Baby, it’s COLD outside! Gratitude, Kindness & Compassionate Holidays
First…I hope everyone enjoyed an Uh-Mazing Thanksgiving, surrounded by love, friends, family & whatever else that means to you… In today’s world, we still have so much to be thankful for…
I meant to have something out on Thanksgiving but clearly we can see how well I did at that!
(insert smile here)…
The holidays are a cherished time for us to slow down, get present to the moment, and reflect on the people, places, memories, and magic moments that make life itself so special. It’s a time when we can come together with our family & friends to share and be in the spirit of gratitude. Although, I keep hearing; “I’m so stressed! I am so busy! I have so much to do! Blah, blah, blah…How very very blessed we are to have such troubles-truly…this life is a blessed gift, wrapped in a big red bow, covered in opalescent snow sprinkles…”WE” are a gift, blessing and treasure to each other. “We” are so blessed.
I offer up these questions: What are you grateful for? What makes you feel blessed? Whom can you make smile this season? To whom can you offer a smile, a hand, a coffee or perhaps a simple hug, full of compassion that you really mean, where you’re the one that hugs the longest? Sometimes, it really can be as easy as that…
They are such a powerful questions. I would like to invite you to take a moment with me to consider all the people & things in your life — big and seemingly small — friends & acquaintances – that you could be grateful for. After all, it is what the season is supposed to be all about. However, when I see Christmas decor out on Labor Day Weekend, I can’t help but get a wee bit irratated… As the Black Eyed Peas sing; “Where is the Love?”
By focusing on gratitude, & how we can be of service to someone else, no matter the size of the gesture, we uncover even more of the miracle.
Gratitude is the antidote to anger — you can’t be grateful and angry at the same time. So as you rush about preparing for your holiday (s) this week, can you take a moment to notice all there is in your life, community and surroundings to be in a space of Gratitude? What could you choose to be happy about? To whom could you say ‘thank you’ to this year? Did they listen to you when you needed an ear? Did they help you when you were in need?
What if we took the perspective of choice? What if we were to be grateful for the challenges, as well as the gifts? — all that life offers us. What if we chose to look at our lives in a positive way? What if ?? What if we decided to see things as they are happening “for us” instead of “to us”? No mud, no Lotus…
I say this often… “No mud, no Lotus” but what does it really mean? Some of you know that my studio actually has a name; Lotus Lash Studio…some of you just call it Madison’s… the Lotus is my personal logo & the phrase; No mud, no Lotus… my personal mantra… Why? Is she just crazy? Well, yes a bit, but who cares? I don’t…
Lotus flowers are born in deep dark cold mud…they struggle, fight, persevere and with tenacity they reach the top, and with the warmth of the sun, they blossom. As my life, has followed the path of the Lotus flower, I have always found it my symbol…
So, keeping all that in mind, if you can, or choose to… let’s choose gratitude, kindness & compassion this holiday season. No one knows what struggles some one else is carrying this season. No one knows if the smile we see masks a lot of deep pain, hidden from the world… Perhaps, taking a breath when someone cuts us off, allowing someone w/ fewer items in line ahead of us, offering a hug, giving away a smile…saying a prayer w/out being asked for someone you know who needs it?
Share with those you love and the people around you what they mean to you. Thank them with simple kindness, a hug, a smile, a kind word and voice your gratitude.
Always yours in Gratitude-
Peace, Love & Lashes,
Madison
Your Humble Lash Servant
