LOVE or LOATH?

Fast approaching the month of magic.

What does December mean to you?

This is the question I put out to ten people recently, the response was the following……

Financial problems

Pressure

Stress

Over eating

Over drinking

Weight Gain

Depression

Feeling Lonely

WOW!!!!!!

I had no idea so many people disliked the month of December. Now a few of those ten people I asked, actually said lovely things.

Family/Friends/Alcohol/Food/Travel/Presents/Magic/Sparkle and Santa. (Ok last three me)

One friend in particular had a beautful memory he shared with me (Thank you by the way) that brings him joy every December.

BINGO!

Someone who relives a special memory that makes December magical. What if, we all became more present and looked for something that made us grateful in December?

Would you enjoy the month more, maybe a little?

I know some people will be bah-humbug and have every reason to hate december, maybe a lost family member or friend or even a long standing feud results in anger during this month or just pure sadness.

WHAT IF?

We started again and became more aware of december and looked around at children’s faces, we went back to basics and lived the month through a child eyes?

Check out this message, from the friend who I spoke of earlier that adores december.

Note….. You may need to wipe your eyes.

FRIEND…………

I used to call Jasmine on the house phone from my home-office and pretend to be Santa. When the call had finished she would come running in to me, “Daddy! Daddy! Santa just called me.

He knows everything I’ve done this year and says I’ve been a really good girl! Daddy! Daddy!

SANTA JUST CALLED MEEEEEEE!!!” Haha! It was just awesome!

When she was about 6 she started getting a bit cute and, just before Christmas, asked me why I was never around when Santa phoned. This could be tricky, so I called a friend of mine and asked him to be Santa.

I’d arranged for him to call and we were all sitting in the living room. The phone rang and Sam answered it. “Jazz, it’s for you. It’s Santa!” Ha! Jazz looked at me and looked at her Mum and then at me again.

She was so excited and petrified at the same time, it was truly fabulous. She took the phone and she was shaking but with the biggest smile on her face. She was looking at me the whole time and I could see her little brain trying to accept and believe that all this time, it really was Santa after all. Haha! Just too cute.

Her part of the conversation was so shy and just went something like “Yes, Uhuh, yes, errm yes, no, yes. . . . . . Ok, thank you, Love you Santa”. It breaks my heart with happiness. Smiling and welling up now. Such a happy, happy memory. It gives me a real lift, that I still have and will always have that memory in my heart.

And secretly, in a place that’s deep, deep down. I believe in Father Christmas. Or rather I don’t want to ever stop believing. And I think that’s the same for a lot of people.

He’s an important figure for me because he reminds me of the innocence of being a child. Of the feeling that you are going to live forever, of never getting old, of never losing the pure joy, as a child, of just being.

Everything new, everything magical, everything possible, nothing impossible, miracles happen of course they do. Smiles, laughter, no worries, and lots and lots of love. And chocolate.

Magic and wonder, happy people, happy children and happy memories of happy, happy times.

Just some of what Christmas means to me. xx

So, love or loath, december can be a tough month. People think of things they haven’t achieved and make unreal expectations on themselves for the following year. It is a vicous circle.

ALTRUISM can play a huge part in your wellbeing. It is true!

What are the health benefits?

Releases endorphins

Who doesn’t want this?

The positive energy that you feel from doing a good deed can act on your body in much the same way that exercise does, releasing endorphins that make you feel good naturally. That’s why the “rush” that good deed-doers sometimes experience after performing an altruistic act is referred to as the “helper’s high.”

Feeling of satisfaction

You’re making a difference in someone else’s life and that is going to make you feel good. There is no reason to try to suppress that feeling or feel bad about it.

Think of it as a perk and an honour.

Helps you feel more gratitude for what you have

Sometimes seeing that the grass you though was greener, that familiar feeling so many of us experience, actually isn’t and that makes us grateful.

Distracts you from your own problems

If you are helping others and focus less on your own problems then you are happier and more satisfied. We make better food choices when we are happy. We want to look after ourselves more when we are doing good things.

Less depression and less chronic health problems are experienced when your energy is focused on helping others.

Improves physical health

Research shows that your physical well-being is improved, really! volunteers tend to live longer and often have better physical health than non-volunteers.

So you have many health benefits and an extra one is, when you feel good, you release beams of light that everyone can see.

What if this year we all tried a little harder to make a memory for next december, when the month draws near, we all feel magical and grateful for still being here to live another day.

Happy Monday

Maria

Love or Loath?