Contemplate these 5 quotes:

The two indicators of what is important to you are “Where do you spend your time?” and “Where do you spend your money?” – Anon

“One who is generous with praise makes another rich in self-worth” – Sally Huss

Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, “What’s in it for me?” – Anon

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

“Acquiring wisdom is garnered by your own personal experience.” – Cecilia

1. Being Grateful = Happiness
2. Positive Thinking = Opportunities
3. No Comparing = No Despairing
4. Showing Kindness = Good Feelings
5. Nurturing Relationships = Strength
6. Forgiving = Wellness
7. Being Present = Flow
8. Staying in the Moment = Focus
9. Relishing Joy = Satisfaction
10. Committing to Self = Magic
11. Finding Spirituality = Surrender
12. Caring for Body = Discipline

Adapted from a tribute to Stephen Covey by Marc

Needless to say, there is an endless amount of solutions to stress – but we just have to do it.

16. Give thanks every evening for a day well lived or relief that it’s over.

17. Soak in a tub or jacuzzi. Every mom knows that warm baths soothe the child within.

18. Journal – write it all out our just annotate events, how your day went and add how you felt or even conversations you had or small/big lessons, interesting information or personal qualities/flaws you learned from.

19. Shop online – imagine, in the privacy of your own home, avoiding traffic, crowds and inclement weather as you peruse and click your way to gift giving.

20. Take an herbal tea break. Nothing relaxes like a cup of tea in front of a fire, outside/by a window or in a bubbly bath.

These are just suggestions and I encourage you to enjoy the season by adding self-care and love by implementing one, two or all of the twenty relief strategies.

It doesn’t have to be the holidays to have an eventful and full life! I am never ever bored and always have a million projects.

11. Reach out – call someone and ask how THEY are. Maybe THEY need the connection. It is a win-win.

12. Escape to a bookstore, museum, play, movie or any other field trip just to be surrounded by art and creativity. Heck! Go garden, make something from scratch, do a craft project or paint something – anything to get the creative, playful and artistic juices stirring and flowing.

13. Breathe. Take at least five minutes during the day to do zilch-absolutely nothing but contemplating your navel.

14. Smile at everyone, it instantly lifts your mood, makes you approachable and mirrors good energy out into the world.

15. Say, “I love You!” to yourself in a mirror every day as soon as you roll out of bed and say it to at least one other person or furry family member, then hug.

Surviving the holidays is not enough, let’s thrive this year and take care of ourselves. Anybody want to be my personal shopper?

6. Get a pedicure, manicure, hair blow out or all three – nothing feels better than getting a little pampered and “finished”.

7. Pause before you eat – Take your time ( ideally twenty minutes) to finish at least one meal of the day. And really try to do this one meal with no cell phone, laptop or TV. Savor each bite and give thanks.

8. Listen to music you love or are in the mood for – Maybe you want to listen to Christmas tunes you grew up with or relax in an armchair with a classical symphony playing – or maybe you want to heat it up with rock or techno – maybe jazz or spa/instrumental is calling your name. Just get into it.

9. Pray – Ask for help from the Universe and let go of the outcome. See what shows up – you will be surprised.

10.Use Scent – Lavender calms, rose inspires and vanilla comforts. Peppermint energizes.

Have you ever noticed that some people translate your kindness into a weakness and then try to take advantage of you or treat you like you are less than?

Well….to those people I say…

Kindness does not mean one worships another nor is subservient. So kindness to self is knowing one’s place in the world, one’s limits and one’s center of gravity.

Kindness does not mean one takes responsibility for another’s choices. So kindness to self is to have clear demarcation of what’s one’s business and what isn’t.

Kindness does not mean one tries to “fix it” or take on another’s emotions nor react to them. So kindness to self would encourage one to pause and calmly respond.

Kindness does not mean one is expected to be of service. So kindness to self asks one to weigh one’s availability or possibility at that time and it is always a choice.

Kindness does not mean one always says “Yes”.  So kindness to self is balancing one’s platter of activities and knowing “NO” is a complete sentence. And no explanation needed.

Thank you J for this lovely lighted mirror and the personalized artwork on the cover.

When it feels surreal is when it is the most real. You are scared and in shock. You cannot in any way, shape or form wrap it around your head.

You feel raw. There is a certain blinding clarity. Yet you plead it isn’t true. Yet it is final, true and imminent.

You move under duress. You take small every day actions in a daze.

It is immediate and profound pain. It is death at the door. You may not shower or eat.

It is family and bonding. It is unraveling then reconstructing your world at a dull pace.

Things fall apart and it comes back together different.

It is dire – it is grim. You aspirate another breath with consciousness of your life. You have never been here before.

You perspire and you eat. You are blaming, you are furious.

You do, you love, you care and you wail.

And… Then… Time to be determined only by a dismal space that is lit by a tiny spark. Like a miracle of sorts…

The slightest help or good news is welcomed and appreciated. You open and you allow and receive again. You fill up on kindness.

You are a new lucid and a different sharp. You evaluate and go on, just another scar.

You become available for others, you hear and can listen without awful images crowding your brain.

You catch up on work and daily tasks. You relish the silence in small, teeny increments.

The quality of your life comes back yet in forever altered, layered hues.

Peace comes and goes.

May all the prayers be heard for only fate and God know what may happen next.

I suppose Western life and thinking is what these terrorists are so mad about.  I am not sure. I really do not understand the underpinnings or the motives yet. Someone please explain.

What I do know is that my modis operandi will remain about seeing with love beyond my reasoning, the universal law of equanimity.

“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren and to do good is my religion.” – Thomas Paine

“Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.” – Stephen Covey

I think I need to be alert and not let down my guard, but I refuse to live in fear.

Granted, this is easier said than done when the world just seems to be melting into a hot pit and people are eager to cause harm and heartache.

A solemn heartfelt sadness fills me as I grieve for the state of the world.

In one week, a plane with innocents, Beirut bombings, and now Paris, the city of Lights, is changed forever by pure evil forces that want nothing but chaos and fear to exist.

Yes – That is me at a Parisian Florist Shop, smelling the flowers. I remember the aroma was intoxicating. My heart goes out to all victims of violence.