1. Stay with your exercise routine: Or at least do not quit altogether. If you usually exercise four times a week, at the very least, exercise twice a week during the holidays. This will actually give you more energy to accomplish all the extra work, like buying and wrapping presents, decorating, giving and attending holiday parties, and probably cooking more.
I really did not have time to go to my yoga class, but after I went, I was so much more at peace in body and mind, so all the additional items on my to do list were more enjoyable. When your heart is pumping, you deliver more nutrients and oxygen to your brain! The result will be a stress-free holiday.
2. Take your vitamin D: As many of you probably know, I am a strong advocate of Vitamin D and have written four blog posts about it. As winter is upon us, we do not have 40% of our skin exposed to sunshine 20 minutes every day. Vitamin D supports a healthy immune system and uplifted mood. Vitamin D affects 200 genes, helps diabetes, heart, prevents some cancers, and helps improve your moods.
3. Give to others: To help keep everyting in perspective, reach out and help those less fortunate than yourself. Some possible choices are to give a gift that keeps on giving to Kiva. You are actually investing in a micro loan of $25 that will “help someone to fish for a lifetime,” instead of just “giving them a fish for a day.” Once they pay the loan back, it can be borrowed by another entrepreneur.
Another possibility for giving back is to donate to the rebuilding of Monterosso and Vernazza, Italy, two of the beautiful Cinque Terre villages where I teach my Italy Retreats each September. Any, and I do mean, any small amount will be appreciated. 100% of your donations will go directly to rebuilding these two towns that were devastated by mudslides and floods. Travel expert, Rick Steves, said that Vernazza had the most idyllic piazza(town square) in Europe. I agree. However, all that is changed. The people of Vernazza were forced to evacuate on October 25.
I am feeling quite overwhelmed with my “to do” list this season because I leave in three days, to visit extended family 12 hours away. So, the last thing I wanted to add was a community service project. Not now, some other time, yes. But, some friends and I decided to volunteer at a local organization that provides clothing and toys for 200 families. In the fulfillment of that, the items on my “to do list” somehow became more enjoyable and gratifying. This leads me to my fourth step for having happy holidays.
4. Practice the art of gratitude. If you’ve read some of my other articles, you know I encourage you to have a journal by your bed, so that each day you can jot down what you are grateful for. Writing it down is more powerful than thinking it, but if you can only stop and reflect on what you’re grateful for, then go for it.
5. Eat healthy foods. I would include this in any list for feeling happier. Last weekend, I actually went to four holiday parties. I only ate dessert at one of them, even though I love sweets. Of course, I’m eating holiday sweets, but much smaller amounts than usual. Try eating more fruit instead. The extra desserts can weaken your immune system, add pounds to your belly, and bring you down. I managed to bake only one batch of cookies. Even though they are the thin and delicious Florentine Lace, I have resisted eating many of them.
I hope this helps! May your holiday season bring you laughter, warmth, and peace in your heart. If it does not come to you, bring it to another.
Wishing you an enriched life!
What do you do to create Happy Holidays?
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
Every Thursday I post a quote or thought for all of us to ponder. Today’s quote is:
There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in …Leonard Cohen
I heard these words on the radio several weeks ago, jotted down the line from the song, and it kept floating through my days, like a hot air balloon that got stuck in a tree somewhere. It’s so true. There’s a crack right now. A dear friend and mentor passed away last week, very suddenly. Her New Years card sent the 2nd week in January said “Happy Enlightened New Year. Call me at this number. “ I tore out the part of the card that included the number, and left it on the shelf above my blue kitchen desk for 5 months. Everyday I looked at it and left it there because I knew when I had a moment I was going to sit with a cup of tea and talk with her.
Then a few weeks ago, I decided to clean off my shelf. I added her cell number to my cell phone, so I would always have it with me. I realize now that throwing away the torn card coincided with her going into the hospital.
I don’t regret that I didn’t call in time to talk with her. It just was one of those things. What I focus on is her sparkling eyes, giggles, and laughter. I’ll always be grateful to her because she turned me on to my coaching career by bringing the Option Method into my life in 1991, then introduced me to Mandy Evans, who I then studied with for many years.
Karling’s gift of teaching and inspiring others reached around the world. She taught meditation from Hawaii to Spain and places in between. Her new years letters were filled with names of all of her 10 children and stepchildren, their spouses, children, grandchildren and how she and her husband had visited most of them that year.
There’s a crack in my heart, but the light is coming in. Broken open, broken free. She will always represent fullness of life, love and laughter. I feel her presence very tangibly. I know I felt the essence of St. Francis in his church in Assisi also . I wasn’t expecting to, especially since there were hoards of tourists stomping through the church, passing the pew where I sat crying soft tears. But it was clearly palpable.
Is it love that’s left behind? Love from the flash of light?
Karling drove to Chicago once with me, my husband, and my son. My son was 3 or 4 years old. When he asked how much longer and I said, 3 hours, he cried, “Oh my GAW” He had a little problem saying some letters like “D”. Karling roared with laughter from the back seat she was sharing with him. It was our personal joke whenever she and I were together, and something outrageous happened, we’d look at each other and say, “Oh my GAW!”
I did call her to give her my love, but later found out she had already made the transition. I left a message.
If you’re thinking of getting in touch with a loved one, do it now. If everything has a crack, then may lots of light come into your space..
How have you allowed the light to enter after you have dealt with death of a loved one?
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY POST:
I’ve been thinking about courage lately as I focus on organizing a transformational retreat on the Italian Riviera in September. Anytime I take on something new, I have to learn so many details. I ask others, research online, read books, interview those that have already done it. And it takes courage to go out of my comfort zone, and risk failure. Even the women who decide to take the plunge, travel to Italy to experience something new and adventurous, are being courageous–some more than others. To be courageous doesn’t mean “without fear.” It just means doing it even though we may be afraid.
My friend, Julie, sent me this article from Chritine Kane’s blog post and I’m re-printing it with permission.
66 Ways to Build Your Courage
Posted By Christine Kane
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
Happy New Year. May you be filled with inspiration and take action to manifest your dreams in 2009. Let’s focus on what we want and not what we’re upset about. Here’s a fun exercise I use in my workshops:
You might start your sentences with: “I welcome,” “I choose,” “I’ve decided.” Refrain from using “I want.” (more…)
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
An excellent teacher who inspires us to relish the attitude of gratitude is Brother David Steindl-Rast, who serves a worldwide Network for Grateful Living, an interactive website with several thousand participants daily from more than 243 countries.
Be grateful especially when you feel down, because it’s difficult to feel grateful and unhappy at the same time. Gratefulness inspires happiness.
During this season of thanksgiving, join me in keeping a gratitude journal. What are you grateful for? Let’s continue writing in our journals throughout the year, and also noting the synchronicities and successes we experience. Click “comments” to share your list of what you’re grateful for. I’m grateful for my family, for fresh air, the walking path around my neighborhood, for organic apples, my local farmer’s market, and for my readers and students from around the world.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
Subscribe by RSS
