Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!
-Kalidasa
What does it all mean?
Every December, every year, I spend my time running around in hopes that I will create a holiday experience for myself and for anyone who I come in contact with that is beyond their expectations.
I pick and choose just the perfect gifts.
I decorate every nook and cranny of my home.
I carefully choose and prepare my holiday meals with the utmost precision.
Every holiday card is properly addressed and stamped.
All phone calls, all letters are returned.
All holiday gatherings are attended and holiday spirit spread.
In short, I become the ultimate holiday over-achiever.
A Verifiable Holiday Elf.
And every January, I GET SICK.
Not just a sniffle here and there, 100% ill. Full blown winter cold.
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize what it is that I’m doing to myself.
I spend so much time focusing on the doing of the holidays that I take out the being of the season.
Where is the slowing down and enjoyment?
Where is the reflecting, planning, hoping and wishful thinking for the coming year?
Where is the time that I spend wondering what it is that I’m looking foward to the most for the following year?
I had forgotten to schedule it in!
This year, however, I’m planning it differently.
I’ve already worked in my quiet time.
I’ve worked in time to just sit, be still and reflect on this year and to plan out my next one.
When will you take time out to reflect on yesterday, on your dream of happiness?
When is your time to plan for tomorrow, your vision of hope?
Schedule your quiet time, or better yet, just go ahead and do it now!
If you don’t, I’ll save a spot on my couch and some chicken soup for you.
