Your attitude about things in general and in particular affects your perception of situations and where you go in life.
If you choose to see the world as a dark, dreary, or even evil place, you will interact with others and your environment as a whole from that perspective.
If you choose to see the world as a bright, vibrant place full of hope, love, and goodness, you will then interact with others and your environment as a whole from that perspective.
Only you can control your attitude, which means you control where you go in life.
So where do you choose to go? To the dark side or to the light?
Since it is now December, we will be focusing on celebration for the remaining posts of 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Friday, December 1, 2017
Sunday, November 5, 2017
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - Rituals
Last post, I challenged y'all to a daily ritual of finding 3 things to be grateful for every day for the month of November.
Here's my list thus far:
November 1st: the roughness of my kitty's tongue as she gives me affection; the contented purr of my kitties; the ability to read a good book
November 2nd: a good night's sleep; the stillness of the hours before dawn; a good cup of coffee
November 3rd: the reminder that life is short; a job I enjoy; time spent with my youngest son
November 4th: the juncos migrating through; a good dinner; sparkling wine
November 5th: fall back so I can wake in the sunlight again; health; the clouds that bring us water
Did you participate thus far? If so, great! If not, there's no time like the present to start a new ritual.
Another ritual of gratitude is to say "Thank You" for whatever grace you receive - a rainbow, sunshine, rain, snow, a parking space, a good meal, a deadline shift, etc. You don't have to say it to a specific person, just out loud - not loudly, just out loud. What you put out is what you get back, and being thankful puts positive energy into the ether.
Being thankful for the small things makes you appreciate the big things even more.
What rituals of gratitude do you practice? What rituals can you start practicing?
Next time we'll discuss how attitude is a choice, unless a guest blogger appears in the meantime.
Until then, Namaste!
Here's my list thus far:
November 1st: the roughness of my kitty's tongue as she gives me affection; the contented purr of my kitties; the ability to read a good book
November 2nd: a good night's sleep; the stillness of the hours before dawn; a good cup of coffee
November 3rd: the reminder that life is short; a job I enjoy; time spent with my youngest son
November 4th: the juncos migrating through; a good dinner; sparkling wine
November 5th: fall back so I can wake in the sunlight again; health; the clouds that bring us water
Did you participate thus far? If so, great! If not, there's no time like the present to start a new ritual.
Another ritual of gratitude is to say "Thank You" for whatever grace you receive - a rainbow, sunshine, rain, snow, a parking space, a good meal, a deadline shift, etc. You don't have to say it to a specific person, just out loud - not loudly, just out loud. What you put out is what you get back, and being thankful puts positive energy into the ether.
Being thankful for the small things makes you appreciate the big things even more.
What rituals of gratitude do you practice? What rituals can you start practicing?
Next time we'll discuss how attitude is a choice, unless a guest blogger appears in the meantime.
Until then, Namaste!
Thursday, November 2, 2017
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - 3 Things
As I said in the previous post, this is the month where we celebrate those who have go before - Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), our military veterans - Veteran's Day, and individually and collectively give thanks - Thanksgiving.
I challenge you, my dear readers, to come up with 3 things you are thankful for each and every day this month.
My three for today are: a good night's sleep; the stillness of the hours before dawn; a good cup of coffee.
As I am a day late in posting this, my three for yesterday are: the roughness of my kitty's tongue as she gives me affection; the contented purrs of my kitties; the ability to read a good book.
What are you grateful for right here, right now?
Until next time, Namaste!
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Relationships
Okay, I'm going to get a little esoteric here...
I woke up in the middle of the night (not an unusual occurrence...) and I heard what is known as the Taos Hum, which lulled me back to sleep. As I was journaling this morning, I wondered if the Hum was Mother Earth communing with Mother Moon, who is waxing toward fullness right now.
There is a relationship between our planet - Mother Earth - and her natural satellite - Mother Moon. The moon influences the waters here on Earth, and many things were done by the dark of the moon, when the moon was full, or during the periods of waxing and waning, particularly in regards to early agriculture. Modern biodynamic agricultural practices still honor and use some of those early practices.
When I look at the world today and what is going on, I see a breakdown in human relationships, much like there is a breakdown in natural relationships in some areas of our planet.
Building, and - more importantly - keeping, relationships is not always easy. And some relationships should not be built or kept because of various incompatibility issues.
This past year has been one of both building and keeping relationships for me. I'm building relationships in my new home and job, and working to keep relationships where I came from.
I've also chosen to let go of some relationships - those that no longer serve in my life.
Relationships, even familial ones, take work on both sides.
What have you harvested in the area of relationships this year? Where are you going to focus your energy in this area next year?
November is the month where we honor our military veterans and where we give thanks as individuals, families, and as a Nation. Some of us also honor those who have gone before us with the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Gratitude is the theme for the month. We will talk about developing rituals related to giving thanks and expressing our gratitude, as well as Thanksgiving itself.
I welcome guest bloggers for this theme as well as for December's theme of Celebration. If you are interested in posting a guest blog, please contact me at maximize.beth@gmail.com.
Until next time, Namaste!
I woke up in the middle of the night (not an unusual occurrence...) and I heard what is known as the Taos Hum, which lulled me back to sleep. As I was journaling this morning, I wondered if the Hum was Mother Earth communing with Mother Moon, who is waxing toward fullness right now.
There is a relationship between our planet - Mother Earth - and her natural satellite - Mother Moon. The moon influences the waters here on Earth, and many things were done by the dark of the moon, when the moon was full, or during the periods of waxing and waning, particularly in regards to early agriculture. Modern biodynamic agricultural practices still honor and use some of those early practices.
When I look at the world today and what is going on, I see a breakdown in human relationships, much like there is a breakdown in natural relationships in some areas of our planet.
Building, and - more importantly - keeping, relationships is not always easy. And some relationships should not be built or kept because of various incompatibility issues.
This past year has been one of both building and keeping relationships for me. I'm building relationships in my new home and job, and working to keep relationships where I came from.
I've also chosen to let go of some relationships - those that no longer serve in my life.
Relationships, even familial ones, take work on both sides.
What have you harvested in the area of relationships this year? Where are you going to focus your energy in this area next year?
November is the month where we honor our military veterans and where we give thanks as individuals, families, and as a Nation. Some of us also honor those who have gone before us with the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Gratitude is the theme for the month. We will talk about developing rituals related to giving thanks and expressing our gratitude, as well as Thanksgiving itself.
I welcome guest bloggers for this theme as well as for December's theme of Celebration. If you are interested in posting a guest blog, please contact me at maximize.beth@gmail.com.
Until next time, Namaste!
Monday, March 7, 2016
MaXIMIze - Relationship With Self
Everything comes from your relationship with your Self.
How are you practicing extreme self care?
Do you put yourself first, last, or somewhere in between depending on the day?
If you've ever flown, you've heard the flight attendant tell you to put your own mask on before helping those around you - even your own child!
Those who take care of themselves are better able to care for and help others.
Self care is not only the physical acts of eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, etc., but also the emotional acts of believing in yourself, knowing you do enough, knowing you have enough, knowing you are enough too.
Self care comes from self love, which comes from within.
So, how are you caring for yourself today? Are you putting your own oxygen mask on first?
CALL TO ACTION: Here are seven self care habits that will enrich your body, soul, and pocket book every day - how many of them can YOU practice every day?
1. Getting enough sleep.
2. Eating breakfast.
3. Getting daily exercise - at least 30 minutes per day.
4. Flossing and brushing your teeth.
5. Reading.
6. Saving money.
7. Eating more fruits and vegetables.
CHECK IN: A quick check to see how you are doing with the previous calls to action:
How are you coming with moving out on your goals for this year?
How are you doing in the gratitude department - can you think of three things right now you are grateful for?
Are you tackling change in your life from the inside out or from the outside in?
What can you do right here, right now to take better care of your Self?
Are you reacting or responding?
NEXT TIME: Well, it's March - time to think about that spring garden. What seeds do you want to sow this year? What do you want to grow in your life this year?
Until next time, Namaste!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions? Comments? Feel free to contact me at the e-mail address below:
Beth Henderson, MaXIMIzer
maximize.beth@gmail.com
How are you practicing extreme self care?
Do you put yourself first, last, or somewhere in between depending on the day?
If you've ever flown, you've heard the flight attendant tell you to put your own mask on before helping those around you - even your own child!
Those who take care of themselves are better able to care for and help others.
Self care is not only the physical acts of eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, etc., but also the emotional acts of believing in yourself, knowing you do enough, knowing you have enough, knowing you are enough too.
Self care comes from self love, which comes from within.
So, how are you caring for yourself today? Are you putting your own oxygen mask on first?
CALL TO ACTION: Here are seven self care habits that will enrich your body, soul, and pocket book every day - how many of them can YOU practice every day?
1. Getting enough sleep.
2. Eating breakfast.
3. Getting daily exercise - at least 30 minutes per day.
4. Flossing and brushing your teeth.
5. Reading.
6. Saving money.
7. Eating more fruits and vegetables.
CHECK IN: A quick check to see how you are doing with the previous calls to action:
How are you coming with moving out on your goals for this year?
How are you doing in the gratitude department - can you think of three things right now you are grateful for?
Are you tackling change in your life from the inside out or from the outside in?
What can you do right here, right now to take better care of your Self?
Are you reacting or responding?
NEXT TIME: Well, it's March - time to think about that spring garden. What seeds do you want to sow this year? What do you want to grow in your life this year?
Until next time, Namaste!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions? Comments? Feel free to contact me at the e-mail address below:
Beth Henderson, MaXIMIzer
maximize.beth@gmail.com
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Maximize - Moving From Bitching to Bragging
So, with the wild winter weather we are experiencing - at least here in the States - are you bitching about the weather and how it is inconveniencing you? Or are you thankful for the precipitation, particularly if you live, as I do, in one of the 14 Western states with drought conditions not seen since the mid-late 1970s?
Even though I have experienced this repeatedly in my life, it still astounds me sometimes - the serendipity of how things come together at times. I had put the topic for this post out there at the end of December (I lay out my blogging year in advance with as many topics as come to mind), and as I'm going through a course on Udemy, we cover coming from a place of abundance. My notes from that particular lecture are:
"Coming from a place of abundance - a state of gratitude - positivity expands - negativity constricts"
When we are thankful, grateful for something - the much-needed water that winter storms bring for example - we are less bothered by the inconveniences those storms bring us.
I am not discounting the damages and deaths that major flooding and sudden, powerful snowstorms can bring, as seen in some parts of the US in recent weeks, and I do ask that you keep the people who are affected by those acts of Nature in your thoughts and prayers.
My point is rather that every cloud has a silver lining, and we can choose to focus on that or we can focus on the darkness of the cloud instead.
So, are you being expanded by the positivity of gratitude or are you being constricted by the negativity of focusing on the darkness?
CALL TO ACTION: Write down three things you are grateful for right now. Then, for the next week, when you are moving toward negativity, STOP and write down or think about three things you are grateful for in that moment.
CHECK-IN: In the last post, the Call to Action was to take one resolution you made for the new year and break it down into clear, concise, achievable goals and then move out on those goals. How are you doing with that? Feel free to share your progress by leaving a comment on this post.
NEXT TIME: I'm currently re-reading Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and will report out next week on what I have (re)gleaned from it thus far.
If you have a book you'd like to share that has helped you grow, please feel free to post about it in the comments, or send me an e-mail about it.
Until next time, Namaste!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions? Comments? Feel free to contact me at the e-mail address below.
Beth Henderson, MaXIMIzer
maximize.beth@gmail.com
Even though I have experienced this repeatedly in my life, it still astounds me sometimes - the serendipity of how things come together at times. I had put the topic for this post out there at the end of December (I lay out my blogging year in advance with as many topics as come to mind), and as I'm going through a course on Udemy, we cover coming from a place of abundance. My notes from that particular lecture are:
"Coming from a place of abundance - a state of gratitude - positivity expands - negativity constricts"
When we are thankful, grateful for something - the much-needed water that winter storms bring for example - we are less bothered by the inconveniences those storms bring us.
I am not discounting the damages and deaths that major flooding and sudden, powerful snowstorms can bring, as seen in some parts of the US in recent weeks, and I do ask that you keep the people who are affected by those acts of Nature in your thoughts and prayers.
My point is rather that every cloud has a silver lining, and we can choose to focus on that or we can focus on the darkness of the cloud instead.
So, are you being expanded by the positivity of gratitude or are you being constricted by the negativity of focusing on the darkness?
CALL TO ACTION: Write down three things you are grateful for right now. Then, for the next week, when you are moving toward negativity, STOP and write down or think about three things you are grateful for in that moment.
CHECK-IN: In the last post, the Call to Action was to take one resolution you made for the new year and break it down into clear, concise, achievable goals and then move out on those goals. How are you doing with that? Feel free to share your progress by leaving a comment on this post.
NEXT TIME: I'm currently re-reading Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and will report out next week on what I have (re)gleaned from it thus far.
If you have a book you'd like to share that has helped you grow, please feel free to post about it in the comments, or send me an e-mail about it.
Until next time, Namaste!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions? Comments? Feel free to contact me at the e-mail address below.
Beth Henderson, MaXIMIzer
maximize.beth@gmail.com
Sunday, November 29, 2015
MaXIMIze - Gratefully Celebrate
Right now, I am gratefully celebrating the sound of a quiet house - no TV, no talking, just the sound of the appliances humming along. It is a cold - not quite 50 degrees according to the thermometer on the balcony - clear day, and the remaining autumn colors are enjoying the last bit of glory before they hit the ground and are turned into mulch.
This past week, I gratefully celebrated family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States.
And today, as I went out to do the first round of grocery shopping for the week, I gratefully celebrated the sound of Christmas music on the radio again, with new renditions of old classics serenading me out and back.
And, as I do every time I post to this blog, I gratefully celebrate you, the readers - new and continuing - and hope that what I have posted here helps you gratefully celebrate your best life now.
One of the endeavors I am working on for the new year is a series of classes on Udemy. As soon as I get the first one fully developed and posted, I will let you know how you can register for it.
So, I am also gratefully celebrating the opportunity and ability to master new skills in order to more fully share my gifts and vision with you and the rest of the world.
If there are topics I have covered in this blog that you would like to see more fully developed in one of these classes, please e-mail me here.
I may put up a survey later on the MaXIMIze Facebook page to gather ideas as well.
Next week we will be fully in our month of Celebration!
Until next time, Namaste!
This past week, I gratefully celebrated family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States.
And today, as I went out to do the first round of grocery shopping for the week, I gratefully celebrated the sound of Christmas music on the radio again, with new renditions of old classics serenading me out and back.
And, as I do every time I post to this blog, I gratefully celebrate you, the readers - new and continuing - and hope that what I have posted here helps you gratefully celebrate your best life now.
One of the endeavors I am working on for the new year is a series of classes on Udemy. As soon as I get the first one fully developed and posted, I will let you know how you can register for it.
So, I am also gratefully celebrating the opportunity and ability to master new skills in order to more fully share my gifts and vision with you and the rest of the world.
If there are topics I have covered in this blog that you would like to see more fully developed in one of these classes, please e-mail me here.
I may put up a survey later on the MaXIMIze Facebook page to gather ideas as well.
Next week we will be fully in our month of Celebration!
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, November 22, 2015
MaXIMIze - How Are You Sharing Thy Bounty?
Prior to the events in France last weekend, I was all set to write about Sharing Thy Bounty in the usual way - by focusing on showing our gratitude by sharing our abundance - money, things, and time - with those people and charities who embody our values and share our ideals with others.
The events that unfolded in Paris and Mali over the past week have once again reminded me that we are all human beings first and all else comes second, and that we should share our bounty with all, not just those who are just like us.
Who are you more likely to emulate - the person who gave you a hand up when you needed it or the person who turned his back and locked his gate against you?
Which impression do you want to leave with others - that you are a loving, giving person or that you are a bitter miser who gives nothing to others?
What bounty are you sharing with the world today?
What bounty would you like to share with the world today?
What does that look like? How does that feel?
I enjoy sharing my bounty of thoughts and ideas with you, and hope that what I share helps you in some way - large or small - while you are MaXIMIzing yourself and MaXIMIzing your life.
Next week will be the last weekend of the month of Gratitude and then we move on to Celebration.
Even with all that is going on in the world today, there is still so much to celebrate - big and small - and for that I am grateful.
Until next time, Namaste!
The events that unfolded in Paris and Mali over the past week have once again reminded me that we are all human beings first and all else comes second, and that we should share our bounty with all, not just those who are just like us.
Who are you more likely to emulate - the person who gave you a hand up when you needed it or the person who turned his back and locked his gate against you?
Which impression do you want to leave with others - that you are a loving, giving person or that you are a bitter miser who gives nothing to others?
What bounty are you sharing with the world today?
What bounty would you like to share with the world today?
What does that look like? How does that feel?
I enjoy sharing my bounty of thoughts and ideas with you, and hope that what I share helps you in some way - large or small - while you are MaXIMIzing yourself and MaXIMIzing your life.
Next week will be the last weekend of the month of Gratitude and then we move on to Celebration.
Even with all that is going on in the world today, there is still so much to celebrate - big and small - and for that I am grateful.
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, November 8, 2015
MaxIMIze - Being Thankful
As I sit at my home desk looking out over a damp street, thankful for the rain that dampness means, I wonder how many people are complaining about the rain instead of being thankful for it.
How many of us complain about things that change our plans, our world, our lives, instead of finding the good in these things - hard as that can be sometimes - and approaching them from a place of gratitude instead of impatience or anger?
Yes, there are things that truly suck - loss of a loved one or dealing with a potentially deadly disease for example. Many of us, however, complain about things that, in the long run, really don't matter. Yes, I know it is annoying, even maddening right now, whatever it is in your life. But - will it matter five years, one year, six months, a week from now? Will it matter tomorrow even, or a few hours from now? I mean really truly matter in the grand scheme of things?
The next question I have is: what energy is your reaction to this thing putting out in the world? Will the energy generated by your reaction help you or hurt you in the long run?
The last question I have is: why are you reacting negatively to this thing, whatever it is? What fears is it stirring up in you that you need to face and overcome? Is it reminding you of an incident in the past that turned out badly?
Then we flip this all on its head and change the focus to what can you find to be thankful about in this situation? What good can come from it, even if the worst of the worst happens?
Find the kernel of good and focus on it, and watch your attitude go from complaining to proclaiming, or at least accepting and moving through to the other side.
If you need an example of this, look at what former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is going through in his life right now and how he is handling his situation.
Next week, we'll discuss Sharing Thy Bounty - until then, Namaste!
How many of us complain about things that change our plans, our world, our lives, instead of finding the good in these things - hard as that can be sometimes - and approaching them from a place of gratitude instead of impatience or anger?
Yes, there are things that truly suck - loss of a loved one or dealing with a potentially deadly disease for example. Many of us, however, complain about things that, in the long run, really don't matter. Yes, I know it is annoying, even maddening right now, whatever it is in your life. But - will it matter five years, one year, six months, a week from now? Will it matter tomorrow even, or a few hours from now? I mean really truly matter in the grand scheme of things?
The next question I have is: what energy is your reaction to this thing putting out in the world? Will the energy generated by your reaction help you or hurt you in the long run?
The last question I have is: why are you reacting negatively to this thing, whatever it is? What fears is it stirring up in you that you need to face and overcome? Is it reminding you of an incident in the past that turned out badly?
Then we flip this all on its head and change the focus to what can you find to be thankful about in this situation? What good can come from it, even if the worst of the worst happens?
Find the kernel of good and focus on it, and watch your attitude go from complaining to proclaiming, or at least accepting and moving through to the other side.
If you need an example of this, look at what former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is going through in his life right now and how he is handling his situation.
Next week, we'll discuss Sharing Thy Bounty - until then, Namaste!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
MaXIMIze - Gratitude
We are now in the month of November, which means the holidays of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving are coming in the States this month. For me, November is a the perfect month to pause and reflect on all we have to be grateful for before the material craziness that has seemingly come to symbolize the holiday season is upon us.
I sat on my balcony moments ago, writing this post in longhand (as I always do), thankful for the rain coming down right now. I looked across the parking lot and saw my new car sitting in its covered space, and am thankful for having the financial resources to buy a new - at least new-to-me - car this fall. I am grateful that am willing and able to do the work needed to move from financial disaster to financial solvency and start this holiday season debt-free except to myself.
I am thankful that I have a job I enjoy, a loving committed relationship with a great guy, and that I am in good physical and spiritual health.
I am grateful that I live in a place where I can watch the white breasted nuthatches in the tree just beyond my balcony, and enjoy the beauty of nature in the park just beyond the parking lot of the complex I live in.
I am thankful for you, my faithful readers, and for those of you new to this blog.
Right here, right now, my life is grand - and I am deeply grateful for this moment.
My challenge to you this month is to find something every day to be grateful for and take a moment to breathe deeply in that thankful feeling.
If you wish to share your daily bits of gratitude, feel free to post them on my MaXIMIze page on Facebook, where I will post the same challenge and share mine!
Until next time, Namaste!
I sat on my balcony moments ago, writing this post in longhand (as I always do), thankful for the rain coming down right now. I looked across the parking lot and saw my new car sitting in its covered space, and am thankful for having the financial resources to buy a new - at least new-to-me - car this fall. I am grateful that am willing and able to do the work needed to move from financial disaster to financial solvency and start this holiday season debt-free except to myself.
I am thankful that I have a job I enjoy, a loving committed relationship with a great guy, and that I am in good physical and spiritual health.
I am grateful that I live in a place where I can watch the white breasted nuthatches in the tree just beyond my balcony, and enjoy the beauty of nature in the park just beyond the parking lot of the complex I live in.
I am thankful for you, my faithful readers, and for those of you new to this blog.
Right here, right now, my life is grand - and I am deeply grateful for this moment.
My challenge to you this month is to find something every day to be grateful for and take a moment to breathe deeply in that thankful feeling.
If you wish to share your daily bits of gratitude, feel free to post them on my MaXIMIze page on Facebook, where I will post the same challenge and share mine!
Until next time, Namaste!
Saturday, November 22, 2014
MaXIMIze - Manifesting Gratitude
Wow - Thanksgiving is right around the corner! The one day of the year specifically set aside to give thanks for the year's bounty - at least here in the States.
In the last post, we discussed how to share our bounty with others.
In this one, I'd like us to pull inward and think about the things we are thankful for in our own lives and what we would like to keep manifesting in the years to come.
So my challenge to you this week is to make a manifestation board of all the things, people, etc. - past and present - you are thankful for in your life. You can do this as individuals, as families, or as whatever group you wish to do it as.
Then, as you sit down to dinner on Thursday - Thanksgiving Day - I want this visual to be front and center and for you to share and think about all the good things, all the abundance that has shown in your life to this point.
I for one am grateful to you for taking the time to read this blog, for sharing this time and space with me and the others who read this blog.
Until next time, Namaste!
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - Sharing Thy Bounty
I meant to post this last week and didn't get that far…so y'all get two posts for the price of one this week!
I noticed the annual food drives have started for the holiday season - the kids' canned food drives, the various grocery stores offering a bag of groceries to buy and donate, even the local CSA - Farm Fresh to You - asking us to donate the box of food we will not be needing this holiday week. The local TV station - KCRA - had their annual turkey drive, and the Rocklin firefighters were collecting food in front of the WalMart grocery on Pacific Ave this AM. Also, the annual Coats for Kids and Sleep Train's drive for helping foster kids have started for the season.
One way we can show our gratitude is by sharing our abundance - our money, things and time - with those people and charities who embody our values and share our ideals with others.
Whether it is your local homeless shelter, food bank, animal shelter, place for homeless children and teens, or charities like Habitat for Humanity or Heifer International and other charities who empower others to help themselves, please consider showing your gratitude by sharing your abundance now and throughout the year.
With our next post, we will continue the gratitude theme. Namaste!
I noticed the annual food drives have started for the holiday season - the kids' canned food drives, the various grocery stores offering a bag of groceries to buy and donate, even the local CSA - Farm Fresh to You - asking us to donate the box of food we will not be needing this holiday week. The local TV station - KCRA - had their annual turkey drive, and the Rocklin firefighters were collecting food in front of the WalMart grocery on Pacific Ave this AM. Also, the annual Coats for Kids and Sleep Train's drive for helping foster kids have started for the season.
One way we can show our gratitude is by sharing our abundance - our money, things and time - with those people and charities who embody our values and share our ideals with others.
Whether it is your local homeless shelter, food bank, animal shelter, place for homeless children and teens, or charities like Habitat for Humanity or Heifer International and other charities who empower others to help themselves, please consider showing your gratitude by sharing your abundance now and throughout the year.
With our next post, we will continue the gratitude theme. Namaste!
Sunday, November 2, 2014
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - Preparing for the Holidays
It is fitting that this post is coming out on 2 November - Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead - a day when we remember, honor, and celebrate loved ones who have passed on.
While preparing for the holidays does mean the frenetic planning, cleaning, cooking and shopping we all seem to experience at this time of year, it also means preparing for and dealing with the thoughts and feelings that well up as families and other closes ones gather together (or not) during what is supposedly the happiest season of all.
The holiday season can bring up all sorts of memories - good and bad - and the feelings that go with them. It can bring up feelings of guilt, regret, remorse, loss, and lack that can sometimes be overwhelming.
I know this firsthand. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 1977, my father passed away from lung cancer at the age of 56. I was a mere 13 years old at the time. Some years have been better than others, but I still feel his loss most keenly during the holiday season. And that's okay.
Yes, it is okay that sometimes we are not happy during the holidays, that we are dealing with negative emotions more than positive ones.
The trick is to not let those negative emotions get in the way of appreciating what is is front of us - and that is true all year 'round, not just during the holiday season.
We do this by acknowledging our feelings and then choosing which ones to focus on - positive or negative.
Take some time when you are preparing for the holidays to consider how you deal with the "holiday blues" and what you can do to mitigate those feelings, where else you can focus your energy, thoughts and emotions.
When my father passed away, I was not yet mature enough to see his foibles and his sheer human beingness - he was still my hero in the strong innocent belief in shiny knights on white steeds that many young girls have.
So, it is easy for me to remember the good things - how he let me be a kid, banging away with a hammer and nails in the backyard, watching the Muppet Show and Hee Haw on Sunday evenings, making fried bologna sandwiches.
I lost my mom early too - in February 1987. She would have been 64 and I turned 23 that year. We had survived my teen years, and she saw my older two children come into this world with me.
Her I miss most at Halloween - she loved the spirit of the season and the costumes. I remember the Halloween that she dressed up as a fortune teller to pass out candy.
It's the good things I focus on and am thankful for this time of year - the rest is just noise to be ignored.
So again - instead of focusing on the negatives, focus on the positives and what we are thankful for in our lives, right here, right now.
Next week we'll discuss Sharing Thy Bounty.
Until then, Namaste!
While preparing for the holidays does mean the frenetic planning, cleaning, cooking and shopping we all seem to experience at this time of year, it also means preparing for and dealing with the thoughts and feelings that well up as families and other closes ones gather together (or not) during what is supposedly the happiest season of all.
The holiday season can bring up all sorts of memories - good and bad - and the feelings that go with them. It can bring up feelings of guilt, regret, remorse, loss, and lack that can sometimes be overwhelming.
I know this firsthand. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 1977, my father passed away from lung cancer at the age of 56. I was a mere 13 years old at the time. Some years have been better than others, but I still feel his loss most keenly during the holiday season. And that's okay.
Yes, it is okay that sometimes we are not happy during the holidays, that we are dealing with negative emotions more than positive ones.
The trick is to not let those negative emotions get in the way of appreciating what is is front of us - and that is true all year 'round, not just during the holiday season.
We do this by acknowledging our feelings and then choosing which ones to focus on - positive or negative.
Take some time when you are preparing for the holidays to consider how you deal with the "holiday blues" and what you can do to mitigate those feelings, where else you can focus your energy, thoughts and emotions.
When my father passed away, I was not yet mature enough to see his foibles and his sheer human beingness - he was still my hero in the strong innocent belief in shiny knights on white steeds that many young girls have.
So, it is easy for me to remember the good things - how he let me be a kid, banging away with a hammer and nails in the backyard, watching the Muppet Show and Hee Haw on Sunday evenings, making fried bologna sandwiches.
I lost my mom early too - in February 1987. She would have been 64 and I turned 23 that year. We had survived my teen years, and she saw my older two children come into this world with me.
Her I miss most at Halloween - she loved the spirit of the season and the costumes. I remember the Halloween that she dressed up as a fortune teller to pass out candy.
It's the good things I focus on and am thankful for this time of year - the rest is just noise to be ignored.
So again - instead of focusing on the negatives, focus on the positives and what we are thankful for in our lives, right here, right now.
Next week we'll discuss Sharing Thy Bounty.
Until then, Namaste!
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