Tag: holidays

by energywriter, posted in Thoughts to Ponder

Thoughts to Ponder – December 27, 2015

“Make your mind part of the world’s peace, instead of its fear, and I promise, life will get better and better.”

Martha Beck*

 We’re still wading through the winter holidays that continue through New Year’s Day. We try to focus on a season of peace and goodwill, but often get sidetracked and hit by the “winter blahs.” At home we may experience family dissention as we stand in the kitchen washing mounds of dishes, growling to ourselves, “This is the season of joy, dammit!” We may experience lack – of everything. Or we may be lucky enough to share our bounty with a family who cares.

As the holidays wind to an end, we stop celebrating long enough to watch the news and remember all the hate and violence that is occurring in our neighborhoods and around the world. We sigh and wonder if we are doomed to live this way forever.

I can say without doubt – NO. Just as Martha Beck says, if we set our minds on peace and act on that each day, our world will get better. I can hear you all saying, “Yeah, right.” However, it’s true. When we think peace and kindness, we act out our beliefs, often not even aware that we are doing it. Each act will affect another person.

Remember the old shampoo commercial. If you tell two people and they tell two people soon everyone will use this product. Just as telling others about shampoo will convince them to buy it, our actions will eventually create peace. World peace probably will not happen anytime soon, but at least we can make our own little corner of the world a friendlier place.

I can see you shaking your head in doubt. “You don’t know the jerks I have to deal with.” I, too, felt that way for many years. Then I became tired of feeling anger and stress in myself and those around me. I determined I would create calm for myself. Each day when I get up I state firmly, “I choose to be the best person I can be today.” As time passes I find that by making that choice, my actions become kinder. As a result I notice that people are kinder to me. That makes family life, friendships and the work place kinder. I want to be with those people, instead of feeling obligated to be there.

Spirit,

Thank you for this beautiful day. Even if it’s raining or snowing, the day is still beautiful. Thank you for knowing that if we become calm, life around us will become calm. Life can be wonderful, if we believe it to be so. We choose to act on that belief, knowing that all is happening for our highest good.

And, so it is.

* Daily Inspiration, Martha Beck, December 25, 2015 info@marthabeck.com

© by Sharon D. Dillon, December 27, 2015

Sharon D. Dillon, energywriter@cox.net, http://energywriter.me “Laugh your way to peace, love and joy”

Chesapeake Bay Writers, Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, Southern Humorists, National Society of Newspaper Columnists

Author of “Twins! Oh no!,” one of 14 stories in The Book of Mom: Reflections of Motherhood with Love, Hope and Faith, published by booksyoucantrust.com. Available in print and e-format at Amazon.com.

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Calm for the Holidays

by energywriter, posted in Thoughts to Ponder

Thoughts to Ponder – November 25, 2015

 “What would calm do now?

What would peace do now?

What would relaxation do now?”

Martha Beck*

We may want to ask ourselves those three questions when we feel stressed, worried or frightened. Just asking can help our bodies and minds feel more at ease.

So much is happening in the world and in our country right now that can make us afraid. The news seems to be structured to encourage that fear. Many of us talk of our fears and spread anxiety to others. Or, we try to hide those fears in frenetic holiday preparations. We check our credit card balances, watch the sales ads and gird ourselves to face the Black Friday horde.

Thanksgiving, a day to share gratitude with our families and friends, often becomes a day to cook until we’re exhausted, eat until we must loosen our belts and watch multiple football games. A few hours later many of us jump into our cars and head to the stores to try to snag the Early Bird Black Friday sales. Then it is more shopping, cooking, and hosting or attending various holiday events until the Big Day arrives.

That’s when we realize that all the hype has been just that and our gifts are just gifts, not the ultimate whatever. All our hectic preparations did not make the stress, worry and fear disappear. They are still within us. Is that the way we want to honor the many winter holidays we have the opportunity to enjoy?

Perhaps this is the time to remember:

 “Keep calm and carry on”**

 Spirit,

Thank you for opportunities to share calm, peace, relaxation, and joy with those we love, those who are less fortunate and those we meet each day. We choose to not spread worry, stress and fear. We choose to carry those traits forward day by day.

And, so it is.

* Daily Inspiration, Martha Beck, November 16, 2015 info@marthabeck.com

**British poster distributed in 1939 as WWII pressed in on their country

© by Sharon D. Dillon, November 25, 2015

Sharon D. Dillon, energywriter@cox.net, http://energywriter.me “Laugh your way to peace, love and joy”

Chesapeake Bay Writers, Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, Southern Humorists, National Society of Newspaper Columnists

Author of “Twins! Oh no!,” one of 14 stories in The Book of Mom: Reflections of Motherhood with Love, Hope and Faith, published by booksyoucantrust.com. Available in print and e-format at Amazon.com.