thoughts and ideas for the holidays...

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thoughts and ideas for the holidays...

     Who doesn't love to read an entire blog post about someone else's thoughts and ideas??  I'm pretty sure that's the definition of a blog.  Well, I didn't have a clever title for this one, so there it is.  We're heading into the holiday season, once again, and I just wanted to share some suggestions to maybe help you cope with all of the craziness that the season brings.  At the bottom of the post-there are some announcements about scheduling and about some new offerings through my store. 

     First, remember why you celebrate the holidays.  Keyword there being you.  Remember why you celebrate the holidays, not what popular opinion dictates.  What makes it special to you?  Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, Christmas or Kwanza-what about your holiday makes it important and what can you do to make it individually memorable for you and/or your family?  If the overload of dealing with holiday parties, family gatherings, gift buying and the chaos of traffic gets to you-keep reminding yourself of your 'why.'  There is no right or wrong way to enjoy and survive the holidays.  The key is to try and enjoy these coming weeks and try to make them as memorable as possible-in a positive light.  If you have too many parties and gatherings on the schedule-try and lighten the load a little.  Say 'no' to some so that you don't overtax yourself or your family.  Your presence is not required at every event-I promise.  

     If you're alone for the holidays, find ways that you can connect.  That is, if you want to connect!  Some of us prefer to have our privacy and hibernate during this time.  Some ways that you can make the holidays special when you are by yourself include:

• Taking a small trip if your finances allow.  Find a local inn to stay at.  Go skiing, hiking, walking or just relax.
• Make an apt at a spa to treat yourself.
• Reach out to loved ones.  Remember that there are two ends to communication-don't expect others to reach out to you, be the one to pick up the phone.  
• Volunteer.  Simple.  Find a place to volunteer where you can help others.  It's the best gift that you can give.
• Stay home.  If finances are tight, plan on staying home and creating a festive environment around you.  Light some candles, cook a good meal, take a long bath, put some warm pjs on and hang out on the couch binge-watching Netflix all day.  
• Plan a get-together with friends.  Friends are just as important as family members and sometimes spending the holidays with them is even more memorable and beneficial.
• Go for a walk.  Get outside and enjoy Mother Nature.  There's nothing more therapeutic than that.
• Journal or write about your experiences leading up to and during the holidays.  As odd as it sounds, allowing your feelings to express onto paper is very beneficial and can relieve some of the difficult emotions you may be experiencing.     

     I realize that there are restrictions on every single one of the things listed above for some people and that's okay.  Find something that you resonate with that makes the coming weeks enjoyable.  If you can anticipate and plan, the better the outcome will be!  If you have very deep-rooted emotions attached to the holidays that make this time completely miserable for you, please contact me for an Emotion Release Session.  It's truly amazing how helpful it is to let go of the energy of emotions that have been stuck inside of you.  That alone can completely change your outlook on the holidays.  Here's an interesting article about where some people experience emotions in their bodies-'Scientists Have Mapped Where People Feel Emotions in Their Bodies.'  Click here to read the article. Everyone is different and everyone traps emotional energy in different areas, but the article is worth reading because it shows that science is really taking note of how emotions can affect us physically.

     If you are planning on spending the holidays with family, and you have a lot of events coming up-make sure you make time in your schedule to have time to yourself.  Whether that is time to go to a Yoga class, meditate, walk, sit in silence, read a book, journal, watch TV, run, lift weights-whatever!  Just make sure that you have time for you, and if you have a family, time for your family built in to your schedule.  We can get so lost in planning for parties and events that we lose sight of the value of our own time.  Create lasting memories at home before you focus on everyone else.  

     If you are giving gifts for the holidays, try and make those gifts mean something.  If money is tight, suggest a gift exchange for your family instead of buying everyone a gift.  If money is really tight, make your holiday event simply a time to get together and share in the experience of family.  Play games, do trivia, have a big meal, make homemade cocoa, etc.  There are so many other things you can do to make the holidays special that won't make you go broke.  Consider donating to organizations in the name of people on your gift list-especially if you have people on your list that are interested in social activism and volunteering.  Figure out your budget ahead of time so that you aren't stressing over finances.  Do a google search for 'gifts under $XX' and I guarantee you'll come up with some decent gift ideas.  If you have kids, there's never a bad time to help them understand the true meaning of whatever holiday you are celebrating.  Create a tradition around the holiday that has nothing to do with spending money.  Make it about spending time with one another and  possibly helping out others.  We need more of that in our world right now.  

​      Hopefully this has given you a little bit of insight into some things you can do this holiday season to make it more memorable and enjoyable.  Make time to meditate, hit your mat for some yin yoga, do breathing exercises, sit in your car an extra five minutes at the end of the day to recalibrate before walking in the door, enjoy the sights and sounds around you and relax when you can.  I am burning some sage as I am writing this blog post and just the scent of it has me breathing deep and my whole body is relaxing as I sit here.  What a gift time is.  What a gift presence is.  Be present for yourself, for your family and for your loved ones.  Enjoy this holiday season as it comes upon us.  Remember why you celebrate your holiday(s).  You may just help others remember their reason as you do so.

Love and Light~
​Mandi  

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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New offering through the Etsy store!  Intention Bags <3  These bags are custom created for each individual ordering and created especially with their specific intention in mind.  They fit in a pocket, purse or bag.  I carry mine around wherever I go.  Each item has been hand-gathered by me, save for the crystals which are hand-picked by me.  Intention Bags will be shipping out the first week of December and make beautiful gifts.  You can find out more about them  here.  

Custom Mala orders!  Custom orders are coming in for holiday gifts and that is amazing-these are my favorite things to make for people to give as gifts.  It's truly energetic healing work that just keeps giving.  Please make sure you leave plenty of time to get your order in if you are interested in this for a gift.  I leave 1-2 weeks open for each custom order, plus shipping time.  We have very few weeks left before Christmas is upon us.  

COUPON CODE for the Etsy store!  Please use code 15OFF for $15 off every order over $100.  

Session scheduling!  If you are wanting to get in for a session before the end of the year, please contact me ASAP to get on the schedule.  There are spots left in December, but they are filling up as I had to take some time off this Fall for our hectic farm/football/volleyball schedules at home.  I'm also offering a discount for session bundles purchased for my newsletter subscribers and the details will be going out tonight!  Sign up here if you'd like to get info on that.  

THANK YOU!  I am so grateful for each and every one who takes the time to read this blog and I have faith that every one leaves my site with some insight and love.                           
     
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