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HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!


 

 

Remember the cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas? I loved that cartoon. Every year I couldn't wait until it was on. I loved it even more than Charlie Brown's Christmas.

I especially love the end, when all the whos of Whoville gathered round their naked tree and sang their song, Welcome Christmas. Remember how the Grinch's heart grew? I loved loved loved that! So much! I still do!

Well, here we are, the holidays have arrived. And I know I sure don't want to be a Grinch this season. For many that's easy, they love the holidays, all the family gatherings, gift-giving, cooking, fun meals, and parties, and did I mention shopping? But for others, it's not so great, it's stressful, well with all the family gatherings, gift-giving, cooking, fun meals and parties, and did I mention shopping?
 
Oh, the pressure! Money pressure. Time pressures. Pressure to get everything done at work by the end of the year and the pressure of expectations. It can seem like everything is gift-wrapped with expectations.  Expectations we place on certain events and activities, on those we love, and on ourselves. It can be overwhelming. Even the Grinch expected that Christmas would be finished once he stole everything the Whos had. 


He slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant,
around the whole [town] and he took every present!
Pop guns, pampoogas, pantookas, and drums!
Checkerboards, bizilbigs, popcorn, and plums! . . . 

Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Whos' feast!
He took the Who pudding! He took the roast beast!
He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash.
Why, that Grinch even took the last can of Who hash!


I know I got a little carried away, but even the Grinch's expectations were unmet.

Anywho, my point is that having expectations is normal. We all expect certain things: common courtesy, and kindness, we expect people to keep their appointments and their word; we expect timeliness, not tardiness; we expect the holidays to be happy or not. But people are people. Besides, most of the time,  our expectations are made up, they're our imagination, laying out the future for us.  And we all know how that usually turns out. 

If you want to transform your holidays, I suggest practicing gratitude and appreciation.  Think about what you are truly grateful for... and if there are people in your life you can communicate these feelings to, then by golly, do it!  Science shows that practicing gratitude can shift your mindset, lift your mood, help you sleep better, and so much more. 

And guess what, gratitude is built into Thanksgiving.

So this season, if and when you feel sad, overwhelmed, let down, at a loss, stressed, or under pressure to perform, or cook the perfect bird, take a moment and pause. Reflect. Look around. Is there one thing you are grateful for? Look inside: your heart is beating, you're breathing. Maybe it's as simple as the coffee in your cup or the sun hiding behind that cloud. Find something. Anything. Just one thing to be grateful for in the moment.

Wanna feel even better? Take it a step further and share your gratitude. Show your gratitude in appreciation. Tell someone how much you appreciate the fact that they _________________ ffill in the blank. 

Then pause again. Notice how you feel. Different? 

Let's all take Ralph Waldo Emerson's advice for this holiday season and“cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

I know that I am so grateful for YOU! 

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with delicious happy times and lots and lots of warm gratitude topped with whipped appreciation!

Happy Thanksgiving!



 

I am pleased to be part of an amazing group of teachers, meditation and otherwise, who have come together to create the Conscious Creative Collective.

I have never been a part of a group like this before. Or, for that matter a summit, which is what we are offering in January (read on for more).

I think I have been picky. Maybe too picky, but picky just the same, and I have always held back. I don't jump into things like this, I want to be careful, and ensure my values align with those in the group. And thus, I haven't been much of a 'joiner' in the past.

Well, color me a new person, as I have joined this amazing collective, and I am happy to announce the Stepping Into Possibilities 2023 Summit.


The Conscious Creative Collective is a group of some of the best teachers in the world, collaborating to help you tune into your highest potential in 2023.  We all came together through Insight Timer, and now we are putting on an amazing event on January 7th & 8th. 

Together, we have a wealth and diversity of training, skills, and experience that amounts to several lifetimes of wisdom.

We are dedicated to making best-in-class personal development and empowerment tools broadly accessible to all ... in love, work, creative living, spirituality, self-care, courage, beauty, magic, and general awesomeness!

I invite you to join us, 30 of the world's best meditation teachers, to release this past year, ground yourself in the present moment, and create the ideal 2023 that you envision for yourself.

As part of this summit, you'll get access to 30 live workshops over two days and recordings of those you can't attend live. These workshops will offer you value and best-in-class training, tools, and techniques that will empower you and help you tune into your highest potential in 2023 in all areas of your life: love, work, creative living, spirituality, self-care, courage, beauty, magic, and more.

Seats in this summit are limited, so reserve your spot now!

 

 Your teachers for the Stepping Into Possibilities 2023 Summit are: 

Mia Li 🌟 Carrie Suwal 🌟 Tom Evans 🌟 Ruthi Cohen-Joyner 🌟 Canel Ty 🌟 Stephanie Zito 🌟 Julie Murphy Yogaressa 🌟 Halo Quin 🌟 Femke E. Bakker, Ph.D. 🌟June B 🌟 Jessica Amos 🌟 Ipek Williamson 🌟 Emilio Jose Garcia 🌟 Susitha Reddy 🌟 Debra Ford 🌟 Fabienne Sandoval 🌟 Reuben Lowe 🌟 Dr Jan Russell 🌟 Carolyn Ziel 🌟 Keziah Gibbons 🌟 Wenlin Tan 🌟 Ashley Looker 🌟 Stephanie Nash 🌟 Aleks Slijepcevic 🌟 Amy Brown 🌟 Richard Powell 🌟 Annabel Fitzsimmons 🌟 Srimanju Katragadda 🌟 Dr. Candice Creasman 🌟 Barbara Faison


I will be teaching a workshop entitled Write Your Life 2023 at 6AM PST. on Sunday January 8th. 

Join me and register here! 

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