Here it is, the end of 2011 and the beginning of a New Year!  It is such a special time of the year, that we are reminded to stay awake to the powerful energy of transition.  It is an opportunity to learn lessons, to let go, to celebrate, and to step forward with intention.  As I do each year, I invite you to join me in a year end exercise.  Relax and reflect with me on the journey of the past year and all it has brought our way.   On New Year’s Eve I will sit down and journal.  These are the questions that I will answer and I invite you to do the same:

FOR 2011:

How have you been challenged?

How have you grown?

What experiences were new for you this past year?

What important lessons have you learned?

What will you let go of that no longer serves you?

How have you been blessed?

Who will you thank?

Take time to mindfully answer these questions and you will be rewarded with the depth and richness of life and inspired to move forward into the New Year with more clarity.

For 2012:

How will you become more mindful in 2012?

What states of being will you cultivate?

How will you most joyfully give your gifts to life?

What are your top 5 priorities and values for life going forward and how will you honor them?

What are your intentions for your health, relationships, career, creativity, adventures and joy in 2012?

How can you love more?

If you take the time to answer these questions, you will be richly rewarded with mindful purpose in the New Year.  And if you share your insights, thoughts, questions, or ideas – we will all be inspired!  Thank you and May you be blessed with a prosperous and joyful New Year!

Having trouble finding the perfect item for someone special? Need a thoughtful hostess gift? Looking for a way to share cheer at the office without exchanging one more round of Santa mugs and reindeer ornaments? Read more of Mindful Holiday Giving

In many households, frazzled Thanksgiving cooks (Grandma comes to mind) put out a relish tray to keep hungry but idle hands out of the kitchen. These trays are loaded with goodies, each tucked into its own compartment: pimento-stuffed green olives, whole black olives little ones canstick on their fingertips before eating, radishes, celery stuffed with peanut butter or cream cheese, carrot sticks, equal portions of two kinds of pickles (sweet and dill) so there’s no fighting….

Here’s our recipe for a Thanksgiving relish tray:
A spoonful of Mindfulness
A dollop of Awareness
Equal portions of Family Dynamics and Deep Breaths
Lots of little Inner Smiles
A heaping portion of Blessings
Serve on a platter of Gratitude and Love

TheKitchn.com has some great ideas for updating Grandma’s Relish Tray

Did you ever try to remember details about past holidays and find that they all blur together?   When I noticed this, I realized it was partly because my family celebrated exactly the same way every year.   More importantly, I recognized my tendency to become less mindful as I got caught up in the busyness and activities of the season.  I seemed to go into ‘auto-pilot’ mode where I let myself be swept away by the tide of traditions and family expectations.  

That’s when I decided to be more mindful and create something uniquely memorable about each holiday.  To do this, I needed to SLOW DOWN so that I could consciously consider and wisely select each holiday activity.  And I needed to remember to be more fully present for each activity that was so carefully chosen.  This process of Mindful Holidays, the conscious choice of activities and participation in my own unique way, was quite liberating. With mindfulness, I am less concerned about appearances, judgments or expectations.  Not only have the holidays become more memorable, but they’ve also become a lot more fun.

Read more of Mindful Holidays, Part I