CELEBRATIONS

Dear Zest Seekers,

As I’m getting ready to leave for Germany for Christmas I wanted to check in with you all to hear how you’re celebrating the end of this year and the beginning of another. What’s there to celebrate you may ask, “I’m not into all the holiday cheer, it’s all humbug anyway”. Or you’re one of those who’s just going through the motions: what else are you going to do when everybody around you is merry you just have to put on a smiling face and go along with it, have some eggnog and ham while you’re at it, secretly counting the days ‘til New Year’s Eve has come and gone and things go back to ‘normal’.

No matter what your religious/personal believes are and no matter if those believes make it easier or harder for you to get into ‘the spirit - how about looking at it differently this year?! My zesty and provoking suggestion to you is: How about making this year end a very personal celebration of YOUR LIFE and what YOU have done with these past 12 months that you were given on this planet. Follow my invitation and celebrate everything this year has brought you – good and bad. Here is how…

Make a list of at least 10 great things that have come your way in 2007. Sit with it until you have at least 10 or more no matter how bad the year seems to have been. Then look at the not so good things and sort them in two categories: First category being “things that were beyond my control”, second category being “things that could have turned out differently had I made a different choice”.

Look at category one and for each bad experience find at least one good consequence that’s occurred as a result of the initial misfortune. Sit with it for as long as it’s necessary.

On to category two. Examine what where YOUR choices that led to each individual situation and notice if you recognize any patterns. Ask yourself what/who was driving you to act in this way? How could you have acted differently and who would you have to become in order to make a different choice the next time this situation occurs. Then complete this category the same way as category one; for each bad experience that occurred because you made a bad choice find at least one good consequence that’s occurred as a result. Sit with it for as long as it’s necessary.

Final step: Let it all go and C E L E B R A T E !!!

Need some inspiration of just HOW TO celebrate? Here are some of my favorite celebration rituals that I regularly and with sweet gratitude indulge in:

- Get together with a group of friends and spend the whole day preparing a meal together, baking cookies, (if you drink, include lots of booze), and crown your day by indulging in all the prepared goodies at a festively decorated table.

- Bundle up and go for a long hike, by yourself or with a friend. Go to an area that you’ve always wanted to explore and have never made the time/effort to escape to. Work up an appetite, get your blood going and then return home for a steaming hot cup of soup, tea or hot cocoa.

- Dig out all your old magazines, greetings cards you received, other recyclables and crafty fun stuff and spend an afternoon making your very own holiday greeting cards. Play classical music, light candles and drink some mulled wine.

- Treat yourself to a massage.

- Volunteer your time for a good cause (prepare a meal, do yard work, adopt a family, opportunities are endless!).

- Clean out your closet and get rid of stuck energy and mothy outdated wardrobe. Make room for the new.

- Take a hot bath by candle light.

- Do the GRATITUDE DANCE AROUND THE WORLD! )) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NeMC1Fl3J0

I hope these suggestions trigger your imagination and tickle your senses. Feel free to chime in and add your own celebration favorites!