Dec08
Posted on Dec 8 by Ruth Davis
This time of the year is all about the light. Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, commemorating the miracle of how the candles in the temple burned for eight nights, even though there was only enough oil to last for for one. Houses are decked in holiday lights. And Jesus was born under the light of the star of Bethlehem. But in nature, this is the darkest time of the year. And so we have to go inward to find our own light. If we’re feeling confident, creative, appreciated, it’s pretty easy to tap into our own glowing goodness. We radiate love and compassion, for ourselves and others. And our shining light reflects on another person, creating an even bigger light. But what about those other moments when sadness, frustration, even hopelessness overwhelm us? Even if your light is not roaring in radiant flame, it is still burning. It may be just a tiny glow of an ember, but it is a spark for hope. It may be a faint flicker but it is alight because you are alive....
Dec08
Posted on Dec 8 by Ruth Davis
I love listening to my friends share their holiday traditions. It’s fun to learn about the old family favorites and especially the ones they’ve invented and created in recent years. Traditions are often customs and beliefs passed down from one generation to the next. Sometimes we don’t even remember why we do it, or when the tradition started. This year, I invite you to create at least one new tradition for yourself or your family. It might be enjoying a new food at your holiday meal. Or going on an outing. Or volunteering your time. Not sure how to come up with a new tradition? Ask your friends what they do. Ask your kids what they’d like to do. Here are a few prompts to help you think about the traditions you follow. Every year, I ……………. I do it because …………… This year, I am doing it a little differently. Instead of or, in addition to……………….. I am ……….. I’d love to read your ideas. Please share them by clicking the Comments link...
Dec01
Posted on Dec 1 by Ruth Davis
Most of us love to give. There’s the thrill of finding that perfect something for someone, the fun of wrapping it, the joy of watching them open it with anticipation and delight. You know that great pleasure you feel when they are so happy with what they are receiving. So if giving is so joyful and wonderful, why is receiving so difficult for some of us? I don’t mean just receiving a tangible gift. Many of us are uncomfortable receiving a compliment, a pat on the back, a kind word about who we are. My friend Joy works out at the gym, is happily taking care of her physical body. One day I commented on how slender and fit she looks. Instead of saying thank you, she minimized the compliment by saying “oh, black jeans just make you look thinner.” Why is receiving a kind word so uncomfortable for some of us? The other day I was having lunch at a favorite Thai restaurant. Two women, obviously friends, were sitting at the next table. I wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping on...
Nov25
Posted on Nov 25 by Ruth Davis
It’s that time of year when it’s easy to remember to be thankful. All of the turkey and ham commercials on television remind us to be grateful for what we have, and for the people in our lives. But gratitude is an act for every day living, even without the festive meal. Click here for a great gratitude practice. Still, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to say thank you to YOU, my loyal reader, for your enthusiasm, your support, and your open heart. May this season bring you more ways to rest in your own heart and share your special gifts with those around you. Hand in hand with being grateful is the self-less act of giving, of doing something simply to better someone else’s situation. We can give our money, our time, our talents. We can donate our used items to an needy organization. We can also give with simple acts of kindness. Open the door for a stranger Let someone go in front of you in line at the supermarket Check on an elderly neighbor Smile...
Nov11
Posted on Nov 11 by Ruth Davis
For many months after my open heart surgery, I felt things in my heart. Sometimes it was a fluttery feeling, sometimes a buzzing. Sometimes it was just an awareness of some kind of physical sensation. The doctors explained that it was just the nerves healing and that it would subside over time. I especially noticed the sensations when I was feeling emotional or excited. It was like I had a special gauge in my body that physically reflected what was happening in my mind. It was odd, but kind of cool to actually FEEL my emotions right in my heart. Several months ago I was doing an exercise with a stranger in a life coaching class and we had to stand as close to each other as we felt comfortable. I felt that buzzing sensation in my heart at the exact moment that I knew I was close enough. My heart sent a signal to my mind and I felt it. I think everyone can tune in to this feeling in their heart. You may not feel an actual...
Nov11
Posted on Nov 11 by Ruth Davis
All around me people are rushing and hurrying, taking care of people and things and the heavy worlds on their shoulders. And they are tired and cranky and wondering why all of this giving and doing doesn’t feel very good. Maybe because they are tired. Sore. Overwhelmed. Maybe because they are forgetting to take care of themselves…. When did the word “selfish” get such a bad rap? When did it become a negative thing to take care of our own needs? Isn’t taking care of ourselves crucial to our well-being? Isn’t self-care the way we stay healthy and able to give and care for others? What if we embraced the idea that it’s OK to put our own needs first sometimes? Imagine how rejuvenated and recharged you might feel……. So many of my clients tell me that their biggest challenge is finding time for themselves. Not just finding time, but JUSTIFYING the NEED for time for themselves. They tell me that it is so easy to do for others, to take care of everyone else, but that, when it...
