True Gift

          All year long I focus on the happiness and abundance in my life. Every morning and every evening I silently acknowledge all the peace and joy and fulfillment I have created.

          During the holidays I’m particularly reminded that I choose to spend my time and resources on that which brings contentment to me and people who interact with me.  It’s not only about being a happy senior citizen or financially solvent or living in a place of beauty and nature. It’s about connecting with others, striving to always grow and expand, letting go of judgments, and it's about incorporating forgiveness regardless of where I am and what I’m doing.

The light in your eyes

Five Things to Love About Fall and How to Cope With the Other Five Things You Don't

What I Love About Fall

          I wonder if what I love about fall, you love about fall. I’m not a big summer fan with all that inescapable heat (read ‘no air conditioning’), so on those first few mornings when I step out into the cool morning air that whispers a change is imminent, my heart quickens.

           See if the five things I love about fall are what you love:

          1. Crisp mornings and cool evenings

          2. Mother Nature’s most spectacular display

          3. Kids heading back to school and a less crowded routine is re-
                    established in the community

          4. New television programs I’ve been waiting all summer for finally
                    arrive. The big networks put their programming backsides into
                    shows that start in Sept and Oct.

           5. I begin looking forward to holiday activities with family and friends


What I Don’t Love About Fall

           At the same time, as fall signals some pending changes, I begin to steel myself. The following is my list of five things I don’t love about fall:

           1. Holiday preparation stress – planning, shopping, cooking, wrapping

           2. Too much food and drink and not enough exercise

           3. Having to stay indoors more

           4. All those holiday activities with family and friends (see #5 above in
                    my list of what I love about fall)

           5. Generally more colds, flu, and a myriad of other ailments


What to Do     

           Can you relate to this love/hate dilemma? Do you also experience the diversity of all fall brings in both fun and not so fun events and activities? I wish I could give you some concrete ideas for things to do to avoid the not-so-fun parts of what comes before winter and the new year. For myself, I know if I’m wanting to stay grounded enough, I just will. I will seek out less stressful situations, I will go to my spiritual home to absorb the soul sustaining elixir that keeps me sane, and I will surround myself with people who love me unconditionally, even when I’m not successful. It's generally not an all or nothing proposition. I do well part of the time and fall down and have to regroup another part of the time. Such is life!

           The best advice I can give you, dear reader, is not to throw over your well-established habits: exercise, get plenty of rest, meditate, make the best food choices you are able to at any given moment and find quality time for yourself to rejuvenate so you can be there for the kids, spouse, friends and family members. Do the best you can.

           Good luck! I hope we're both successful!

 

 

 

 Fall veggies at the farmers' market.

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One of Those Moments: Giving

          There’s a HUGE holiday coming up next week and I want to get you geared up to give. What? You’ve looked at your calendars and can’t find any notation about a huge national holiday that arrives next week? Oh, well, I’ll not spoil the surprise before then. Instead lets think about what you might want to give.

          The best kind of gift for both the receiver and the giver is the act of giving itself. Obviously, the recipient gets what you give, whether it’s a yacht or a sincere and loving smile. What you may have forgotten is the joy the giver receives. C’mon, admit it. Remember that time you gave a little kid something that seemed beyond their reach – a bike, ice cream cone, a movie ticket? Remember the look of wonderment and joy in that child's face? It’s like what they experience bounces back into you tenfold.

          Everyone has something to give. It can be money or something that costs a little or a lot, or it can be that smile, or support, love, energy or just attention.  Whatever the gift, it carries with it a transformative power of love and connection that radiates throughout the universe. Giving encourages, empowers, nurtures and inspires all who come into contact with it.

          You don’t need to wait until next week and that big mystery holiday to begin giving. Start tomorrow. Look at what you might have to give and identify possible recipients. Check your attitude about giving AND receiving and let the practice carry you forward into your daily routine. This practice will enrich your life beyond imagination.

          Believe it.



To comment, find me at Antonia's Senior Moments on Facebook
 or AntoniasSeniorMoments@hotmail.com