Self-care-holidays

** 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.

How many times does your LIGHT get dimmed during the holidays? Wouldn’t you love to stay calm and carry on? When you feel your light beginning to fade, there are pathways you can turn to, to help you remember what you know in your heart will shine your LIGHT.

Now thru December, I will share with you blogs and articles to support you in the most heart-centered ways so as to help you create a light-filled and magical holiday season.

SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

L- Love yourself

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

Starting with Halloween at the end of this week, the stir of the holiday season begins.

In hearts of children we see pure joy as they anticipate and prepare for Halloween festivities. The gleam in their eyes (before the candy) reflects the excitement of the costumes, colors, and the fun of trick or treating. Their imaginations and sense of adventure are unlimited as they think about ‘who they can be’ and acting out those roles with no inhibitions as only a child can do.

As adults we get caught up in the activity and exploration for fun, but with our own limitations and expectations on perfect costumes and ‘getting the night right’. Then, when trapped in our own stresses, we don’t set limits on time, festivities and on the sugar goodies. The smiles turn into whines and upset tummies, and the fun into chaos and mayhem.

Then, before you can catch your breath from costumes, parties and Halloween festivities, preparation for Thanksgiving is upon us.

If your focus is kindness, giving and thankfulness, then Thanksgiving will be a true day to celebrate.

However, the overload and stress of cooking, cleaning, and even traveling for Thanksgiving can dim the joy and take away from the lightness and purpose of getting together with family. Many times you begin to feel less than thankful because you have overextended yourself, not set limits on what you are doing and not asked for help or simplified how you created the festivities for Thanksgiving Day.

Then with the speed of sound, we move into the Holidays of Light in the month of December.

The weight of the multitudes of additions to the already full to do list becomes overwhelming. There are the ever increasing demands of the holiday season, holiday parties, costumes for Christmas plays and of course the gift giving. The list goes on and during the month of December.

BE the LIGHT.

IS it possible to be LIGHT during the holidays? I believe it is.

If you listen closely Angel Violet whispers not so softly,“It all starts with you!”

L- Love yourself. (Part 1)

You will thank yourself (and so will your children and family).

A heart centered holiday mantra is “Stay calm and carry on”. Being calm means letting go of the should’s, ought to’s, and most importantly, what others will think about what you do or don’t do for the holidays. (This works well in life in general, as well.)

Some of the loving questions you can ask yourself are:

Does this stress me out or give me joy? what can I do differently? Why am I doing this? Will this make a difference 10 years from now?

It’s amazing the sense of peace you’ll experience when you let go of the should have to reason for doing certain things. Not only will you feel better, but you will have more energy for what you want to do.

The negative energy weighs you down.

I know this is easier said than done but give it a try. I think you might be surprised how easy it may be to let something go or do it differently.

For Halloween – Do you really have to make the costume this year? Where can you set limits? Something that has worked for many parents is trading candy for something else the day after Halloween.

Shine your LIGHT on Halloween; join in the fun, but set limits for everyone so that the day and evening remain pure and enjoyable.

Remember, Thanksgiving is not the only day of the year you need to get together with family, and isn’t the only day gratitude is present in your life. Your LIGHT can always shine with a sense of heart-felt happiness as your family gives thanks for the small things in life. Take the pressure off of only thinking it can happen one day a year.

Think about it, what is the message you want to give your children/family about the holidays?

Ways to Love Yourself

This may sound preposterous but giving yourself a little “love” -yes quiet or alone time, even ten minutes, will refresh your body and mind.

More importantly, if some of that loving time is already in your schedule, don’t skip that time during this season, or don’t skip your yoga or gym class, which is so easy to do during these busy weeks. This is when you need it most.

When you engage in “quiet time moments”, you may find that your to do list keeps flashing through your mind. Stop and give your mind something else to focus on. Be gentle. Notice your mind wandering and bring it back.

You may want to:

Listen to a short, quiet meditation.
Focus on your breathing.
Play music you love and really listen to the words.
Or sing the words to the song. (Loud!)
It may be cold but 10 minutes in the fresh air will clear your mind.
Don’t skip the opportunity for quiet if you get a mani pedi. If you don’t do that, gift yourself some time. Be still. Enjoy the pampering.
Your physical body will thank you.

I believe magic is in the letting go, creating space. Although contradictory it does work.

Love yourself, by being kind in your expectations of yourself. 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).

Loving yourself is stopping. Stopping to refuel your inner self, stopping to eat, and stopping to be still….even for a short time.

As you love yourself, it takes pressure not only off you, but also your children and everyone around you. Children feel your stress and act accordingly, so loving yourself IS loving your children (family and friends).

Three Pathways to Loving Yourself This Holiday Season

De-stress and Relax, just a bit, to Shine Your Light this Holiday Season

First Pathway:

Enjoy the Free Spa Jacuzzi Room and 3 Minute Light Meditation

http://serenitypathways.com/free-spa/

You’re taking the fist step off the busy treadmill of life as you nurture your body, mind and spirit. After your visit you will notice how in just this short time you feel more relaxed and calm.

Second Pathway:

nkmealplansheader “This site had a hands down agreement of being helpful with families who had young children to those who were very busy looking to prepare meals in an easy but time effect ant way. “Feeding your family nourishing real foods doesn’t have to be hard. http://diamondpathways.com/resources/gifts/

Third Pathway:

The Family Diamond Audio Series

Many women are not alone in needing support to navigate the holidays with as much ease as possible. Your “inner family” (inner child, inner nurturer, inner warrior, inner sage) can support in small ways you may not have thought of to move through the holidays more easily and with more joy. Your inner family can also remind you what’s important to navigate your days more efficiently and gracefully. The Inner Family Diamond 5 part audio series is for anyone who wants to more easily find inner peace (especially during the busy season), listen inwardly more closely, support yourself more quickly and go after what you desire more confidently. read more at DiamondPathways.com/family-diamond/

Post your ideas, your experience and inspire another women!

Be your loving light during the holidays,

Bonnie

Kindness and Gratitude Walk Hand in Hand

Heart Centered Holidays: Stay Calm and Carry On