‘Tis the Season
‘Tis the season, indeed!
The thing I love most about the holidays is not the presents, not the food (well, it’s kind of the food), not the spiked eggnog at the holiday parties (though that helps too) – it’s the joy of the season. As I get older, the holidays have taken on a different meaning. I used to thrive off of the tradition of going to both Christmas Eve services at my church, eating Chinese food with the Jewish side of the family, and then opening one present from under the tree. I’ve since ceased my once-a-year church-going operations, and while I still try maintain the Chinese food tradition, it’s hard now that I’ve moved away from Atlanta.
I have, however, totally and completely encompassed myself in the full-on spirit of the holidays. Not just Christmas, but everything that each December holiday brings – joy, kindness, good will, patience, smiles, singing, purity, etc.
I acknowledge that there are scrooges out there, and I also acknowledge that in the past, up until Christmas Eve, I was a scrooge myself. But these days I can barely wait for Thanksgiving because I am dying to put up my 1 ft. tall Target Christmas tree as soon as it’s over! It’s funny how decorations can make you happy like that. But the thing is, who cares? Who cares what it is about this season that makes us happy? For many, it is the presents, or the cookies, or the spiked eggnog that is only socially acceptable to drink once a year, and so be it! Let’s all find joy in whatever way we can to fully embrace the holidays! It doesn’t even have to be for a reason. I honestly have no idea why I’ve been on cloud nine during this season, other than why not? Why not be especially friendly with people on the street, saying “Happy holidays” as you pay for your morning coffee, or as you hold the door open for someone. And then, here’s a novel idea, why not continue this kindness throughout the year? Hey, there’s a thought! Let the holiday spirit spill into the new year, because let’s be honest – there’s a holiday in almost every month of the year, whether it’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, or Fourth of July, or even Columbus Day – there’s always some sort of “holiday” that should carry on with that joy and kindness that we feel in December. So here it is, my proclamation for 2011: Let the joy not be confined to a specific season, but to a specific reason. And the reason is, why not?
'Tis the Season
‘Tis the season, indeed!
The thing I love most about the holidays is not the presents, not the food (well, it’s kind of the food), not the spiked eggnog at the holiday parties (though that helps too) – it’s the joy of the season. As I get older, the holidays have taken on a different meaning. I used to thrive off of the tradition of going to both Christmas Eve services at my church, eating Chinese food with the Jewish side of the family, and then opening one present from under the tree. I’ve since ceased my once-a-year church-going operations, and while I still try maintain the Chinese food tradition, it’s hard now that I’ve moved away from Atlanta.
I have, however, totally and completely encompassed myself in the full-on spirit of the holidays. Not just Christmas, but everything that each December holiday brings – joy, kindness, good will, patience, smiles, singing, purity, etc.
I acknowledge that there are scrooges out there, and I also acknowledge that in the past, up until Christmas Eve, I was a scrooge myself. But these days I can barely wait for Thanksgiving because I am dying to put up my 1 ft. tall Target Christmas tree as soon as it’s over! It’s funny how decorations can make you happy like that. But the thing is, who cares? Who cares what it is about this season that makes us happy? For many, it is the presents, or the cookies, or the spiked eggnog that is only socially acceptable to drink once a year, and so be it! Let’s all find joy in whatever way we can to fully embrace the holidays! It doesn’t even have to be for a reason. I honestly have no idea why I’ve been on cloud nine during this season, other than why not? Why not be especially friendly with people on the street, saying “Happy holidays” as you pay for your morning coffee, or as you hold the door open for someone. And then, here’s a novel idea, why not continue this kindness throughout the year? Hey, there’s a thought! Let the holiday spirit spill into the new year, because let’s be honest – there’s a holiday in almost every month of the year, whether it’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, or Fourth of July, or even Columbus Day – there’s always some sort of “holiday” that should carry on with that joy and kindness that we feel in December. So here it is, my proclamation for 2011: Let the joy not be confined to a specific season, but to a specific reason. And the reason is, why not?
The Joy Diet
This post is the continuation of A Moment of Grace, describing my journey from despair to breakthrough.
Since that breakthrough, my thoughts and attitudes towards my body have radically changed. The mean-spiritedness and disgust that pervaded my relationship with my body are virtually gone. Of course, sometimes I still think some of the old thoughts (i.e., “You need to loose 10 pounds by tomorrow!”); but I can’t take them seriously. Only a crazy person would.
Another wonderful thing happened: buried in the rubble of my past relationship with my body, I found a positive memory and experience that is fueling my new life.
Flash back to 1992:
Pregnant, I feel free in my body for the first time. Unconcerned with my weight, I am proud of my growing belly. I eat in alignment with what my body needs by really listening. This is a foreign but welcome practice. I marvel at the cellular and systemic intelligence that it requires no bullying or trickery from me. I feel a truly joyful partnership with my body!
This memory inspires me and leads me to the present-day Joy Diet. One based on partnership and rooted in love. It requires that I slow down enough to really listen to my body (and not my mind’s idea of what my body wants or needs!). I regularly ask, “What will bring me the most joy?”
Sometimes it’s exercise such as biking or walking. Sometimes a nap, or sharing a bowl of ice cream with my husband. This joy diet is powerful and real only when I’m in the present moment — rather than pining for a smaller dress size in my future. The result is a profound sense of happiness.
How humbling and ironic that all those years when I was chasing happiness in a dress size … all along it was patiently waiting for me, right here.
What do you suppose is waiting right here for you? My invitation to you is is this: for the next 30 days ask your body this question and follow its true answer:
What will bring me the most joy?
If Living on Purpose Creates Joy, Does Living Your Greater Purpose Give You Even More Joy?
I’ve got to tell you about Eric. He spent a whole day with me in the Cork & Bean during his family vacation. Mind you, it wasn’t his first choice. The transmission on his car went out and he was waiting for it to be fixed while the rest of the family went horseback riding. I admired him from the get-go because he wanted his family to have fun and seemed to have a pretty good attitude about waiting in the coffee shop. He had coffee, then breakfast, then later lunch, then a dessert. As the hours passed, he entertained himself on his computer and took short walks in the downtown area.
Eric is a dad and a father. I got the sense that his understanding of his purpose in those roles were to be a good provider and ensure that the family had a fun vacation. That purpose allowed him to be ok spending the day in a coffee shop.
But here’s the cool part – we ran out of tape in our pricing gun and no one could figure out how to reload it. I went down the street to see if any of the retailers had a similar gun and could show me how. A couple of the shops were closed and I didn’t want to get too far across the bridge away from the shop. On my way back, I ran into Eric during one of his short walks. I asked half-seriously if he could help. Eric immediately grabbed the gun and started fiddling with it. NOW, Eric had a greater purpose in his day. We went back into the coffee shop and he searched for YouTube videos on this particular make and model of gun. Sure enough he found one and got the gun working for us.
Now I don’t know what Eric does for a living or even the hobbies he might do for fun, but I do know that solving a problem and helping me gave him great joy. I thanked him with a bag of beans, but I’m sure he got even more satisfaction from getting the gun fixed, and possibly from telling the story later to his family (only after he listened to their stories about their horseback riding adventures).
Kudos to you, Eric. You showed me that living my purpose can help me be patient and even enjoy the things life throws at me!
Bernadette
Patience and Passion
What happens when you mix passion and patience? It is a recipe for delight!
My latest focus has been on The Passion Test. Some of you have experienced it. It has been life enhancing for me. The things that are showing up in my life are the things that I have been dreaming about for years.
Yes my friends, it sometimes takes years for us to align with our passions. It could also take days.
About a week after returning from becoming certified as a Passion Test facilitator in Seattle and gaining clarity on my passions, something very cool happened.
One of my passions is to add value to millions of people’s lives. I know that through coaching, training and writing that I am making a difference. I received a call from a writer of a local paper, The Champion, that I was the champion of the week for Dekalb County-how cool is that? 100s’s of people will be introduced to the magic I offer the world.
I could not have imagined that I would be recognized like that. That is the beautiful place of letting go of the “how’s” and focusing on the “what”.
Another piece of patience that has paid off-my gardenia bush gave me my first flower a couple of weeks ago. We are no longer gardenia bush killers–this is the third one that we have planted.
By just putting attention on what I wanted, loving it as it is and being patient, I got a bloom. I am hopeful and anticipating more and more blooms. Imagine what it will be like when it blooms in season!
Where is patience and passion showing up in your life?
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The Joy Factor
Welcome fellow Happiness Pioneers! You've come to the right place if you are looking to raise your Joy Factor. My vision is for everyone to live a life aligned with their passions and full of joy. The intention of this site is to offer you juicy nuggets that will increase your experience of joy and delight. Take a look around, grab something yummy and share the joy.
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Bernadette Peters (8)
Corinne Chaves (6)
Deb Cooperman (9)Derek Nowatzki (9)
Dr. Andy Vantreese (7)
Erica Burns (6)Fran Asaro (8)
Juliette Mansour (10)
Michelle Goss (7)
Rebecca Ewing (15)
Sandra Kellim (6)Sherry Wheat (2)
Tamara McElhannon (8)Tracey Lynne (3)
Tricia Molloy (12)
Trish Carr (13)
Wendy Watkins (78)