vinyl - this is… a dream event? Head on over to The Goldfish in HLP on Wednesday to join in on the fun
Educational Wine Tasting in KTown - Koreatown Wine Club is hosting a wine tasting 101 event this coming Friday 1/12! RSVP at the link in their bio
30 Shows in 30 Days - Winston House is back with round 2 of “Out of the Blue”, 30 nights of music in 30 days! Tickets are free or cheap, I highly recommend!
Magical 😍