Saturday, December 25, 2021

Blessed Holidays

 May you and yours

Have a blessed holy-day.

(image courtesy of pixabay.com)

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Some Quotes for the Holidays

      Here are some quotes to ponder during the holidays.  Enjoy!

The holiest of holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the secret anniversaries of the heart.  (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.  (John Boswell)

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.  (Edith Sitwell)

Kindness is like snow.  It beautifies everything it covers.  (Kahlil Gibran) 

Sharing the holiday with other people, and feeling that you're giving of yourself, gets you past all the commercialism.  (Caroline Kennedy) 

 


 

Saturday, December 11, 2021

The Gift of Presence, Part 2

      Last week we were discussing how to gift yourself with the practice of mindfulness, of being present in the moment.  Once you establish that, you can be present enough to give the gift of presence to others as well.

     With all the many errands and festivities the holidays bring, we have many opportunities to be present for others.  What does that mean?  It means that you establish your own mindful presence first, then open yourself to the other's energy.  Are you ignoring that harried check-out person while going over your to-do list, or are you taking a moment to be with that person and perhaps saying something to lighten their day?  Are your frantically trying to make the party perfect, or are you taking the time to be with your guests and be present with them?  The holidays offer so many possibilities to practice this gift of presence.  Try it!

Saturday, December 4, 2021

The Gift of Presence

      As we approach the holidays with all its frantic energy and endless tasks, I would like to off a new way to give a special gift.  Give the gift of presence.

     First, be present to yourself.  Rather than having your mind constantly engaged in what you need to do next, take a few moments to breathe.  Feel the air enter your nose, go down your throat, into your lungs, and feel your stomach expand as you take in that breath.  Hold it a moment and, as you exhale, feel how it leaves your lungs, goes up your throat and out your nose again.  Feel how that air nourishes your body and slows your mind.  Practice this often.  While standing in line, while waiting for others, while stuck in traffic -- the day offers many opportunities to be present if you pay attention.  

     So, dear Reader, give yourself the gift of being.  Amidst all the doing, you can still experience and savor the moment.  You deserve that gift.


(image courtesy of pixabay.com)