Third Week of Advent

During this week of Advent my theme is "family love and joy". Most of the joy of the season is spontaneous and un-planable, but I do two things to create the conditions:

• Take care of myself so I can be calm and present for the spontaneous joy when it arises.
• Take the time to consider what others- friends and family- will want most this season. In other words, I become less self-focused and more generous in all ways. 
• Be respectful, patient, and kind (no matter how stressed  I feel).

These are obviously year-round aspirations, but I need a strict reminder now, because everything begins to seem so important: I must get this right, and it must happen now. (Do other people feel this way, or am I a crazy person?)

Agenda this week:
1. Daily meditation:
Meditation can be anything you want it to be. I don't need anything very structured- I just need to take time to center myself. I take a few minutes of quiet time to sip my coffee, write in my journal, and think about what is planned today and how I intend to behave.

2. Card-writing practice:

Christmas cards are a fulfilling way to touch the important ones in your life. People enjoy cards because they are pretty and personal. I especially enjoy getting cards with a brief hand-written note.

This year my card is abstract and colorful. Each day, after meditation, I plan to write a note on a card or two and send them on their way with love.

3. Make simple gifts:

Gifts are one way to express love for family and friends. Remember that gifts come in many forms. Emerson said, “The only gift is a portion of thyself.”



Every gift is loaded with meaning, and so giving requires mindfulness. Finding the "perfect gift" requires that I take the time to get into the other person's shoes and think about what would be most meaningful and appreciated by this particular person at this particular time. Of coarse, the "perfect gift" is a mostly unattainable goal, but on the other hand, "It's the thought that counts" is a saying that only works if I have given it some actual thought.

I had planned to give handmade gifts, as usual, but a broken arm makes that difficult... still I might find a way! 

4. Decorate the tree:
This will wait until our daughter visits this weekend, because she is willing and able, and has a station wagon.

Last year's tree.

The Christmas tree is a mythic symbol of life, hope, and knowledge. Our tree is in the living room now, with lights but no ornaments. I am waiting for help from my family. We will put Christmas music on the stereo and decorate with chaos and happy arguing (that’s just our style). 

We decorate our tree with symbols of a perfect world, to encourage that which we hope for in the coming year-

• lights for the Light of God
• animals for unity with nature
• a dove for peace
• fruits that nourish us
• gold and silver for prosperity
• candy for a sweet life
• mothers and babies for re-birth
• a sun on top and a serpent hidden below

5. Bake goodies:

Can't have too many goodies! We are making gingerbread houses on Saturday! I'll post pictures then.