Give the best gift.
The best gift you can give others is to look after yourself.
Many times, in the last couple of weeks in classes and private lessons, I have urged others to take care of themselves, to do something nice for themselves, to let it go and to focus on joy—both spreading it and feeling it.
The holiday season is busy and frequently stressful. Many of us have more social and family obligations not to mention traditions that we try to preserve (even if they are no longer fun). We rush around and don’t take time for ourselves.
But you cannot pour from an empty cup. If we don’t take care of our mind and our bodies at this time of year, we won’t be pleasant to be around and we won’t enjoy the season.
Make sure you do one thing for yourself every day (even if it is just a quiet cup of tea), manage your energy (not your time) and really focus on joy. Let go of petty (and not so petty) resentments and forego recriminations. This is not the time to “set the record straight”, to give someone “a piece of your mind”, to dredge up old hurts, issues, or misdeeds.
It’s a time for love, forgiveness, going with the flow, forging new traditions and overall focusing on joy and compassion.
Enjoy the season.
