Dan Harris

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Supposed To. Two little words that can undo me as fast as stepping on a shoelace and having it unravel.

Memories of my husband standing in the bedroom hallway one morning with a compassionate smile and nailing this sentiment that had me up at 2am, calmed my aching heart. Thinking of his laser keen mind, huge heart and enviable objectiveness, a soft knowing wafted up from my pillow.

You’d think by now, I’d get it. And the good news is that I do. Faster than ever before. But at 2am, time seems to move as slowly as the driver in the left lane.

And when intersected with Holidays, it seems to stop.

So, how did I get it moving again? I got up and reached for the app I happened to install in September, based on Dan Harris’s book, 10% Happier. For two weeks, 5 minutes a day, Dan Harris and Joseph Goldstein teach you how to mediate without stigma, preconceived notions or incense. It was as good a time as any to revisit.

Every year, the Holidays bring something up for me. And every year I uncover one more nugget of insight. My favorite nugget is that “We usually get what we want, it’s just not always in the package we think it is “supposed to” be in.” When I remember this, inevitably something presents itself and shows me that all we are really “supposed to” do is Be Kind, Have Faith and Hold Gratitude.

Not because we are Supposed To. But because we Can.

What will you MindFULLY do this Holiday Season because You Can?

Let us know!

“Be of Ease” is the quote my mom uses when signing off her emails.

With the Holidays upon us, we hear a lot about giving gifts. While I want for little in the “Stuff” department, there is something I pray to receive. Perspective.

For me, Perspective is the greatest gift. It’s free. I can give it to myself and I can share it with others. It brings with it the Ease my mom wishes for us, Humor and Forgiveness. And I love those guys!

Recently, Jill and I were talking about the book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story by Dan Harris. Harris, you may know, is an ABC News Anchor. After suffering a panic attack on live TV during a Good Morning America segment, Harris set about learning what he could do to reduce anxiety and came upon mediation. Meditating changed his life. Check out his interview with Gretchen Rubin to learn more. http://www.amazon.com/10%25-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works–/dp/0062265423/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417448008&sr=8-1&keywords=10%25+happier

Boy, what we could do with 10%. The anxiety level in our house is kinda high right now. Suffice to say, I am blessed with a high school Junior who is determined to do well at whatever she sets her mind to – and her mind is on overload as she juggles the next two weeks (after juggling the last month) and heads toward Finals, the State competition for one of her favorite and most time demanding classes (which happens to fall on the first day of Finals, moving some of them later into the week – which only adds more stress) and a recent realization that she will need to study over the holidays for college tests this Winter/Spring. No rest for weary Juniors the country over.

These are “first world problems” as “They” wisely say. Nontheless, managing the stress of so many balls in the air, can get to even the most seasoned handler of us all.

“Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader” and so, all I can do is cheer her on. Even tho’ I can’t pull my old skirt up past my knees, I can find ways to show I am on her team. I made her a Junior Year Stress Relief Kit for her backpack filled with Rescue Remedy, lavender oil, Emergen-cee’, protein bars and a cotton ball. A lovely mom we know gave her this beautiful stress relieving aromatherapy necklace; she had it leftover from her own daughter’s Junior year. My intention is simply to offer a variety of touchstones to bring her back to a deep breath. With breath comes perspective. And sharing that learning is all I can do for her.

Everyone seems to have his or her own version of stress right now. Some friends are dealing with their own illnesses, others are dealing with aging parents, kids in school, kids out of school, work demands, family dynamics and holiday thorns. No one seems immune. However, in an effort to inoculate myself from taking it all in, today I am sporting my happy shoes – my metaphor for taking a step toward finding my own way (I think it will be downloading Dan’s book to my iPad).

Here’s to hoping you find your own version of ease delivered to your door and heart this Holiday Season. Peace Out.avi player download free

How do you find MindFULLY find what you need during stressful times?

Let us know!