Last week was blog post #52 and that means, for once a week last year, you graciously took the time to visit with me. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. You are SO appreciated!
That you find this information helpful and the writing inspiring warms my heart and keeps me going. Many of you write to let me know how the post has landed in your life, and some of you faithfully write back to me every week after the post has been read, letting me know how you feel on issues and concerns. You make my day!
STOP, LOOK, GO
This is the time of year when the busyness of the season can catch up with all of us: deadlines, projects to finish before the New Year (and before we leave for India in January!), the day-to-day of meals, cleaning, and chores (like sidewalk cleaning from four inches of snow overnight…).
Add to that the idea that this is the festive season, so we should bake, cook, decorate, shop, spend too much, eat too much…and when a sleepless night happens with a baby, a sick child, or a coughing-sneezing-restless partner, you have a December prescription for overdoing. Been there, doing that…again. You’d think I would learn from year to year. (Some quick remedy suggestions for when you ‘overdo’ it.)
“Stop, look, and go” is the advice of Brother David Steindl-Rast — his ‘how-to’ for moving into a state of gratitude, which allows us to live in joy and in the moment.
When I woke up this morning, I was—and am still—a bit ‘seasonally weary.’ The to-do list is huge and I know I am not alone. So today I offer you a very short post and a suggestion to watch Brother David’s video and take in the beauty of the moment. (I was going to include the length of the video, but trust me, every minute of watching the video will move you and fill you with gratitude and joy).
Once you have viewed the ‘short’ video, you might want to hear his TED Talk. Take a moment to stop, look, and then go.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
One of the rituals I have is to light candles. The candles are set up above the sink on the island counter in the kitchen. As I prepare meals, wash dishes or glance up from my computer, I can see the candles and remember those who matter to me. Today you will be shining reminders of why I write each week.
Maybe you’d like to start your own candle-lighting ritual — if you don’t have an actual candle nearby, you can try a digital candle lighting page for your desktop.
“If you are grateful, you are not fearful.
If you are not fearful, you are not violent.
If you are grateful, you act out of a sense of enough, not out of a sense of scarcity. You are willing to share.
If you are grateful, you are enjoying the differences between people and you are respectful to everybody.”
~ Brother David Steindl-Rast, TED Talk
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