http://www.care2.com/greenliving/take-time-for-self-holidays.html
Take Time For Yourself During the Holidays
Adapted from The Lilypad List: 7 Steps to the Simple Life, by Marian Van Eyk McCain (Findhorn Press, 2004).
Before the stress, rush, and bustle of the holidays really take hold, consider this wise teaching: Creating simplicity can be one of the happiest, most rewarding, delightful and satisfying things you can possibly do. In order to create the sort of simple life you want, it is important to be able to come to the project with what the Zen Buddhists call “beginner’s mind”—the mental equivalent of the new page.
This crucial step in our quest for a simpler life has nothing to do with budgeting, with moving to the country, building a straw bale house, home-schooling our kids or swapping our Aston-Martin for a bicycle. The important thing, with this step, is to make sure you stay out of the branches. Get right down to the roots and trunk of who you are and what are the basic conditions which would enable you to live a life which is simple, pleasant, enjoyable and deeply satisfying.
If you have trouble taking time for yourself during the holidays, this piece of deep wisdom from Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh will help:
Time Out is Essential: Give yourself time, space and silence.
Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hahn advises people to think of it this way: for optimum spiritual and emotional health—and in order to be effective in the world—time out for rest, relaxation, contemplation, meditation (or just sitting quietly, disengaged from all potential distractions), should comprise some weeks in ever year, some days in every month, and some number of minutes (at least 15) in each day.
Time out is the essential first step for creating the simplicity we crave.
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146 comments
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Kabin
Konteyner
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take a look at www.wordsofpeace.net - take a quite moment and listen..... this is all about what you have - not what you dont have ! it may be a very pleasing thing for your self , your heart - or just simply you... it is about what you already have ---- not what you dont have or what you/me think we should be like or should have ... thus is world of diffferance in the two --all the very best to you, whoever you are, take good care .......
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i do give myself a hard time and try to do more and find it hard to 'switch off'..totally affects my physical and mental health, with feeling stressed A LOT! will try turn my brand new page! :)
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Remember to be kind to each other through out this New Year. "A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way".
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I need to start taking care of my self. My health has been a rollercoast for a while now and I have not done anything about it because I cannot afford to go see a doctor and I cannot afford insurance either. I Instead have been dong home remedies for my pain and try to change my diet to include things that are rich in antioxidants and omega 3s.
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I need to focus on myself a little more. I have not been to good the last 18 months. Two major surgeries and I am still running around after other people. I love my family but sometimes I do feel they take the mick. I must make TIME for me this year or I will be back in hospital again.
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Wishing everyone a blessed and prosperous 2009
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This is a great article for everyone. It is true. This time of year we focus so much on our families and friends that we forget to take time out for ourselves. I found a blogger who goes by DoinWhatIDo on the google blogs who has given me great ideas on how to help your sense of well being, one of which involves doing a "winter" cleaning. You go through every room of the house and toss ( or put in boxes for a later yardsale) all the things in your house that have negative feelings attached to them. Then once complete, your home will have an overall calming atmosphere to it that you can enjoy all year long. I am in the process of doing this myself and I thouroughly enjoy the rooms I have completed.
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It has taken me a long time to accept who I am & to like myself.. but everyday I am thanksful for who I am & what I am.. & all I can do to help all the Critters of this Earth the BEST I can..that is what I believe I am here for.. & I hope to be able to continue in 2009
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Reviewing my activities related to the holidays, being thankful for family (one of whom led me to Care2 today) and looking forward to continuing to work with some local organizations that need help.
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