A safe harbor where beliefs are respected and kindness prevails.

Holiday Reflections

by

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

by

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

by

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.

 

Simply Your Healthiest Holiday Season Ever!

by

DFHappy Holidays everyone,

This is the best time of the year, don’t you think?

The leaves are changing. There is a cool bite in the air. It is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate the harvest, thanksgiving and the beginning of a new year.

It is also a time when we have the tendency to ignore how our bodies work and what can happen when we consume treats, processed foods, and alcohol. We stop giving our bodies the simple factors that allow it to heal.

As wonderful as it can be, the extra activities of the holiday season can add increased stress to our lives and over-burden our digestive and immune systems. We put off exercising, we eat poorly, and we don’t get enough sleep. We don’t allow time to sit and be still, or to reconnect with those activities that bring happiness into our lives.

Remember, health and wellness is a lifestyle. It is not something you can buy in a bottle or create at the gym a few times a week. How we chose to live our lives will create the health, fitness, and wellness we desire.

Making the most of this holiday season is a gentle reminder of how amazing you are.

Give yourself a moment to feel how you would like your holiday season to be. Feel it filled with loving moments with friends and family. Make those moments about sharing your thanks for having them in your life, not about the deserts and alcohol. Treat yourself with time to eat well, and prepare wholesome meals for your family. And again, feel how fortunate you are for all that you have.

Create some activities special to fall and winter – ones that get you outside and close to nature. Autumn is a wonderful season for hiking, riding horses, playing football, roaming pumpkin patches, bike riding, photography, raking leaves, canoeing, or whatever you enjoy.

Winter is even better with all its activities. Give yourself permission to get out there and be a kid. Make a snowman, take a brisk walk, go sledding, skiing, or snow mobiling. You can still hike, ride horses, and bike ride.

Winter doesn’t mean you are supposed to lock yourself up inside, sitting in front of the T.V. waiting for spring.

Our bodies love to move and be active. Give yourself this gift, and you will find that the ten pounds most of us put on over the holidays isn’t on your hips or around your stomach. Do you know what that means? You are already ten pounds ahead of the game, and you will move into the New Year with a healthier, happier, spirit, mind, and body.

Here are a few simple steps to create for your holiday season.

Take a moment to actually visualize how you will feel the day after New Years: happy, healthy, and proud that you did so well through the holiday season. Really live in it.

Create a small list of five key thoughts you will focus on each day such as:

  • eat well  – lots of vegetables, clean proteins, and little bits of fat.
  • get sound sleep – this is when your body repairs and rebuilds
  • drink lots of water – hydration is so important to your health.
  • breathe – take time to be still and quiet your mind.
  • get outside and move – start to really enjoy your outside environment.

Here are a few of my best ways not to fall prey to the abundance of sweets and such.

I always make sure to eat or juice before going to a holiday party, even if they are serving food. This way I am not inclined to crave sweets. Remember:  sweets and junk food are not the reason for getting together. This is a time for celebrating our family and loved ones. You can easily do that without ice cream, pies, alcohol, and pizza.

I always prepare myself ahead of time by visualizing myself having a wonderful time without diving into the cheese dip, and the rest.

I make sure to drink water in a wine glass with lemon, so it has the same feel of participating with the group, and folks are less likely to tease me into drinking.

Most of the time people want you to drink because they are, and they feel uncomfortable if you are not.

I make sure never to take food home with me.

I keep my kitchen filled with wholesome foods so there are no temptations.

Believe it or not, this is not challenging at all. The key is to remain focused on your desire to feel and be healthy and happy. Every time you do it right, it gets even easier. After a week or so you won’t even think about it.

You already have the ability to do so.

I would like to leave you with one last thought.

Only you can take responsibility for your life and everything about it.

Most folks hear the word “Responsibility” and think, ‘Oh great, one more thing I have to do.’ We already have responsibilities to our partners, our kids, our work, and our groups.

In actuality, responsibility is a gift.  Look at the word “Responsibility,” and let’s break it apart into two words. Response–Ability or having the ability to respond.

It is my feeling that having the ability to respond means that you have been blessed with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to take care of, solve, resolve, teach, share, and express who you are and what is important to you in each and every moment of your life.

Having the ability to respond and how you respond determines your life.

Use your gift of  “Response-Ability by expressing the best choices for your health, happiness, wealth, and wellness.

Have a holiday season full of happiness, health, and well being!

I wish for all of you Vibrant Health!

Feedback