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Peace, comfort, and contagion
“Rest feels like every cell is thanking you for taking care of you. It’s calm, not full of checklists and chores.” ~Jennifer Williamson I can’t think of anything more demoralizing than being sick during the holidays. Thanks to the rampant and highly contagious Influenza A, I’ve spent the past couple of days in bed, hooked on Mucinex, Tylenol, and chicken soup. Sadly, I’ve had to cancel some plans. This mutant flu bug hit me so hard on the weekend that I wondered, at one point, if I should be hospitalized. Thankfully, we finished our Christmas wrapping and shopping last week. So, I wish I could tell you that I’m resting…
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The gift of your attention
“Nothing you can give will ever be more appreciated than your sincere, focused attention—your full presence. Truly being with someone, and listening without anticipation of the next event or what you’ll say next, is the ultimate compliment.” ~Marc Chernoff, Marc & Angel Hack Life As Christmas draws closer, I’m usually overwhelmed by holiday stress. Every morning, I wake up with a chorus of elves reciting a “to-do” list in my head: When are you going to finish your Christmas cards? What will you bring to the Christmas Eve party? What else do you need for the Christmas morning brunch you’re hosting? Have you overlooked anyone on your gift list? That’s…
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Abundance
“Love is something that if you give it away, you end up having more.” ~Malvina Reynolds For years I’ve been fascinated by the “law of abundance,” and I think there’s something to it. In a nutshell, the theory suggests that if you act on the belief that there’s always plenty to share, you’ll attract more good things in your life. In other words, the more you give — whether it’s love, time, money, attention, or produce from your garden — the more you get back. Conversely, if you’re miserly or overly protective of your own resources, you’re less likely to attract an abundance of anything. And if you keep taking…
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Playing from the heart
“If I am smart in business, it’s just that I’m smart about who I am. I know what I can, can’t, will, and won’t do. And if I have to be strict about that, I will.” ~Dolly Parton I’ve always admired Dolly Parton. Not just because of her musical talents — although it’s worth noting that she can play close to 20 instruments, including the fiddle, mandolin and pan-flute. Even with those long acrylic fingernails. I get a kick out of her over-the-top wardrobe, personality, and showmanship. As Dolly’s quote reminds us today, it takes a huge helping of self-confidence to pull it off. But what impresses me even more is…
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The light of gratitude
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~Albert Schweitzer The gratitude list is a tool I’ve promoted often in the workshops I coach, whether I use it as a writing prompt or a personal growth exercise. And I try to practice what I preach. One of my favorite exercises is to recall the names of people who’ve made a difference in my life. The medical doctors who’ve taken care of my family and me are at the top of my list. That list…
