senior citizen
12-14-2012, 08:17 AM
St. Francis of Assisi remarked, "No one lives outside the walls of this sacred place, existence."
Whether you belong to a faith tradition, or are inspired by the beauty of nature in its fullest expressions, take three minutes in silence releasing all other demands on your attention. Be in awe at the underlying mystery of life itself that is within and around you, and is in essence, you.
Soul Wise
November and December are concentrated with the well-known and promoted holidays and celebrations of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the New Year. If we expand our cultural vision we also find Rohatsu within Buddhism, Guru Tegh Bahadur of the Sikh tradition, Litha of Wicca, Hijra in Islam, the Baha'i Day of Covenant and Zoroastrian's Zarathosht Diso.
And the poet Longfellow described the holiest of all holidays the "... secret anniversaries of the heart." When we strip away the commercialism we can use these opportunities to gather and share the goodness of life with people we love and recommit to our deepest values.
Heart Wise
Are you pressured to respond to the holidays in ways that other people want or expect?
Or perhaps you've establish traditions that no longer serve you or fit your current circumstances.
Depression and anxiety around the holidays are often triggered by expectations imposed by what others (or your inner critic) think you should be doing, which gets reinforced by the media.
While there are often many people to take into consideration with holidays, be sure to keep yourself in the equation and factor in what is important to you too.
Create new traditions. Invite those close to you to have a holiday "makeover," finding creative ways to celebrate that are expressive of current interests and budgets.
Stay true to your values. Suggest gifts and activities that support the life you really value and enjoy. For example, what might it be like to make gifts together, like baking bread or assembling wreaths, or simply taking a walk together to enjoy the particular beauty of winter?
Pace yourself. The rhythm of the holidays can easily become an intense flurry of activity. If you enjoy multiple gatherings, spread them out. If you skip a party with friends, invite them to rejuvenate with you on a post-holiday spa day. Grab a pen and paper and brainstorm possibilities for this season for three minutes.
This is the first article in a monthly series of 10 minute meditations to nourish your body, heart and soul. Each entry will address the physical, psychological and spiritual facets of a unique life challenge.
While stressful circumstances can't always change immediately, the ways we relate to them can. No matter what your situation, there is always room for meeting your experiences with a more tranquil mind and compassionate awareness.
From: A book by Leslie Davenport..........to put the seasonal stress into perspective.
Whether you belong to a faith tradition, or are inspired by the beauty of nature in its fullest expressions, take three minutes in silence releasing all other demands on your attention. Be in awe at the underlying mystery of life itself that is within and around you, and is in essence, you.
Soul Wise
November and December are concentrated with the well-known and promoted holidays and celebrations of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the New Year. If we expand our cultural vision we also find Rohatsu within Buddhism, Guru Tegh Bahadur of the Sikh tradition, Litha of Wicca, Hijra in Islam, the Baha'i Day of Covenant and Zoroastrian's Zarathosht Diso.
And the poet Longfellow described the holiest of all holidays the "... secret anniversaries of the heart." When we strip away the commercialism we can use these opportunities to gather and share the goodness of life with people we love and recommit to our deepest values.
Heart Wise
Are you pressured to respond to the holidays in ways that other people want or expect?
Or perhaps you've establish traditions that no longer serve you or fit your current circumstances.
Depression and anxiety around the holidays are often triggered by expectations imposed by what others (or your inner critic) think you should be doing, which gets reinforced by the media.
While there are often many people to take into consideration with holidays, be sure to keep yourself in the equation and factor in what is important to you too.
Create new traditions. Invite those close to you to have a holiday "makeover," finding creative ways to celebrate that are expressive of current interests and budgets.
Stay true to your values. Suggest gifts and activities that support the life you really value and enjoy. For example, what might it be like to make gifts together, like baking bread or assembling wreaths, or simply taking a walk together to enjoy the particular beauty of winter?
Pace yourself. The rhythm of the holidays can easily become an intense flurry of activity. If you enjoy multiple gatherings, spread them out. If you skip a party with friends, invite them to rejuvenate with you on a post-holiday spa day. Grab a pen and paper and brainstorm possibilities for this season for three minutes.
This is the first article in a monthly series of 10 minute meditations to nourish your body, heart and soul. Each entry will address the physical, psychological and spiritual facets of a unique life challenge.
While stressful circumstances can't always change immediately, the ways we relate to them can. No matter what your situation, there is always room for meeting your experiences with a more tranquil mind and compassionate awareness.
From: A book by Leslie Davenport..........to put the seasonal stress into perspective.