HAVE A PILE OF HOLIDAY CARDS YOU JUST CAN'T TOSS?
Years ago when my children were young, we saved our received Christmas cards in a big silver bowl. After the decorations were put away and the new toys were losing their luster we kept that bowl of beautiful family photos and shimmering holiday greetings front and center in our living room. Then, as we launched into the dip mid January can bring, we turned to our cards. We focused on them one by one, day by day, by putting a card in the center of our kitchen table at meal time and offering specific prayers and thoughts for that particular family.
I wish I could tell you we were diligent about this ritual…but it did come and go. Some years we would get through about five families and that would be it, and some years the loving evening ritual never made it and the cards would be stored away to review again the following holiday season. But, our intention was to thoughtfully reflect on and send out positive thoughts to others each evening. Having an actual photo helped us focus that intention -- so sending holiday cards with photos is worth it (smile).
His Holiness the Dalai lama said, "We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection." Help practice compassion in the simple rituals of your family life.
What new ritual might you begin with your children to help them look beyond themselves and focus their love on others? It takes practice, as you know, because we are so busy it feels like we can barely shower our own family with love. But, giving your child the experience of loving and blessing others, without a tragedy at hand, is a beautiful way to allow them to FEEL the feelings that comes with that outward focus.
So much of our lives with kids is pushing them to achieve to their very best – and this is important – but we also must make a conscious effort to allow them that graceful experience of simply sharing their loving thoughts and gracing others with intentional good will.
Happy January and may your month be full to the brim with unexpected waves of loving joy – both joy you’ve sent and joy you’ve taken in.
Blessings and light from my heart to yours,
Mimi Doe
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