HOLIDAY SPIRIT

The ability to have a Holiday Spirit, even in the most ordinary days and ways, is a gift and a good way to know that one is alive and well, healthy in mind and body.

It can happen that one is distracted by little things that don't work out well, or maybe a lack of understanding can put one down, mentally.

As the Book says, do not sweat the small things... i.e. someone forgets to say hello / a favourite item is lost or broken / feeling tired or upset etc.  Let them all go, and hold on to what is most important...  being happy!

A Holiday Spirit is found when we follow our hearts and enjoy life, regardless!

MINDFUL...

To be mindful means awareness of what might be happening, in this present moment. It seems such a simple and easy thing to do, mindfulness, and yet it can be a challenge because our mind might is somewhere else, rather than where we ought to be.  

If we allow ourselves to be distracted by things other than what we are meant to be doing, then we have a problem.  It can happen so easily with children. They are supposed to study, yet all they may thing about is playtime. 

Perhaps the solution lies in following our heart, and allow ourselves to do what we would love to do, rather than what we think we should be doing.  So much time and energy can be spent on being of a dutiful mind. This can be virtuous at times, yet nothing is better than doing what we love to do.

Dance if you want to dance / sing if you want to sing / play if you want to play, and if it comes to mind, pray when we want to pray!

POWER

When we look at the World today, we can be amazed at the Power of Inventions. Already, steps are being taken to live on Planets outside the Earth.

Almost everybody has a smart-phone, and even children have the technology to use ways of communicating with one another. 

WhatsApp is a tool that allowed me to speak to my sister, living in Pakistan, and view her as if she was in my room with me. How powerful! 

I am impressed by the giant steps taken in Knowledge and Learning abilities. It's almost as if Schools are no longer needed, and one can simply sit down at a Computer or I Pad and be taught everything and anything.

This Power to learn and become whoever we want to be, is fantastic. However, is it always used for the best intentions?  Am we learning to become a better, wiser persons,  OR wasting time with foolish or negative knowledge?

Oh yes, the Power to create a better World is in the hands of each one of us, depending on how we live our lives, and more especially how connected we are to loving one another. 

COURAGE...

Courage is often regarded as being fearless, and acting without fear of any kind, a real Hero!  A good image, yet perhaps, flawed.

It takes Courage to face our fears, and not to run away.  This might well show us what it takes to become a Hero.  The person who is willing to face their fears is someone with a courageous heart, willing to face the trials that come, and not put off by feeling fearful.

The other day, a little blackbird flew into our home.  He crashed against the windows, trying desperately to get out, and even though the door was open.

 Again,  he crashed against the window with a bang.  I thought he had surely killed himself.   I was afraid to touch him, yet when I realised he would probably be killed, I had to step in, out of pity for the poor thing.  I grabbed hold of a cloth, managed to throw it over him, bundled it around him and ran out the door, holding him tightly.   As soon as I was outside, I pulled away the cloth and he flew away, hopefully not too hurt.

A little lesson for me.  Courage is found when we face our fears and do it anyway!

FRIENDSHIP...

True friendship is of a spiritual vein. A true friend will be one who knows how to care and share, yet also able to step back and allow freedom above all.

St. Francis De Sales is quoted as saying... 'Let your charity extend to everyone, but limit your friendship to those with whom you can share virtuous things.  The more perfect they are, the more perfect will your friendshp be.'

This could well be a tall order in today's World, and yet when practised, it works. We need to value the gift of friendship, and believe that when we are drawn to another person, it is a wonderful grace to respond to our hearts.  

A positive mind will always triumph, and it is good to know, a friend in need is a friend in deed!

ELEVATE...

 

There is a famous Song... You raise me up... which gives a good description of what it means to Elevate, to raise someone higher.  This could even relate to a prayer where we praise God for loving us..

We can Elevate ourselves to become a more able-minded person, simply by choosing to give of our best, at all times.  It is a mind-conscience awareness of how great Life and Living can be.

Often, we may have an experience of a child with a parent who wisely knows how to Elevate the child with praise.  If I work hard to write a poem, and am successful, then I can become elevated by honest praise.

Also, I can elevate another person by praising their efforts to create something good. This is a wonderful gift to use, especially when people are wounded and vulnerable. Just as God elevates us by calling us His children, we too can be a force of good that will elevate others.

Positive praise is always welcome.

FORTIFY...

 To Fortify... to make stronger / better, will demand effort and concentration. It means an examination of ourselves and learning about our strengths and our weaknesses.

Fortifications are used a lot in buildings where weak points are found, and so must be strengthened and fortified against future damage. 

The same can be true of ourselves. Having a positive mind helps us to know our strengths and work on them, yet also it is necessary to examine ourselves and be honest about our weak points.  This is where we must fortify ourselves from falling into bad habits and weaknesses that will cause us to become discouraged.

The Jesuits, an order of religious, have a whole rule book called, ' Examination of Conscience'.  It involves a list of known weaknesses, and remedies that will help a person to become more able, and more aware of being a Truthful person.

Putting it simply, it is such a brave and clever thing to Fortify ourselves in relation to everything we do.  This way, we protect ourselves from negativity, and learn to become a truly positive and happy person.