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Greetings!
Welcome to December! The leftover Thanksgiving
turkey has been consumed, frozen, or shoved way back
in the fridge. Carols are blaring from speakers in
stores all over town. That stack of cards is
sitting there waiting to be addressed. And then
there is shopping. Invitations. Gift lists. Feeling
stressed? If you need verification, here is a quick quiz. (In the spirit of full disclosure,
I was a borderline blue-green. Depending on your
results, you may wish to surf from the quiz to the
meditation and relaxation exercises.)
To help you relax, stop in for a moment to enjoy a virtual
hug. If you’re
thinking about decorating, you might glean
some inspiration here. Obviously, this
homeowner had computer programming skills to burn
and way too much time on his hands.
Regardless of your stress level or whatever your
plans for the season may hold, you are in my
thoughts. I pray for your health, wellbeing, and
safety. I hope that you enjoy a holiday filled with
joy and light. May you be blessed with love, warmth,
and the true gifts of the season. We live in a world
pulled apart by war and conflict. It is my prayer
that in this season of giving, we all enjoy the gift
of peace in our homes and renewed hope for peace on
earth.
If you have a moment, I’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, please enjoy the contents of this
newsletter as my gift to you.
Peace be with you,
Tara
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The Spirit of Giving
Wouldn’t it be great if promoting more
peace on earth could be as simple as giving someone
a hug or a moment of your attention? I know a lot of
folks dig deep into their pockets
and credit cards this time of year. You may be
selecting gifts for loved ones, friends, and
business associates. You may also be
thinking about giving to charity. To help you decide
where to put your support, check out Charity
Navigator. These helpful folks evaluate
charitable organizations and let you know just where
you money goes.
If you’re approached by someone who is begging
you may feel hesitant to give. The next
time you’re faced with a person in need, I invite
you to think about Ellen
Burstyn’s story. One of Hollywood's
most beautiful and talented women, Ms. Burstyn
participated in one of Roshi
Bernie Glassman’s Street Retreats.
If you don’t look at any other link I include here,
please read the Street
Retreat Policies at the bottom of this
page. Now close your eyes and imagine
that you have no home. No family. No nothing, not
even a way to bathe.
The most excruciating part of Ms.
Burstyn’s street retreat experience in New York City
was not the loss of her creature comforts. The most
painful part was that people refused to look a her and
acknowledge that she was even there. During this
season of buying and giving, consider
giving your attention. This can be as simple as
truly and fully listening to a conversation with
someone, making eye contact with a store clerk or a
homeless person, or stopping to write a card to a
friend that you haven’t seen in a long time. While
you’re at it, don’t forget to give yourself some
attention, too. As the flight attendant reminds you
every time you get on a plane: put on your own
oxygen mask before attempting to help someone else!
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