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The Advent Series
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The Candle of Joy

Week Three - Day Eighteen

 

“Being happy doesn’t mean
that everything is perfect.
It means that you’ve decided to look
beyond the imperfections.”    
      
--Gerard Way


Happy Wednesday, <<First Name>>.  We've arrived at that half-way point of the week.... Christmas is less than a week away.   And I'm guessing that you looked upon this week's assignment to do things that bring you joy with a muttering of "I don't have time....after the holidays...."
 
But that's the conundrum, isn't it?

As Molly reminded us yesterday, we are often the thieves of our own joy. We self-sabotage. We wait until timing is perfect. We play the if-then game with ourselves. Yet, waiting for that perfect time means we’ll always be waiting a lifetime.

Because no time is ever perfect.

Think of the thousands upon thousands of people in the world who are setting aside their dreams because they are waiting until tomorrow.  And the thousands of giving their hearts a moment of peace and five minutes of joy. It's no wonder there are so many people in the world struggling with fear and sadness and a sense that something is missing.
 
Darling, I'm here to tell you that you deserve MORE than that.  You deserve to have love and peace and joy NOW.
 
So today, please take at least five minutes for yourself and do something that brings you joy.
 
Maybe it's sitting down in Starbucks and sipping the first half of your latte instead of taking it to go. Maybe it's stepping away from your desk to have lunch. Maybe it's immersing yourself in creating a delicious meal for your family instead of throwing something together. 

Maybe it's squeezing in time for coffee with a girlfriend. Maybe it's taking a bubble bath before bed.  Maybe it's lighting some candles....or buying some flowers at the grocery store to put in your bathroom.
 
I'm not asking you to write a complete novel today, but maybe you can begin it instead of dreaming about it.

I know that there are times when you feel pulled apart by all the things on your to-do list. You feel as if you are drowning in a sea of obligations. So, let me be straight with you today: you are always in choice.

Yes, I know you have to go to work, pay the bills, get the kids to school, and get dinner on the table. You must attend that holiday party, make five dozen cookies, and buy the perfect present for everyone on your list.

Or not.

See, the thing is, you can choose to not do any of these things. There are consequences of choosing not to do things. You can say no to the things that feel like shackles on, because, darling, your worth is not tied to being the person with the longest to do list.

Instead, remind yourself that you are doing everything on your list, not out of obligation but because you choose to. You have a holiday dinner with your family – even though your mom drives you crazy; you do this because you love your family, even despite their craziness. You choose to bake cookies for your kiddo’s holiday party because you want to be of service to your child and their school.

By reminding yourself that you are CHOOSING to tend all the tasks on your list, you shift your thinking process and act out of love and service instead of obligation.

You can say “no” to anything as long as you are prepared for the consequences. And, honestly, the more you say no to, the more you can say yes to what nourishes you. You can even opt out of the holidays and spend it quietly instead. Yep, you can!
 

So today, choose five minutes to fill your own cup with joy.


Seize this day. Step towards your dreams. Lean into what delights you. Life will never be perfect. But it's perfect in all the imperfections.
 
Because, darling you deserve to have a daily life that you love. See you tomorrow with a love letter from Kayce Hughlett.

With so much love,






PS - More thoughts on "choice" from this blog post.

And back In 2013, I spent much of December diving into thoughts of Conscious Living (AKA Mindful Living) in my blog.  Conscious Living is all about experiencing these tiny moments of joy that allow you to create a daily life you love.  Not quite sure what it looks like?  Read From Surviving to Conscious Living.
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