Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy and ease and gratitude!
… from the bottom of my heart.
This season of twinkling lights and festive gatherings is something many of us look forward to, myself included. Yet, despite my best intentions, I sometimes lapse into doubt and cynicism while seeing wishes such as these. Do you too? Another uncertain pandemic winter added to the usual busy-ness and stress of this season! Thankfully, after being preoccupied with disagreeable thoughts for a while, I manage to remember my mindfulness practice, steering me back towards reframing unpleasant emotions to joyful ones - again and again. My practice is my compass to experience this season with as much joy and ease and gratitude as possible.
Tuning into thoughts and feelings, choosing to accept frustration, anger, loneliness, tiredness, or stress with compassion. And then with full awareness and courage choosing to step onto another path, choosing to be fully present for and savoring the joy of experiencing holiday lights and music, reaching out to loved ones, becoming infected with the innocence and high spirits of children. Whenever you feel pulled towards pessimism, I encourage you to take a pause and be curious. What can inspire you to embrace the pleasant and the joyful, one moment at a time?
The holidays offer a beautiful opportunity to practice this, filled as they are with already joyful activities! Consider wrapping presents, baking cookies, decorating your house, gathering with friends and family … whatever nurtures you, whatever your favorite traditions are. Taking a breath here and visualizing being engaged in each of them, each for their own! What do you feel? Can you imagine reframing each single activity as part of a celebration of abundance and gratitude?
And if you need a little more than just one breath, finding a bit of time to turn inward for just a little longer. For me, that now also means turning towards exploring poetry.
One of our instructors started introducing poems to our classes a few years ago, much to my surprise. I was one of those people who just never “got” poetry. Then I heard The Journey by Mary Oliver and … was deeply touched. I never thought of poetry as an avenue to receive such compassion, such connection. To this day hearing those words read out loud in class brings tears to my eyes. I feel both personally spoken to and I sense I am part of a community composed of all the people for whom this poem resonates deeply.
Dear Imagineer, if you find yourself with a need for solace during this holiday season, consider exploring the “Imagine” poems we’re sharing with you here. Maybe you can share one with your fellow merry-makers, reading it out loud as you gather around. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful way to contribute to the true spirit of this season of love and gratitude?
- Summer
and the Imagine Team - Jerry, Merel, Barbora, Nancy, and Shishir
Mindfulness ... intentional, nonjudgmental awareness through attention,
right here, right now, with compassion and curiosity.
