What does it mean to you to celebrate a holiday?...is your day filled with joy and love for the many people you call family or do you or others let judgment and past hurts affect your interactions?
My friend Holly Riley, an inspiration in my life, recently sent her subscribers an email announcement..reminding all of us how a very simple intention can transform our holidays and make a huge difference in the lives of those we love...
This year as you join family and friends decide to let go of those old critical thoughts. For the short time you're together practice observing, listening and communicating without judgment about how they "should be" or "could be" better people. Commit to BE WITH whoever is in front of you—without bringing the past into it, and with respect for the path they have chosen.
Do this and something wonderful happens! We become kinder and more tolerant of differences. We quietly begin to notice how these dear people are just like us, reaching to feel better, do better, be approved of and cared for—and they are doing it the best way they know how.
As we sit around the table we realize that they all learned to succeed in different ways—some by how they look, some by what they have and some by sharing an old sad story. This year as we come together, we can soften and give something very precious to each person at our table...something that will last a long time and multiply itself like magic in generations to follow: we can slow down, listen and appreciate where they are in their personal evolution.
We can be more allowing.
We can forgive the past, no matter how big or small any incident may have been. We can stop the repeating internal dialogue about the mistakes we believe others have made—including the little things like appearance, drinking too much or not paying adequate attention to something WE hold to be very important.
Perhaps the most thoughtful gift we could ever give our family, neighborhood and planet is freedom from our criticism. We can add something profound to the world simply by taking responsibility for the quality of our thinking and the power of our attention.
This year let's give the most treasured gift of all to each soul we have the pleasure of BEING in the presence of—understanding and compassion. We make a contagious difference in the world with just one moment of kindness. Let's make a silent promise to see family, friends and humanity through eyes that realize everyone is just trying to find their place in life, one where they can feel happy and loved.
Thank you, Holly, for this timely and thoughtful reminder...
Welcoming with kindness and compassion all who enter this door...