Third Sunday of Advent

We made it through the second week of advent. It was a pretty calm and enjoyable time with the grandkids: We made fudge, set up the snow scene, and made a piñata together. This next week will be more of the same - cookie making, a gingerbread house, and building excitement for a piñata party! (A-1 is really liking the wooden calendar with doors - he finally understands the count down of days.) 

Agenda:

1. Read "The Art of Simple Living"

2. Ducks in a Row calendar

3. Plan activities for family fun

4. Advent wreath ceremony

1. Read "The Art of Simple Living":

I'm beginning this little book by Shunmyo Masuno (2019), subtitled "100 Daily Practices from a Zen Buddhist Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy". It's a compilation of many small habits we can adopt to bring us to inner peace, and feel less stressed. I'm going to try to adopt one or two each week. I plan to skip around and choose the habit that speaks to me.

Today I will begin with #31: Discover another you. This habit is linked to my narrative and my perspective: I can awaken my inner self, my essential self, who has boundless potential, and who is free and calm and at ease. He doesn't give me a lot of advice for how to awaken this self, except to talk to her.

New narrative journal: Hey, Zen Grandma, are you awake? What do you need from me today, in order to be the Me that others see? --A better diet would help, and "a big breath, count to 4" (as explained by Arthur, age 2-3/4).

2. Write a Rosy Future letter:

In the next 3 weeks I will work myself through the fist part of my 'Ducks in a Row" process, to prepare for a new year, and today is the first practice: I use my imagination to listen to my Inner Guide; I let myself get carried away into my perfect future, a utopia - where the world is safe, the earth is thriving, and I'm happy and healthy. In my imagination, I can create a future that is positive and perfect, but I need to suspend my pessimism about the human race. For this exercise, I need to imagine a world where the best of humanity has won out. Also, I will need to accept that I'm capable of anything I put my mind to. Set aside all limitations and imagine myself accomplishing my biggest dreams. 

 

It's 2035 and I am a happy 79 year-old. I'm happy because I'm surrounded by my family, and I'm still able to write and be active. My home is ship-shape; I have my hot tub to soak in and my wild-life garden to observe. My Meeting community still supports my spiritual growth and a new set of leaders have stepped up to facilitate the next phase of action. Our town has many troubles still, as towns are want to do, and I offer my wisdom freely.My book is selling well enough, and have a thriving community of engaged online readers, who comment, and support my ongoing work. I am still up early to write, answer emails, and make my plans. I putter in the garden each day, and take a walk, and see my wonderful grandsons a few times each week (going to all their events and activities is a full-time job!).

 

4. Plan activities for family fun:

Christmas past

My theme for this week of advent is Our family and the joy and love we bring each other. This year I want to especially remind myself that gentle, loving time together is the best gift.

I remember many joyful moments with my family in advents past: Shopping together, writing cards, making cookies, putting up the tree, making gifts, Christmas parties, and watching Christmas shows. 

Now my kids are grown and have partners, so I need to coordinate activities with two other households.

And I have two grandsons to consider!

Things to do this week to open to joy and gentle, loving time together:

• 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 - both friends and family - want most this season. In other words, become less self-focused and more generous in all ways. 
• Be respectful, patient, and kind.
• Use my most creative thinking to find ways to celebrate together without stressing us all out.
• And communicate!

5. Advent wreath ceremony:

Tonight (and every night this week) we will light three advent candles, and recite three prayers:

"We light the first candle for the earth, which sustains us. May we cherish and care for it."

"We light the second candle for all the people of the world. May we find unity and peace."

"We light the third candle for our family and the joy and love we bring each other."