December 2004
Lighten Up!

Do you feel blessed or stressed during the holidays? It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season. With increased traffic, longer lines and an increase of shoppers everywhere you look, cards to be sent, baking to be done, decorations to put up, family gatherings, school plays or musicals, presents to be wrapped or sent and a media blast telling us what we must have or do to be happy, the true meaning of the season of illumination often gets lost.

Recently I found myself in a “bah humbug” space. I had allowed myself to become tired and hungry by trying to accomplish too much in too short a time. Life felt overwhelming as my mind wandered onto that never-ending list of things to do. On my journey home, turning into the cul-de-sac where I live, I was gratefully distracted from my spiraling thoughts by the radiance of the festive and playful Christmas light display showering my neighbor’s home. I was filled with child-like awe, wonder and excitement. I experienced a complete shift in attitude and energy and chuckled as my internal message “LIGHTEN UP” vibrated throughout my entire being. I felt my burdens float away as I embraced my new mantra.

What does LIGHTEN UP personally mean for you? Maybe there is something you are willing to let go of this year bringing greater peace and joy into your experience - less time spent gift buying creating space to just BE or to enjoy fun and fellowship with friends and family, sending New Year’s cards instead of Christmas or Hanukkah, changing your view of a situation and freeing yourself of an old resentment or hurt, releasing unrealistic expectations, criticisms, judgments, or negative thoughts about yourself or anyone else. LIGHTEN UP could mean allowing your children, spouse, or partner to make dinner while you enjoy a soothing bubble bath. Perhaps LIGHTEN UP is rekindling the Light within, letting your divine nature shine forth and seeing yourself in a new light. LIGHTEN UP may simply mean taking a time-out from the fast pace of life by enjoying a deLIGHTful nature walk basking in the warm sunshine and absorbing the perfection of the surrounding infinite miracles. Take some moments to reflect on what LIGHTEN UP uniquely means for you this year. This may be a good time for you to journal, meditate, to be in stillness or silence, to set intentions and/or create affirmations.

Nurture a Child “Nuggets”

10 Ways to LIGHTEN UP with Children

One of my favorite ways to LIGHTEN UP is by simply being present in the presence of children. Creating opportunities for connections, closeness, caring, and traditions or rituals brings a richness to the season that is treasured and cherished for years to come. Weaving ceremonies and celebrations into our children’s lives gives them a sense of the sacredness of life. It’s not what you buy, it’s the quality of the relationship that matters. Your attention, your time, your presence is a gift your children/students will most remember. May you discover greater joy, beauty, and laughter as you deLIGHT in the blessings of children’s spirits.

1. Create a Memory Bag (velvet drawstring bag) or Stocking to hang. Have family members record treasured memories of the year on paper or cards and collect them in the bag/stocking. Share the memories whenever you choose: Christmas Eve, Christmas day, each night of Hanukkah. Save them to share year after year. Children love expressing themselves artistically. Have them pick a favorite memory to illustrate with markers, colored pencils, paint, etc. Frame the drawing and description with construction paper or an inexpensive frame from a craft store.

2. Light a candle or candles symbolizing peace, joy and love or other qualities of Spirit your family chooses to embrace. Each family member could be responsible for choosing the candle and the quality, creating a poem, sharing a favorite affirmation or quote. Discuss each quality while lighting the candle it symbolizes. How does your family express these qualities with each other, with friends, classmates, colleagues, in the community?

3. Create new holiday songs or poems using familiar tunes such as Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, or B-I-N-G-O. Tweak favorite holiday songs: Jingle Bells, Dreidel, Dreidel, etc. Be creative, silly and let your imagination soar! An example sung to Row Your Boat could be “Ring, ring, ring the bells, Ring them loud and clear, Tell the children everywhere, That Santa Claus (or Hanukkah or Christmas time) is here.” Make an audio or video recording of favorite holiday or newly created songs. Send the recording to out of town relatives, friends or classmates who have extended illnesses. Include a personal note from each caroler.

4. Children love to dress up. Make a list of holiday characters from books or movies you treasure. Have your child/student choose a favorite. They can create a costume or adorn appropriate clothing. Have the child/student assume the characteristics, role, personality, job description of the character for a day. This is really quite fun!!! Even more entertaining, omit the costumes/clothing and the child/student secretly chooses a character to role play for the day. At the end of the day, you will guess who the character is. If uncertain, allow time for interviewing the character as they continue to assume the role.

5. Explore holiday traditions from around the world. Pick a new country each year. Discuss commonalities and differences, dates of celebrations, foods associated, symbols, decorations, songs, stories told, candle lighting, etc. Try learning a new game, cooking new foods, or consider adopting new traditions for your family or classroom. Invite other families or friends over one evening to share what you learned or for them to share their unique cultural traditions.

6. Game night/day. Enjoy board games, card games, specific holiday games or jigsaw puzzles. Play Pictionary or Charades or Scrabble using a holiday theme. Enhance your enjoyment with delicious hot chocolate, cider, popcorn or other favorite snacks. I suggest doing this far more often than once a year!

7. Pile everyone in the car, put on your favorite holiday tunes to sing along with and drive around to see the abundance of magnificent light displays. Allow yourself to be fully present in the wonderment of the moment. Also another excuse for hot chocolate and cider when you return home! Visit the Arizona Republic’s web site for a Holiday Light Maps guide.

8. Gather your family to share favorite books, stories, movies. Create a family tradition by reading the same book or watching the same movie each year. A friend of mine watches “It’s a Wonderful Life” every Christmas Eve and gleans something new each time. Your tradition may be choosing and reading a new holiday book each year. How about creating your own book?

9. Visit relatives or friends who are either hospitalized, in a care facility, or live alone and would welcome your company. Last year, a group of us surprised a friend in rehab on Christmas day by showing up singing carols. We had the good fortune of being joined by an accordion player whom we met in the hallway. What a joyful, healing vibration we created for not only our friend but many other patients as well. We were all deeply touched by the experience. I still carry an inner smile recalling that day.

10. For me, the season of illumination is about sharing my love and LIGHT. Every year I choose a unique way to support or contribute to my community. As a family or classroom, decide how you can reach out to support others in your communities. If you need ideas or resources, talk to your minister, rabbi, school principal or social worker. The Volunteer Center of Maricopa County is an excellent resource. The central office phone is 602-263-9736. Community Information & Referral is also another valuable resource. Their phone is 602-263-8856. Hmmm….could this be a time to LIGHTEN UP by cleaning out closets, drawers, toy chests, etc. to share with families in shelters??!!

May your holiday be filled with LIGHT, peace, joy and most of all, love.
Namaste’
Adrian Reznik

Copyright © 2004 Adrian Reznik