December 2012
Welcome --
"We can only be said to be alive
in those moments when our hearts
are conscious of our treasures."
Thornton Wilder
So -- we're in the throes of what a friend of mine used to call the "Holy Daze" -- not so much in reference to the rituals of the season, but rather, regarding the mindless "gotta get / gotta have" energy of door buster specials and "bogo" deals.
Let's set all this aside for a moment and begin to shift gears:
Stop
Breathe
Breathe again
Begin again
Consider gratitude. Instead of the rushed thanks and accumulation of gear and stuff why not actively practice being grateful? It opens the heart, puts our own woes in perspective, and allows for healing on many, many levels.
As this year winds down and 2013 settles in, I'm inviting all of us to become well versed in the art of gratitude. Make it a daily ritual -- even if it's just a quick reflection or "note to self".
What are you grateful for? It can be as simple as this very moment, the next breath, or as layered as you care to make it: partners, children, weathering a health crisis, new home, different work, etc.
Allow it to become a habit -- however you choose to embody it. Take a minute or so to list all that moves you, from the very simple to the more complex. Once you get started, I sense you'll be surprised at just how easily you come up with examples, and how difficult it can be to limit yourself to the time frame.
May it be so for all of us .........
