Choose Joy This Christmas!

Published on December 14, 2016April 27, 2019 by Gerri3 Comments

Busy, busy, busy! That is my life this time of year and I’m sure your life is super busy too! It is so easy to get stressed out this time of year when there are so many things to do. Shopping, decorating, wrapping presents ….. the list seems endless at times. This is supposed to be the most joyous time of year. Unfortunately, many of us get bogged down by our “to do” list and forget about the joy.

If you are feeling this way, take a moment or two to breathe. Go and grab a hot mug of tea or your favorite drink, and take a load off for a bit. I promise, the most important things will all get done. As for all the other things….let them go.

Here are a few things I do to keep the stress down and fill my life with joy!

Don’t Forget Gratitude Instead of fretting over that endless to do list, be thankful for the things you do have. Remember those less fortunate who would love to be shopping, wrapping gifts, and decorating a home. Above all, be thankful that you have a home.

Make a list, check it twice! List ten things you need to accomplish. The first item should be the most important thing on your long to do list. That specific need that must be accomplished today. The least important item will be last. As your making you list, think about what really needs to be done, and what could be put off for a day or two. Then get busy and tackle those first items on the list. If you can’t finish everything, it’s okay. Get a good nights sleep and start again tomorrow. This way your most important priorities will get taken care of. If something doesn’t get finished, well … maybe it wasn’t that important after all.

Take care of yourself. Speaking of a good nights sleep, don’t forget to get plenty of rest and to make healthy dining choices! You need to get enough rest and plenty of healthy nutritious food to feel your best. Try packing carrots and hummus for a quick nutritious snack. If you are dining on the run, try a salad with your meal rather that french fries. Your body will be ever so grateful!

Drink plenty of water. If you enjoy an occasional adult beverage, this is not the time to overdo! You cannot afford a headache in the morning! Pace yourself and remember to drink water in between each drink. Coffee can also be an evil culprit. I love my morning coffee, but I can no longer can drink caffeine after noon or I will have trouble sleeping at night. Try water with a little lemon. It will be so refreshing!

Choose Joy! Your friends and family would prefer to have the gift of your presence rather than one more present! Be there for them with your mind and your spirit. Reach out to others and share your heart. You will find that when you truly put others first, your joy will return.

Joy is not in things,

it is … in us.♥

I hope you all will slow down a bit and find some joy

this holiday season! xxoo Gerri

Remember Gratitude this Christmas

Published on November 29, 2016April 27, 2019 by GerriLeave a comment

Well, we are closing in on the month of November and fast approaching the Christmas season. I hope that you have found something inspiring in my series on Gratitude that has assisted you in relieving stress and combating anxiety in your own life.

Speaking of stress, remember to include gratitude as you enter the busiest season of the year. It’s easy to allow yourself to get caught up in the shopping and gift giving, trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. I can feel the stress creeping up on me even as I write this!

So, with that in mind, I am offering you a few tips to help reduce your stress and enjoy the Christmas season more than ever!

Let Go of Perfection. Make this holiday season about what is right for you and your family. Stress can be created by the desire to create the “Perfect Christmas.” However, Christmas is not about perfection. In fact, far from it. There is no need to spend hours baking cookies for a cookie exchange if you detest baking! Make Christmas about what is important to you and your loved ones. That may mean having an simple evening of popping popcorn, getting out the pillows and blankets, lighting a fire and watching old holiday movies with someone special to you. ( Do you feel your stress level starting to come down already!) However, if you love to bake, by all means go for it! The point is to choose the right activity for you.
Set Priorities. Choose the special Christmas activities that are most important to you. Traditions are great, but not every activity has to become a tradition. Just because you made a gingerbread house with the kids last year, doesn’t mean it has to be done every year. It might be more fun and exciting to experience a new activity rather than repeating the same one over and over. Maybe this year take the kids ice skating or have a caroling party. ( Do people still do that! ) The important thing is to what you will enjoy the most.
Remember to Include Nature. Step outside and breathe the fresh air. Take a walk. Take the dog for a walk. Exercise. Even a short amount of time spent in nature can help reduce stress and fight anxiety. If it’s cold where you live, even a brief walk can be invigorating and boost your mood.
Take a Break! What do you like to do that relaxes you the most? Listening to music. Soaking in a hot tub. Getting a massage or a mani/pedi. Having dinner with close friends or staying home and ordering take out. Don’t forget to schedule time for whatever it is that relaxes you and that you enjoy most.
Remember Gratitude! Yes, this is a busy and hectic time of year. There is so much to be done! But if you will pause for just a moment to be grateful for your blessings. Maybe the greatest gift you could give this season is to remember to save thank you, to squeeze someones hand or to give them a hug.

“It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” This holiday season share your gratitude with those you love, and maybe even the stranger who is serving you coffee. Gratitude – pass it on! xx00 Gerri

Gratitude for My Home

Published on November 22, 2016April 27, 2019 by Gerri1 Comment

If nature is my happy place, then home is my sanctuary!

On Sunday, temperatures dropped to a chilly 37 degrees. Since we hadn’t turned the heat on in the house, it was a bit cool inside when we first awoke. Although it turned out to a be a simply gorgeous day with the sun shining bright, we did light the fire to help take the chill out of the house. Our first fire of the season.

There is something about having a fire going that makes you just want to relax and stay close. We kept the fire going all day, not because it was terribly cold outside, but because it was so nice to have the cozy ambiance of the fire going again. We didn’t leave the house at all, except to walk the dogs of course. That’s an event that can’t be missed or our schnauzer will definitely let us know about it!

To me, these are the best kind of days. The weather was cool, but gorgeous. We puttered around the house, I cooked! and my son stopped by for dinner. It was a great day to shut out the rest of the world and simply enjoy being at home together.

These kind of days remind me of why my home is so special to me. I need that break from the real world to relax and spend time with the people who are most important to me. My home is not a place of grandeur with everything in it’s place, although I do try to keep it tidy. It ‘s a cozy place to gather with family and friends, to share a meal and conversation, and on a chilly day we can gather around the fire.

This week we will be hosting Thanksgiving in our home. We will be breaking bread with a collection of family and friends, some that we have known forever, some that we have yet to meet. It will not be a quiet day, but a day filled with joy and laughter, sharing and relishing the time we have to spend together.

In a world filled with stress and negativity, I’m grateful to have the sanctuary of my home to retreat to. It gives me a place to slow down and savor a quiet day with just my husband. On other days we open our home to share with others and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this.

It’s easy to allow the stress and negativity to take over your life. However if you stop and pause and allow yourself to embrace gratitude for your blessings, it does help to relieve the stress and anxiety that we all face in our everyday lives.

I’m wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving and hope that you will face the day with gratitude in you hearts! xxoo Gerri

Gratitude for the Beauty of Nature

Published on November 14, 2016April 27, 2019 by GerriLeave a comment

After an amazing week in Colorado enjoying the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, I would be remiss in not expressing my gratitude for the beauty of the world that we are surrounded by.

Nature is truly one of our greatest gifts and patiently waits upon us to step outside and experience all that she has to offer us. Spending time in nature often reduces anxiety and stress. Sharing gratitude for nature cam replace those feelings of anxiety with calm, peace, and serenity. Perhaps some of us should try this technique for relieving stress!

The amazing thing is that you don’t have to venture to the glorious peaks of the Rocky Mountains to enjoy the beauty of nature. Natures beauty can be enjoyed by simply opening the door and stepping outside. Take a deep breath. Stop for a moment and listen to the sounds of nature. What do you hear? Hopefully the wind rustling the leaves on the trees. Maybe birds chirping. Enjoying nature can provide some very positive effects for us. Taking a moment to express gratitude for nature benefits our bodies and our minds.

Whenever the world gets me down. I retreat to a green space to nurture myself back to the peaceful place where I long for my mind to stay. Being outside not only offers me peace and serenity from a hectic world, it restores my zest for life. After a time outside, I’m renewed and ready to move on and face whatever challenges lie ahead.

I can’t always get out of the city, but I am fortunate to live in an area where I take a walk, go to a park, or simply retreat to my own backyard where I can spend time relaxing and enjoy watching the tall pines swaying in the breeze.

If the world is getting you down today, try to take some time and step outside for a moment to express your gratitude for the wonders of nature!

I promise you will feel so much better! xxoo Gerri

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

The Importance of Gratitude

Published on November 3, 2016April 27, 2019 by Gerri2 Comments

Do you ever like to wander back in time and think about how your life has changed over the past year? Hopefully, when you do this, you discover that you’ve grown as a person and gained some wisdom from lessons learned. This morning as I was reflecting on the changes in the past year, I was reminded of this post from a year ago. I believe the words continue to ring true.

A year ago I struggled as I knew I would soon be saying good bye to the person who had the greatest influence on my life, my sweet mother. As I came to terms with letting her go, I turned to my faith and remembered to be grateful for all of our wonderful times together. I was reminded to never let go of the lessons she taught me and to hold close to the values that she carved into my heart as she gently molded my character and spirit.

So, in honor of my sweet mother, and as a reminder to myself of what she would expect of me, I am sharing this post on gratitude. And once again I remind myself that as we enter the busiest season of the year, it’s not about the presents or the food or the beautifully set table that is important, but the brief time that we share with those who we hold dear.

Love you more, xxoo

Time is simply flying by! The lazy days of summer are long gone and as we turn the corner into November, I already feel the anticipation of the busy holiday season upon us. With just three short weeks until Thanksgiving, I am already thinking about the menu and all things that need to be done before the big day! My husband and I always host Thanksgiving dinner for our family. We love opening our home to share with others and taking that day just to enjoy being with family and friends.

However, before jumping into all the preparations that go with the big meal, I feel it’s important to slow down and remember the reason for the occasion. As much as I love sharing this time with family and friends, I have to first remember GRATITUDE for all the important things in my life.

That may seem funny because of course I am most grateful for my family and I love having this time to spend time with them. However, it is so easy to get caught up in the rush rush of the season. If I forget to take the time to put GRATITUDE first in my heart, I will become overwhelmed by all that needs doing for the occasion, and the busyness will simply suck the joy right out of me.

I have recently discovered Positively Present, the blog of author Dani Dipirro. Here she shares her uplifting and inspirational thoughts. Her blog has motivated me to participate in a month long photo challenge to focus on gratitude all month long. For more info on the photo challenge visit her page. I know you will find it as enticing as I have!

Along with photos, I will be sharing my own thoughts on gratitude. The first prompt was color, so today I am sharing some of the beautiful color that nature provides us.