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Day 22. Be Thankful for Friends Near and Far
There’s nothing quite like a good friend to bring a smile to your face and lighten your heart. Today we’re talking about the ways that friends enrich our lives and bring us joy. Friends are different from family because we actively choose to make them a part of our lives. Friends… Ones We Can Depend On* Today, spend some time reflecting on your relationships with friends. How often do you make time to be with friends? Are most of your friends on social media? Or do you also nurture friendships in the flesh and face to face? For many of us, Facebook is owed to the ease in which we…
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Day 21. Ode to the Bountiful Harvest
Here’s something to be grateful for at the end of another year – the bountiful harvest. If you always have food on your plate, plenty of choices in the fridge, and a full, satiated belly, don’t take it for granted. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about 795 million people of the 7.3 billion people in the world, or one in nine, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2014-2016. It’s higher now with the pandemic! Hunger must surely have been a grave concern and possible fact of life for many of the early American settlers who expressed gratitude for their celebratory meal held with their Indian friends…
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A Christmas Mission Statement Can Help Reduce Holiday Stress
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you purchase something using the link. Read the full disclaimer policy here. The holidays come around every year and each year brings the promise of magic and wonder. Christmas delights entire families and gets them excited for gifts, celebrations, and time off from their regular routine. The excitement generated by Christmas can quickly fade when things start to feel overwhelming. Without proper planning, Christmas time can morph into a stressful time filled with too many activities and not enough…
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Christmas Past: Learning from People Who’ve Been There
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you purchase something using the link. Read the full disclaimer policy here. Christmas is an absolutely magical time of year. The sights, sounds, tastes, and smells all delight the senses. Everyone wants their holiday to be merry, bright and filled with wonder. Sometimes that’s easier said than done and all the good intentions start to feel like a burden. Trying to make everything perfect gets overwhelming and stressful. That’s when it’s great to talk to someone who’s been around…
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Day 12. Appreciating the Wisdom of Our Elders
What do you think of “old people” – seniors? Are you a senior yourself? How are you managing to keep pace with the information age? Do you find that young people tend to want to hurry you along from one activity to the next? Is it difficult for you to find a willing audience to listen to your tales and heed your good advice? In some cultures, elders are held in the highest regard. Younger individuals respect and revere their grandparents and great grandparents for the wisdom they have gained through life experiences. Families are expected to house and financially support their aging parents, providing comfort, care and dignity in…
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Boundaries- The Key to a Joyful Season
There you are, minding your holiday business when someone’s dysfunction crashes into your spirit. There’s a lot of Grinches and Scrooges out there and they have the potential to rub off on you if you can’t set healthy boundaries. There are a lot of reasons why people aren’t at their best during the holidays, but their bad mood doesn’t have to affect you when you are ready, willing, and able to set boundaries and protect yourself from their negativity. Here are the steps you need to set healthy boundaries for a joyful season Step 1. Be aware Some people are going to be negative. Be aware. Be on the alert…
