Holiday Stress

** Be sure to read through the two special messages at the end**

Gratitude and kindness are powerful forces. And, it’s exciting that more and more people are becoming aware that kindness and gratitude aren’t just for the month of November and Thanksgiving. Sometimes we delightfully find kindness and gratitude coming from unexpected places and people.

“I want to do this every day,” says a 9-year-old, third-grader, after handing out “light up kindness bracelets” to the staff as a part of the Kindness Project. The Kindness Project/Kindness Squad was started by a group of amazing parents at a local K-8 Charter school who saw a need to actively involve children in acts of kindness. The project is composed of several aspects including a classroom activity and a monthly activity geared to uplift, show appreciation, and demonstrate kindness to the staff.

This month, walking from classroom to classroom, the children’s faces lit up as they handed out the light-up kindness bracelets to the staff. Many of them smiled in appreciation and others responded excitedly, immediately placing their Kindness gift on their wrists. It was heartwarming and uplifting to watch.

Most heart-opening, however, was hearing a young girl’s excitement and seeing how she was truly touched by the energy of kindness she felt as she handed bracelets to the staff. A young girl, who I suspect, doesn’t always feel the energy of kindness. But she had a seed planted that day, one which down the road may affect a choice she has to make in a positive manner, rather than a way that wouldn’t be beneficial to her.

The “light up” bracelets we gave the staff read, “We appreciate your light”. On the back were some ”kudos for kindness” ideas. Most important was the message on the bracelet to remember to be kind to yourself. Kudos for Kindness ideas came from the book I co-authored with Jan Rysdon A Blueprint for Happy, Resilient, Parents, Teachers & Kids.

“Why be kind?

The bottom line is it makes you feel good. Kindness can boost your self-esteem as you view yourself as a compassionate person.” Gratitude and kindness towards yourself and others changes how the world looks from the inside out.

Since September, I’ve been truly grateful to be a part of The Kindness project. Supporting teachers and parents in helping children have more experiences involving kindness, gratitude, respect, responsibility, diversity, and understanding is a gift. Teachers and those who work in schools aren’t often appreciated for their hard work and the care they give our children and teens. I appreciate that I can be part of this project.

This activity was also a very good reminder to be as kind to yourself as you are to others.

I encourage you to spend time this month recalling back through the year where you found kindness in unsuspecting places and how that act of kindness turned into gratitude and appreciation.

Let November gratitude’s kindle the flames of kindness to others and yourself all year,

Bonnie

P.S. We love for you to give yourself a gift of a 3-Week Mini Online Course to help you keep your sanity and find joy this holiday season!

LIGHTen Up This Holiday Season and Avoid Overwhelm with 9 Heart-Thoughtful Strategies–Join Jan Rysdon and I for our new 3-week online course to stay focused and tuned into your inner guidance, and keep your energy high during your many activities of the holidays. We’ll also share the core components to self-care, staying in your center, and how to tune in and stay connected to your inner guidance not only during the holidays but all year long.

P.P.S. To my loyal readers – Thank you so much for being a supporter of Diamond Pathways. This blog above is on my partner site to DiamondPathways.com. (SparkleYourLight.com) The programs, books, and offerings on Sparkle Your Light are part of Diamond Pathways’ message to “unlash your personal magic” and radiate your diamond light. However, the focus and offers are a bit different.

I invite you to visit SparkleYourLight.com to see what is new and exciting, and to sign up here on the dropdown, Take a quick moment to refresh, rejuvenate and relax and refocus in less than 10 minutes before you get back into your life and get two heart-thoughtful strategies to make your life easier. You’ll also receive periodic updates about products, books, and programs that will be announced there.

SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

L – Love yourself -L-Love to Stop? Probably not, but here’s why you will love to Stop!

I – Illuminate the true spirit of the holidays

G – Give gifts of love to yourself and others

H – Honest appraisal of how you feel and what’s going on

T – Trust your inner knowing to guide you

quiet-destress-relax I believe there is magic in the word Stop. Think of stopping as loving yourself. It is a chance to re-fuel from the inside, out. Stopping can create more “room” for you and for those you love. Stopping creates space… space for creative ideas to flow, and space for life to resume in a more efficient, simpler way. When emotions run high, stopping to eat, shower, be still, meditate, etc., even for a short time, can make all the difference. So next time you’re feeling stressed, stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and remember to stop.

Love yourself, by being kind in the expectations you set for yourself. Remember to create your own special quiet moments.

When you let go of the old thoughts and messages of the past, it clears space in your mind for something new. “Happiness” researchers have found that people who took time to be still-meditate for a short time (10-20 minutes) were happier and more productive.

Stop when you are tired, and definitely when you are exhausted, (I so remember those holiday seasons that I was fighting a cold by the time Christmas Day arrived).

Ask yourself, “What is really important?” Stopping without guilt and worry actually creates space-time. Hard to believe, but true. Many companies know this, they put play areas in so their employees can stop and play. Work productivity in those work places increased.

de-stress, relax, stop, magic of stopping

One year I wondered why I had decided to have a Christmas party. I thought about all the work and time, and how tired I get. It didn’t feel like fun, although I love the end result. I noticed how I was feeling, stopped and tapped into the feelings of joy and fun of the party. I asked myself, “How can I do this in a different way, so I won’t feel as tired?” I took some quiet time (believe me, not long) and a plan emerged. I let go of the past, how I thought it should be, kept the most important elements and planned the party in a totally different way. I won’t tell you it didn’t take time or wasn’t work, but it wasn’t stressful. And, as hard as it was to believe, I was ready an hour before guests arrived. Never, ever have I had that amount of time before company or a party. I know I created magic and a miracle by stopping.

heart-holidays-self -empowered-light

Choose one thing you would like to do differently this year to Love yourself and shine your LIGHT? Post on Facebook (at the Angel Violet’s Pre Holiday Party) or in the comments below, and inspire another women to do the same.

Stopping and Partying,

Bonnie

PS Are you looking for ways to keep yourself more relaxed, better prepared, and less stressed during the holidays ? Join us on Angel Violet’s Magic Wings Facebook page from November 18-20, anytime during those days. Bring an open heart, your curiosity, and get ready to be more peaceful before and during the holidays.

Kindness and Gratitude Walk Hand in Hand

Stop Create Magic