December, 2006: Shopping for shorts in November

Greetings,

Welcome to your fr*ee monthly e-newsletter about living the solution... not the problem!

Written and published by: Dr. Toby Silverton & Dr. Bev McLagan

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In This Issue: Go anywhere in this issue fast by clicking on a topic.

• Personal reflections
• What are we thinking about? Time to try something completely different
• Building Solutions: 10 Energy Boosting Tips
• Resources – quick links to check out resources
• Contact/unsubscribe info

Personal Reflections

Sometimes you just have to completely let go and find a new way.

I have the dearest best friend and business partner in the world. Dr. B. and I have been best friends for over 40 years since we met in elementary school, sure go ahead and do the math LOL! That means that she has been shoulder to shoulder with me through this crummy last year. As December approached she looked at me and said, “This Christmas is the 10th anniversary of your Dad’s death on December 21st and the 1st anniversary of your Mom’s death on December 23 rd…we are out of here! Aloha, Christmas will be on the beach in Honolulu!” I just got on that bus, let me tell you.

As it approaches it feels kind of strange. Have you ever tried to shop for shorts in November, now that is a challenge! Seriously, all the traditions that I have known for 53 years will be a thing of the past. No usual rhythms, events, decorations, shopping madness, people, not even the joy of throwing up lights on the balcony in sub-zero weather…but why not? Why not strip away the ghosts of Holidays Past and bring in the new. For all I know, it could be pizza and drinks with umbrellas by the pool for Christmas dinner. Hey, I’m game.

I’m looking to put the glow back into the Holidays mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Ok, physically too – sun, sand, and a completely different wardrobe for Christmas morning! I’m thinking bathing suit.

What are we thinking about?

Maybe we all need to do it from time to time: take something that’s so familiar we know just how it’s going to go and experience it in a completely new light. Could be the biggest gift you give yourself this Holiday Season (whichever Holiday you celebrate). So this year celebrate from a place of personal values, meaning and purpose and not just from a place of traditional shoulds just cause you always have.

“I said to myself, I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me – shapes and ideas so near to me – so natural to my way of being and thinking that it hasn’t occurred to me to put them down. I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.” (Georgia O’Keefe, artist)

With all the commercialism surrounding the Holiday Season it can be pretty easy to fall prey to cynicism. Talk to any child though and you can feel the magic all over again. How can recapture the wonderment and pleasure of this time of year? One way is to question your usual traditions. Are they still meaningful to you? Do you actually enjoy them or do they exist just because they always have? Keep the ones that you love and cross off the ones you don’t. Maybe it’s time to try something completely different. Maybe it’s time to begin a new legacy.

Regardless of what Holiday you celebrate one thing is the same for all of us, it’s meant to be a time of peace. It’s hard to remember that these days with the world in such turmoil so look for the simple “miracles” around you, they do exist. Or, if you feel like creating a miracle or two of your own, just ask yourself: If you could give the world’s people, animals, or environment a gift, what would it be, safety, peace, shelter or food? Once you know find an organization, globally or locally, that represents your highest values, and donate. The amount doesn’t matter, a little or a lot, it still makes a difference. People always say to me, “but I can’t change the world”, ahh but you can. It’s like the old joke about how do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time.

We are so fortunate this year that our gifts will be to animal rights organizations. The other thing that makes this year special is that we are giving ourselves a huge gift, the gift of time away from everyday life to recuperate, rest, and reconnect. Think about your own holiday agenda, can you carve out space just for yourself to recharge your batteries and connect with your best self?

If you face the holidays alone, like many people do, it can be a truly difficult time. We are bombarded by family messages at every turn, but the ultimate message of all these Holidays is giving. Think about connecting and enjoying the gift of giving in a different way: adopt a family through a community agency, volunteer to serve dinner for those less fortunate than you, sign up to work at a food or toy bank and share the spirit, take part in community celebrations in your neighbourhood, or head to an animal shelter and give out treats. It’s about finding a way to make your heart feel good.

We hope some of these ideas and questions inspire you to try a new way of experiencing this time of year. We all have our blessings, mine comes in the form of a friend that sometimes knows what I need before I do. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Building solutions

And on a truly practical level, burning the holiday candle at both ends can ensure that holiday burnout taps your energy. Too little sleep, not enough exercise, and all those holiday goodies is the most usual cause of losing your get up and go. The solution lies in taking good care of you – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Here are our Top 10 Energy Boosting Tips to refresh your energy.

1. Spend more to get more, energy that is! Feeling flagged? Take that flight of stairs, get off the bus a block early and walk, hit the gym, or just put on some music and dance. Get that body moving!
   
2. Get real. Because of all the hype around the holiday’s and dare we say, commercial images of perfect families, we often end up with unrealistic expectations of an “ideal” holiday. Stay grounded and expect less and you may experience the real magic of the holidays.
   
3. Chocolate counts! But only if you include the dark kind along with other high-energy snacks. So in between egg-nogs add some fruit, veggies, nuts, dried fruit, or energy bars.
   
4. Remember to say ‘NO’! It’s no holiday if you end up doing a lot of things you don’t want to do!
   
5. Play out loud! Sing holiday carols, make snow angels, go sledding, bake cookies, visit Santa if he’s your kind of guy – be a kid and play!
   
6. Find a place of calm. Whether it is a sacred building or a sacred place in nature, at this time of year we can all appreciate a few quiet moments in a haven of serenity and spirituality.
   
7. Need to spell relief? Stress relief at work is a necessity at this time of year, so remember the golden rule – take a break (even a 10 minute one) every 1.5-2 hours.
        *chat to a colleague and share some laughter
        *stretch and get oxygen to those muscles
        *take some slow controlled deep breaths
        *daydream of a pleasurable place or moment, your brain will thank       you
   
8. Enjoy those power naps. But caution, no more than 30-40 minutes for maximum refreshment.
   
9. Avoid a hangover! That’s the “too much sleep” hangover we’re talking about. Instead of sleeping in and suffering the groggies, go to bed half an hour earlier than usual and get up at the same time.
   
10. Peppermint alert. Need to boost your alertness take a whiff of peppermint for an instant wake me up. The essential oil works best but go ahead and try a candy cane!

Resources – quick links to check out resources
(Clicking on the red underlined words allows you to instantly purchase all books online, without leaving your chair!)

• Learn to Say No, Fast! Talk about the gift that keeps on giving, this one will last you a lifetime.
  http://www.livethesolution.com/products.html
  If you have any little ones to buy gifts for we highly recommed the following two books. Following along the lines of the best kid’s poets like Dr. Seuss, these books are sure to cause giggles galore, take it from two adults who can’t resist them! We applaud our long-time client for achieving her life goal of becoming a published and acclaimed poet and mom/homeschooler of 3!
  
• Floyd the Flamingo and his flock of friends by Tiffany Stone. 2004 Tradewind Books. Purchase from Amazon | Canada | United Kingdom
  
• Baad Animals by Tiffany Stone. 2006 Tradewind Books. Purchase from Amazon | Canada | United Kingdom

Here are some of the organizations we vouch for and look forward to giving to this year:

• World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). This global group is all about education and humane treatment of animals. They are often first on the scene for natural disasters and disasters of the human kind like wars. They send care givers, veterinarians and educators. We are always so humbled by their efforts. Go to: http://www.wspa.ca and learn about their amazing work or become a member.
  
• Marmot Recovery Foundation. The Marmots are one of the worlds most endangered animals and this organization is dedicated to their recovery. It is dear to our hearts because it is right in our own backyard, Vancouver Island, the only place Marmots live. Go to: http://www.marmots.org/ you can even adopt a marmot!
  
• Forgotten Felines. A rescue and shelter organization that was built on love, sacrifice, and dedication. We are proud to call Penny a friend and stand in awe of her absolute commitment. At the shelter the hurt, abanadoned, wild or too old to be wanted find a loving home for the rest of their lives, unless they are lucky enough to be adopted. Go to: http://www.forgottenfelines.ca/ for information, to adopt, or to donate.

We send to you our deepest wish that the people and creatures of our planet find a way to live in peace. Till next month… Embrace Life.

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