| p>It's back. The holiday season and all the | | | | two to stare at a snowfall, take in the tree lights, |
| challenges that come with it! This is the time | | | | meditate on the Menorah, agree with the angels |
| when we are most tempted to overdo things - | | | | and pray for peace. |
| shopping, partying, spending. | | | | For those who are especially challenged by sitting |
| This year...why not practice the art of simplicity | | | | still, consider sitting still AND doing something at |
| and serenity? Begin a new tradition or fine tune | | | | the same time! Watch all those corny holiday |
| an old one. Think 'less is more'... quality over | | | | specials. Yes, even the cartoons, the original |
| quantity. | | | | version of Miracle on 34th Street, and the classic |
| Remember that this is a time to celebrate love, | | | | It's a Wonderful Life. Be open to their simple but |
| connection, tradition and new beginnings. Make this | | | | timeless message and let them warm you all |
| a holiday season to remember and cherish. Pay | | | | over. And resist doing anything else while you |
| attention to what really matters this time of the | | | | watch the show! |
| year and always... your family and friends, your | | | | Q. Every year I say I'm going to take time off |
| health and well-being, your connection to the | | | | from work for the holidays and every year I |
| divinity of a universal spirit who gave us a holiday | | | | don't. |
| season just so we could help ourselves to | | | | A. Explore why you stay at work. Do you fear all |
| platefuls of joy and love. | | | | hell will break out if you take a day off? That no |
| Q. I love this idea! But how do I get started on | | | | one can possibly cover for you? That you will |
| creating a new tradition? | | | | worry all day about the job so what is the point |
| A. Make a list of your most deeply felt intentions | | | | of taking a day off? Generally these beliefs are |
| for the season. A better relationship with family? | | | | not accurate or are based on a black and white |
| A chance to enjoy a holiday without stress and | | | | perspective that has us convinced that something |
| conflict? The willingness to take in the generosity | | | | so terrible will happen if we are not at work and |
| of others? Light a candle daily. Choose a | | | | we will NEVER recover from it. Ask yourself, "Is |
| sophisticated blend of freshly cut balsam, | | | | this true?" Yes, you are in all likelihood the best |
| frankincense, spiced cranberry and orange | | | | woman for the job and yes, something could go |
| reminiscent of the season or one that evokes a | | | | wrong but will it DEFINITELY be a disaster? Not |
| calm and meditative state - a relaxing, soothing | | | | likely. Observe when you are in an all-or-nothing, |
| scent of peppermint, verbena and lavender. As | | | | always-and-never, black-and-white-perspective and |
| you light the candle ask for the presence of mind | | | | ask: Is this true? It can change your life over |
| to keep these intentions in mind during the season | | | | night! |
| and all year long. | | | | So take a risk and take some time off. Enjoy a |
| Q. I always spend more money than I intend and | | | | day of baking cookies and sweets, making |
| yet still feel that somehow I missed getting the | | | | decorations, or doing a craft -- without fitting |
| ideal gift. | | | | them in between work, chores, and shopping. Do |
| A. Set a budget and track your spending. This | | | | one thing at a time. Meet the challenge of single |
| doesn't sound like much fun but when you | | | | tasking. The rewards are immeasurable. |
| determine exactly how much you want to spend | | | | Q. It is so hard to celebrate with some of the |
| and then actually spend just that amount, this will | | | | bad things going on in the world. |
| be the best holiday you ever had! | | | | A. We live in a time of incredible mass |
| Sometimes we need to remember to shop with | | | | communication. But we have choices. Limit all |
| our heart and soul, to use a kind of intuition or | | | | news especially bad news. Watch a half-hour of |
| 'gut' wisdom to choose a gift. Narrow your | | | | news instead of 8 hours of CNN. Scan the |
| shopping field to one store or product. Think | | | | newspapers and magazines headlines and read |
| quality vs. quantity. If your gift-giving follows this | | | | only what makes you feel good as well as |
| intention, you can't go wrong. Your choices will be | | | | informed. Acknowledge your fears for the future, |
| in tune with the person you want to please while | | | | find the courage in the peace and warmth of the |
| naturally keeping to the budget you set for | | | | season, and make a decision to celebrate in a bold |
| yourself. | | | | and determined way! |
| Q. I have so much to do this time of the year I | | | | Q. I love choosing my holiday cards - picking out |
| miss out on all the 'cheer'. | | | | just the right ones and sitting down with a cup of |
| A. Perhaps pass up a party and go shopping | | | | tea and cookies to write them out. But each year |
| instead. Make shopping a social activity. Stop for a | | | | this becomes less of a pleasure and more of a |
| coffee or tea. Reminisce about holidays past. | | | | pain. |
| Wander and chat, admire the window displays, the | | | | A. Consider limiting your card list so you can still |
| mall decorations, and the twinkling lights. If you | | | | enjoy the ceremony and ritual of this tradition |
| long for the romance and simplicity of holidays | | | | within the context of your realistic schedule. Break |
| long ago, step back in time. Just the lingering | | | | it into 3 lists: |
| scents and beauty of the season will inspire a | | | | List 1 - Write an old-fashioned, put-a-stamp-on-it |
| festive and relaxing mood. | | | | letter to those you are especially missing this time |
| Q. Since my family lives far away and my children | | | | of the year. Use some festive paper, a favorite |
| are grown I am having a hard time finding joy in | | | | writing tool and your best penmanship. |
| this holiday season. | | | | List 2 - Send cards to those who live far away to |
| A. Transitions are never easy. We want to get | | | | tell them you are thinking of them. Be |
| them over with as soon as possible yet this, | | | | discriminating. Do not include the people you hear |
| interestingly enough, only prolongs them. Consider | | | | from once in a blue moon and resist the |
| instead appreciating where you are right now. | | | | compulsion to send a card to someone JUST |
| Practice being ok with the sadness or grief that | | | | because they sent you one. |
| comes with losing the routines of the past. Do not | | | | List 3: Send everyone else a lovely email greeting. |
| resist the pain. While pain is a natural part of life - | | | | Q. While I like the holidays I have a difficult time |
| suffering is not. And suffering comes when we | | | | with the dark days and cold weather winter. I am |
| resist the natural pain of life. Be gentle with | | | | more of a 'summer' person and this time of the |
| yourself. Hold yourself with kind regard. Pamper | | | | year makes me long for the dog days of |
| yourself with the sanctuary of a bath. The | | | | summer! |
| combination of delicate scents and warm water | | | | A. You are not alone. Many of us are warm |
| are soothing, nurturing and relaxing. When you are | | | | weather, sun worshipers. Here's where you need |
| relaxed and refreshed, your new holiday season | | | | your imagination and some help. Create a summer |
| traditions will flow more easily. | | | | sanctuary stash with fragrance such as Crab |
| Q. I can't just sit still when there's so much to do | | | | Tree and Evelyn's Summer Hill productsl! Surround |
| - yet I long to do just that! Help! | | | | you and your home with the scent of summer |
| A. Yes, many women are so accomplished at | | | | evoking the memory of peach blossoms and |
| 'doing' and 'striving' that we neglect the part of us | | | | bouquets of summer lilies, wildflowers and |
| that wants to 'receive', to take it all in and be still | | | | tuberose. |
| for a time. While taking up such practices as | | | | Q. This all sounds so good but is it realistic to |
| meditation during the holidays might be too much | | | | have the kind of holiday I really, really want? |
| of a challenge consider finding just a minute or | | | | |