A safe harbor where beliefs are respected and kindness prevails.

We Are Waiting to Meet You

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KSWhen I was a child and someone new would move into the neighborhood, I remember Mom and the other neighborhood women welcoming them with home-baked goodies and an invitation to coffee. If it were near the holidays, you would get a sense that they were family, as the invitation to share at the table with us was always open.

I’ve always thought of technology and the provisions we have with social media to be much the same. We can enjoy a warm chat and a hot cup of coffee or tea. It’s a place of invitation to join me at my family’s table, so to speak. A few short years ago, some of these platforms were primarily for marketing purposes. Now, it has become much more. With the Holidays fast approaching, sharing with family and new and old friends allows us to share what this time of year means to each and every one of us, regardless of our beliefs.

I’ve heard lately that connections are the new currency. In my opinion, connections and relationships have always been valuable – with and without technology – and not just for the monetization of our business, but adding to the wealth of our personal lives. What social media and technology give us is the ability to sit, chat and connect easily with anyone worldwide.

It’s interesting to note that in this amazing time of connection, we have the freedom to know more about other cultures and share opinions and thoughts; unexpected doors open – ones that may not have been open before or that we didn’t even know existed. We can connect with anyone with any given talent or ability, process or product – just with the click of a button. How cool is that! How we show up in any of these places really isn’t any different than meeting someone in person, although we’re now able to do it continually, on a regular basis, 24/7.

More than any other time in history, we have the ability to not only create sustainable business, but also to create long standing and fulfilling friendships and partnerships. Whether  you are new to social media or a seasoned online veteran, there are, in my opinion, several important things that make a difference in how we share up and show up.

1. Be Authentic. You can share the eyes of your soul and your light within, albeit digitally, and it might be virtual for the relationship and connection in the beginning, but it doesn’t mean it will stay that way. I’ve met hundreds of people in person that I once only knew online.

2. Smile. I know this sounds a little silly, right? People can feel the energy in your words.   They have a sense of who you are by what you write. Even without a photo.

3. Collaborate. Your gifts are meant to be shared. Connections bring the right people to collaborate with  – people who can help you spread your gifts in ways you never imagined.

4. Listen. There is a lot of noise out there with all of the postings, ads and photos. But if you listen, you will be able to respond to those that seek you, your gifts and your knowledge. They will be open to hear you beyond the noise, beyond the confusion.

5. Provide value. Regardless of what the reasoning is behind the connection you’ve made, you’ve created a friendship or impacted a business. I always say; exceed the perceived value. You will be rewarded.

As the Holiday season grows near, take this time to not only connect with family and friends but to reconnect with old friends, and make new ones anywhere in the world. And share your gift …We are waiting!

Holiday Reflections

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Reflections

As I think back on the holidays when I was a child, they were filled with family, food and fun.  At times there was stress between the personalities, but the joy of the season overshadowed it.  In recent years the family has spread out across the world, we’ve gone our separate directions, and those who created those traditions have passed.

Now it’s just my husband Jack, my mom and me. We have created our new traditions that I’ll treasure all my life.  I miss my grandparents and my dad.  But I have these wonderful memories.  Each time I make a holiday pie, my grandma is cheering me on.  The twinkle in my grandpa’s eye fills my heart with love.  And my Dad is smiling down because he always said things work out as they need to.  And they have.

My memories of what was, and what is at this moment, begin and end with love.  And when we allow ourselves to lead with love all is as it should be.

Everyday Holiday

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JGDuring our holiday season, families gather and practice their traditions of giving thanks, giving gifts, and wishing one another a happy new year. When the nights are long and the days are cold in the northern hemisphere, we spend more time together. Putting up decorations and colorful lights adds luster to the home. Family gatherings are intended to be loving and fun. Being mindful of our gratitude boosts our feelings of contentment. Feasts and gift exchanges are meant to be joyful. Throughout the holiday season we remind one another to be of good cheer.

However, it is not uncommon to hear grumbling about the holidays. People who are very busy wrestle with the need to accomplish even more. Some people suffer stress around expectations connected to gift giving. Some fret over feasts and family gatherings that break down into dysfunctional episodes, or simply don’t measure up to unspoken high hopes. Some people with limited financial resources become painfully aware of lack. Some wealthy people feel guilty about being well-off while others struggle. People who are not feeling merry may notice that emotional condition more acutely in the season of joy. They may imagine others to be extremely happy while they are not. People without immediate family, or a person far from home, may feel more alone at this time of year.

Unfortunately for some, holidays for giving thanks, giving gifts, and setting goals for a happy new year are a source of stress. Some believe that this season, intended to be one of love and joy, has been distorted into a time of high expectations, guilt, disappointment, and commercial profit.

If you suffer additional stress during the holiday season, I humbly offer a few ideas to help lighten your burden. When we change our beliefs, everything changes. What if we acted as if every day is a holiday? Would we be more grateful for our bounty – for the simple gift of this breath? Would we gather the family? Would we ask the folks at the table to tell us something for which they are thankful? Could we let go of expectations that cause stress by letting any meal be a feast? When we are grateful, every day is Thanksgiving Day.

What if we gave gifts to each other every day without a reason? What if we defined gifts in a new way? What if we received the gift in a smile, a hug, a phone call? A gift could be reading, writing a poem, singing together, drawing a picture, or dancing. A gift could be inviting a friend over for dinner. The list of gifts is endless when we stop thinking gifts cost money and come from stores. What if we viewed our conversations as gifts? Will you give the gift of listening today? Love is the greatest gift we give to each other and to ourselves. Give love each day and every day is like Christmas Day.

What if we celebrate the arrival of each day as if we are beginning a new year? In this moment we have the power to make change happen. What if we make resolutions toward better habits right now? The calendar is not in control of when we begin anew. Every moment gives us a chance for a new beginning. What if we remember that now is the only moment, and we celebrate the present? Life is happening in this moment, in this singular breath. Every day is New Year’s Day—let it be fun, let it be filled with inspiration.

Perhaps you don’t celebrate these specific holidays. Do you practice other holiday traditions? What makes a holiday different from any other day? Find that answer for yourself, then do your best to practice your holiday beliefs every day. Why do we behave differently on holidays? Do we allow our seasonal traditions to be loaded with extraordinary expectations? Can we let it go? The power to change our holiday habits is within our control. What if we lived as if every day is a holiday? What if we cherished all acts of kindness and loving moments with friends and family as the most valuable gifts? Would our world transform? Would we live in peace on earth with good will toward all?

Let’s give thanks and simple gifts of love today. Let’s decorate with light from the inside out, right now. Let’s savor this day – this moment – as we remember that only now may we begin again. Today, to the best of our ability, let’s remind one another to be grateful and full of good cheer. After all, today is a holiday.

Gratitude Habits

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twWant to get through anything with ease and grace?  Be grateful.

Two of my favorite words are Thank You! It always amazes me how wonderful it feels to say and hear those words.

When I say them, I know that something delightful has taken place in my life. In fact, I wake up every morning with “Thank you” in my head – “Thank you” that I am alive to live another day, no matter what happens.

When I hear them, I know that someone has simply received something – a gift, a thought, a smile.  It might have been from me, or it might have been in a conversation I had the honor of overhearing.  (Sometimes eavesdropping is a good thing.)

Like most of you, I’ve had my share of ups and downs.  Those who know me well, know the “back story” of my life, sometimes ask me how I did it, how I managed to get through it all and still have a smile on my face.  One simple word:  Gratitude.

Replace old habits with new ones to create an attitude within that focuses on what works instead of what doesn’t!

What’s a habit?

According to dictionary.com it’s an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary – a learned behavior that we’ve repeated so often we don’t even think about it, we just do it.

What we focus on multiplies!

When we focus on what we are grateful for every day, gratitude becomes a natural part of our life, like brushing our teeth.  All habits are formed by repeatedly practicing or living a certain behavior over and over again.

How to make gratitude work for you?

  • Open your eyes in the morning with “Thank you!”
  • Close your eyes at night with “Thank you!”
  • Be grateful for everything in your life – good, bad or indifferent.
  • ·      Be open to seeing something good in every situation. Sometimes you might have to look a little harder than others.
  • Recognize your blessings: the breath you take, even if it’s labored; a sunny day, even when it’s cold; a warm coat, even if it has holes in it; shoes on your feet.
  • ·      Say “Thank you” often.  Pay attention to how many times a day you say “Thank you!”
  • ·      Pay attention to how many times a day you hear “Thank you!”
  • Create your own ABC’s of gratitude.

How long does it take for a habit to form?  Who knows. There are too many variables.  It doesn’t take long though to know we want to be happier; sometimes we simply choose not to act.

Focusing on gratitude takes your attention off of the lack or negativity in your life and puts the focus on what’s working, what’s positive and joyful.  Remember, what we focus on multiplies, thus gratitude raises our vibration to our own place of joy.

 

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