breathing gratitude

In years past, the holidays have made me feel poor rather than abundant. The rush to buy gifts, decorate, cook, and entertain seems like a never-ending drain on the wallet.

The events of September, 2001 have changed our lives in many ways. For me, one thing that it did was to remind me of a very important principle. We attract what we focus on. When I focus on my panic over money, what I experience is stress. If I choose to focus on the people in my life, the gifts and the parties - my experience would be very different.

In the aftermath of 9/11, we can choose to feel afraid because there are people out there who think we are the enemy - or we can feel proud of the human spirit that has been demonstrated to us over and over since the tragedies. I think all of us have experienced a huge spectrum of emotion since that time. It is important to remember that those emotions are thoughts, and we can control our thoughts. If you find yourself dwelling on negative or painful things, you need to shift your body and shift your mind onto something more productive.

Thanksgiving is approaching and already my relatives are sending me email asking, "What do you want"? Most years I have had a list a mile long of little things I'd love to have. This year, I feel an amazing sense of gratitude for all that I already have.

As we go into the holidays, and the pressures increase, I would encourage you to be grateful for the time you have with the people you care about. For many of us, the holidays are the only time we get to see family members and old friends. If you are lucky enough to live near to family, it can be easy to take those people for granted.

The best advice I got before my wedding several years ago was this: Breath and pay attention. Many of my friends told me that their wedding went by in such a whirl they couldn't remember most of it. With that advice, I reminded myself throughout the ceremony and reception to stop and take it all in from time to time. As a result, my wedding is crystal clear in my memory and that is a gift I will always have.

I would encourage you to do the same thing during the holidays. Breathe. Remember what we are celebrating. Celebrate the sweetness that is life. Rejoice in the best of the people in your life. Be grateful and feel abundant.

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