Thursday 12 December 2013

Harvesting Holiday Cheer from the Inside-Out. - My challenge to all of us.

Well, tis the season.  Where we get bombarded with everything we THINK we need and allot we don't think we need but... maybe... i do?  And the energy of "not enough" becomes rampant, needing to show others love, needing others to show us they love us, through, stuff.

But in closing our eyes to the outside consumerism I think there is a little truth where we are all craving for that genuine holiday cheer, and for many, feeling like we HAVE to be happy at this time of year is well... depressing.

So how can we cultivate holiday cheer, from the inside-out,  so that as we step into the collective consciousness of the holiday season we can genuinely share our light with others?

This year iv'e sat myself down and asked myself, what DO I need/want this holiday season? Putting aside any frivolous "things" that I think would make my life easier. (another LED light bulb for Niwas, a mug to replace the 6 I have broken in as many months)  My first, and surprising, answer to bubble up with emotion is not available,  so I dug deeper and asked,  what would THAT fulfill?  the answer?  Connection. Family (not necessarily biological), memories, acceptance, a feeling that I/we are worth the effort, I am seen, I am appreciated.  NONE of which are about anything material.

So I turn to one of my favorite teachings of Paramahansiji Satyananda  which is to realize that true happiness is in the giving.  So if what I want to receive this year is that "feeling",  then I need to direct my actions to giving of MYSELF and these feelings,  to OTHERS.

This has been happening spontaneously over the last few weeks,  but really, it works...   first it was the personal commitment to say YES to anyone/anything I saw in need.  Regardless of what i "thought" about it... or how my brain screamed "you can afford that!"  but to really embrace the teaching, its not for you to judge the circumstances, its for you to help relieve the suffering of others.  And doing so,  the Divine supports you.

CHANGING THE PATTERNS OF MATERIAL GIVING.

THINGS THAT TAKE NO MONEY...

* Get a shovel and go to a random street, a random house, of someone without a snow blower, and start shoveling.  No names, no thank you's... just do it.  (yes, you can do your neighbor, but they know you, they often see you, while its lovely, its nice to give where there is no expectation of anything in return. )
* Saying yes to your friend to look after her sick child so she can go to an important meeting, canceling your plans in the process.
* Cook dinner for someone you know who is having a down day and just leave it on their doorstep with heating instructions.
* Choose someone in your community to is a perpetual "giver".  Always helping others... and help them.  Make them dinner, bake them a cake, offer to take their dog for a walk when you see them getting home late.
 - the possibilities are endless, get creative,  SEE the needs,  thats the gold in this... for you to SEE others and then act.


THINGS THAT TAKE A LITTLE MONEY... $5 or under.

* Have a little change in your pockets at all times, specifically to offer the homeless hot tea, coffee, food... or just for what they need at that time.
* Pay a little extra on your parking spot for the next person (tape a loonie to the box if you can)
* Pay for the next persons tea in the morning at your favorite coffee shop.
* Buy a gift card to a LOCAL business - the local part is important cause it is giving twice for the price of one.  And then give them out, or ask the business owner to randomly give them to people who they think really need a pick-me-up that day... LOCAL people know their regulars.
 - again the possibilities are endless,  make up your own...


THE TRADITIONAL GIFT GIVING 2.0
1) say you have $20 bucks to spend on someone for xmas, maybe you spend $5 on that person (their favorite chocolate, or a new pair of socks cause you saw theirs had holes.) the $5 doesn't say "here, i spent $5 on you", it says,  I SEE YOU, I SEE YOUR NEEDS, what brings you joy, - you might have to ASK them what is their favorite chocolate, their favorite brand of socks.  You taking the time to ASK is the real gift,  the chocolate/socks is just the confirmation that you heard, and acted on that information.

Then with the other $15 you donate it to someone or an organization who is barely coping with the basics of life (FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH) on behalf of the person your $5 went to - not from you.

LOCALLY - examples - food bank, a bunch of flowers for a random person in the hospital/hospice, youth centre, or maybe giving a gift card to the single mother down the road anonymously to your local coffee shop.
GLOBALLY - Red Cross, a Kids Foundation, sevaunite.org or my favorite the Prishan Foundation.   Make an effort to research exactly where it is going and how that money will actually make it to the people you are trying to help.  There are many people out there doing great things to help others... and sometimes the smaller organizations are more effective in getting your money to where it actually needs to go.

I am a firm believer that every action, whether perceived good or bad, at its root is seeking LOVE.  Non of us are exempt. To see this possibility in everyone, helps us to stay connected through compassion.  And to love the other, to GIVE to the "other", is to truly give to ourselves.

A little to allot of people, will have a bigger impact than allot to few people.

There are many people in our communities who would benefit from being seen, from having just a little unconditional effort extended to them and in doing this, I guarantee, YOUR holiday cheer will shift, from the Inside-Out.

THE CHALLENGE:

Write a list of 7 things you think you can do for someone else - anonymously if you can.
Set yourself a time limit (say, by the 24th DEC).
Carry your 7 things out.  Make notes.  How did you feel?  What was your experience?

Then comment below this blog.  So we can inspire each other to truly make this a Happy Holiday Season for all.




1 comment:

  1. 1. Pay for the person behind you when you check out at a coffee house or something similar

    2. Prepare a nutritious, home-cooked meal for a single mother or just a very tired one.

    3. Bake homemade bread and prepare ingredients and instructions on duplicating the recipe themselves

    4. Give seedlings from your garden to neighbors

    5. Get gift certificates to local restaurants and give them to area homeless

    6. Buy a hot tea/ hot chocolate for a bell ringer (or someone who is out in the cold all day trying to do good, or just trying to stay warm)

    7. Create a Chemo care package (full of items that help with the affects of chemotherapy) for those going through treatment.

    My deadline is between now and January 31st. I don't want to end the giving with the holidays.

    ReplyDelete