" It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year ... "

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

With the kids jingle belling

And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

It's the hap -happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

When friends come to call

It's the hap - happiest season of all …

It's The Most Wonderful Time

It's The Most Wonderful Time

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year end of lyrics

~ Andy Williams ~ It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year ~

***

And here we go again … it’s officially the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season.  For most, it is a time of happiness, nostalgia and joy … until you go to the mall.

Relax … Release … Let go

The outside pressures of the holidays begin to creep in and the stress starts to gain momentum.  More expectations, more drama and more pressure to be perfect.  

… the word gift wandered through multiple meanings before arriving at its current common meaning: “something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance.”

The real meaning of love, joy and peace is simply magical yet it can be lost when the holiday become bigger than life itself.  It can be overwhelming, frustrating and more of a bother than a pleasure.  Yet with some thoughts to keep in mind, we can bring ourselves back to a place of gratitude for what is in our lives …

Start with yourself if you want your holidays to be less stressful.  

A daily practice of meditation and silence provides an opportunity to shift your perspective and bring an entirely different energy to your environment.  

Let go of perfection because you will fail miserably if you don’t.  

Memorable holiday experiences have come from unplanned events so make plans, set intentions but release your desire to control the details.  

Perspective is necessary, especially at this time of the year.  Most understand that your presence has so much more greater value in your loved ones lives than that great boxed gift you picked up.  Yet, regardless of your gift giving practices, it may be good to know why we give during the holidays.  The concept of gifting can be traced back to the gold, frankincense and myrrh which were given to baby Jesus by the three kings.  And so gifting in the modern day gives us many reasons … to reconnect with old friends, to express our love and gratitude, to share some of the joys we may have experienced throughout the year … or simply do a little something for others and let them know we care.

And so if you are running out of time, consider YOU! ... don’t underestimate the power of offering more of yourself as a gift to others.  Attention and your presence truly are precious jewels.  Personally I am so grateful of the holiday season because it provides us with this opportunity.  Consider the challenge and know that you are enough and you, yourself are the most precious gift of all.

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence; 

when mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers” 

Thich Nhat Hanh

www.walkstrong.ca

" KickStart ... "

You want me to come over

I got an excuse

Might be holding your hand

But I'm holding it loose

Go to talk then we choke

It's like our necks in a noose

Avoid the obvious

We should be facing the truth

Start to think it could be fizzling out

Kinda shocked because I never really had any doubts

Look into your eyes, imagine life without ya

And the love kickstarts again

Starts again

And the love kickstarts again

Starts again

~ Example ~ KickStart ~ 

***

We all set an example by simply being.  And for those of us with the extra challenge of a health concern, it is critical.  Being Present.

We focus on the future generation and our children when leading by example, being good role models and parents.  Yet there are times when we need someone to lead us.

During times of uncertainty and darkness, 

we look to those with strength and courage to lighten the load.

During times of sadness and grief, 

we look to those with love and support to carry us through.

Personally speaking, it has been possible to still live, hold a job, take care of families & friends, and remain active in the community ... with cancer.  Now, life has more meaning, more purpose, more value.  Now, living this life is about creating an environment where others can feel comfortable in sharing what they are facing.  A calling, a purpose ... whatever it may be, regardless, it feels good to be useful.

And there is always help along he way.  Blessed to have a few in my life who inspire me every day with their passion, their zest, their spark, their wisdom, their guidance and the simple love of life ... no matter what challenge they are facing.  They motivate me to live authentically from heart and soul because they’ve taught me that perhaps this diagnosis is a part of my life and not necessarily the cause of my death.

We find ourselves in situations out of our control.  Cancer can be one of them.  It is unpredictable and it is a game.  A game to get ahead of it and neutralize it.  And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, there is another lesson to be learned.  A journey full of suffering and blessings all packaged into one.  

Acceptance ...

Leading by example implies you take responsibility and choose as what you are going to do with your challenge.  And so you have a choice ... do you let it define you or do you let it drive you?  Because either way, life is happening through you, not to you.  Choosing what you do with it determines how you live ... your example to all those around you.  The way you live, act and behave matters.  Consider what your influence, how you want to be remembered and what is your legacy.  

Because setting an example by the way you be 

is the only authentic way to positively influence your world ...

www.walkstrong.ca

" Selective Memory ... "

"If i lay my head down

I will see you in my dream

Wearing that polka dot dress

And sitting by the stream

Leaning in to hear you

You will whisper in my ear

And everything i need to know

I finally hear

I wish i could remember

But my selective memory

Won't let me"

~ Eels ~ Selective Memory ~

***

Recently, I was given some advice … I was told to be selective.  Selective in what I give my attention to, what I focus on and what I allow into my environment.  And that is easier said than done because we get swept away by others or even our own useless thoughts. 

So where to do you start … by asking about that thing you are giving attention to … how will it make you feel?  From my own experience, I have consumed information in the past without questioning not only whether it is true, but the source.  Hence, being selective can be a very, very good thing.

And being selective directly affects your perspective too.  How can it not?  We can be more selective of what we think about, how we think about it and whether or not it serves us.  It is not about being a snob either.  It is about self-care and self-love.  

It is about taking care of what you need.

Now, you may read this and feel this is unrealistic … sure, perhaps for some, yet again from my experience, every single relationship in my life has transformed … some strengthened, others faded .. but the most important one, with myself, is where I see miracles.

I decide what you read … I decide what you watch … I decide what you listen to … I decide what you talk to others about … I decide …

I am grateful for my life and now, I want the rest of my life to have some meaning, some purpose, some use.  And so, feeding my mind with toxic information is not an option.  I have let go of these things and people in my life.   

Being selective allows you to create your own version of reality … personally, I choose to create a more happier rest of my life ॐ

www.walkstrong.ca

" Give It Back ... "

Give it back

You need to give it back ...

I let you in and showed you all of me ...

Give it back ...

You need to give it back ...

My time and devotion ...

Give it back ...

The love that I gave ...

Give it back ...

Give it back ...

You need to give it back ...

~ Hoobastank ~ Give It Back ~

***

Keep the cycle going, Pay It Forward, Give it Back ... 

Most of us have heard these phrases but do we understand and regularly put it into practice?  And I think most of us have expectations of receiving something in return ... getting something back.

Yet perhaps for a moment, visualize the wide-spread effect this movement could have ... at any time, by any age, gender or culture group, it can be implemented in anyone’s life.  All we have to do is something nice for someone else ... the catch? with no strings attached.

Yes we can because the wonderful thing is that we do this more often than we think we.  How so?  Well these acts of kindness don’t have to be big.  You see, the act of sharing daily gratitude doesn’t cost a lot or take up very much time, but does have an everlasting effect on the person who receives it.

We live in a world that recycles the gift of positive energy ... 

what you give out you will receive back.  

It just happens.  

Gratitude and abundance are intricately intertwined ... 

one cannot exist without the other.

So need some cool ideas on how to give it back?

• pay for a stranger at the drive thru
• put a quarter in the next parking meter you pass
• downsize your closet or furniture and donate to charity
• share your youthful self by helping the elderly
• carry their groceries, run an errand, or clean their yard
• SMILE and greet the next random person you meet
• dedicate your yoga practice to someone else
• pray for someone who may be in need
• let someone else take the “best” parking spot this time
• donate your old books to the local library
• tell someone how much they mean to you
• let go of your own self-worries and celebrate courage
• someone else is ALWAYS fighting a bigger battle than you

Now either this sounds too easy or you may be skeptical.  Can we all really coordinate, communicate and cooperate?  Well we all have the capacity to experience gratitude ... and the true benefit from the power of gratitude is understanding it's about paying it forward instead of paying it back.  It is not about evening the score or owing someone something.  It is just about gratefully receiving.

When we pay it forward, nobody gets left out.  Unconditional deeds mean that regardless of what someone might have done to you or might not have done for you, the kind act will always exist.  You still may think this is too idealistic, but why not give it a go?... You may be surprised at the emotion you experience ~ LOVE ~ the best emotion of all.